Adrian Mutu scored twice as leaders Juventus fought back from a goal down to win 2-1 at Palermo on Saturday and move 11 points clear at the top of Italy's Serie A.
Juve were caught cold early on in their first match back after the winter break, falling behind to Christian Terlizzi's right-footed volley.
But Mutu, released by English Premiership champions Chelsea last year for testing positive for cocaine, turned the tide in favour of the reigning champions with two excellent strikes before half time.
Andrea Caracciolo almost equalised five minutes from the end with a towering header before Cristiano Lupatelli prevented David Trezeguet from making it 3-1, tipping the Frenchman's drive over the bar.
Juve's hard-fought win in Sicily saw them gain revenge for the defeat they suffered in the same fixture last season.
With Trezeguet and Zlatan Ibrahimovic ahead of him in the pecking order of strikers, Mutu has spent much of his time on the substitutes' bench this season.
But after Pavel Nedved was ruled out with an ear infection, the Romanian striker was given a rare start by Fabio Capello and the Juve coach must have been impressed with what he saw.
Mutu's double earned him the man-of-the-match award, an ideal birthday gift for the former Parma forward who will turn 27 on Sunday.
Juventus' 16th victory in 18 games left them with 49 points, followed by Inter Milan - who play at Siena on Sunday - on 38 points.
In the early match, title long shots Fiorentina were held to a 1-1 draw at Reggina which took them level with AC Milan on 37 points.
The Palermo fans were in raptures in the 12th minute at a packed Renzo Barbera stadium.
Former Juve player Eugenio Corini crossed from the right and Terlizzi, who scored in Palermo's first four games of the season, volleyed low past Christian Abbiati.
Instead of denting their confidence, the goal brought a positive response from the title-holders who were back on level terms three minutes later.
Mutu saw his header come back off the bar, but he took the rebound on his chest before side-stepping Terlizzi and stroking home through a crowd of players.
Caracciolo shot narrowly over the bar and Stephen Makinwa headed inches wide as Palermo fought back after surrendering their early advantage.
But they were hit on the break in the 34th minute as Juve carved them open with a sweeping move.
Ibrahimovic's chip was knocked into Mutu's path by Patrick Vieira and the nimble-footed Romania international calmly side-footed past Lupatelli.
In Calabria, Reggina took the lead in the 12th minute against Fiorentina.
Francesco Cozza's corner was flicked on by Luca Vigiani and Alessandro Lucarelli sneaked in unmarked at the back post to head past Sebastian Frey.
However, Reggina's joy lasted just 60 seconds following a swift raid up field by the visitors.
Christian Brocchi's delicate chip was headed across goal by Luca Toni and Martin Jorgensen's stooping header gave Nicola Pavarini no chance.