Juventus gave their title aspirations a boost on Saturday evening after they came from behind to beat Milan 2-1 at the San Siro.
Milan began the brighter and duly took an 18th-minute lead when Alex powered home Mario Balotelli’s corner.
The Bianconeri’s response to going behind was a positive one and Mario Mandzukic ultimately crowned a good period of Juve superiority with a well-taken finish into the bottom corner in the 27th minute.
Heroics from Gigi Buffon kept a dangerous Milan at bay early in the second half and the inspirational captain’s saves set the scene for Juventus to get their noses in front through Paul Pogba’s 65th-minute strike.
The visitors would ultimately hold on comfortably to their advantage and wrap up their seventh successive victory over the Rossoneri, which puts them nine points above second-placed Napoli, who play tomorrow at home to Hellas Verona.
In a physical opening period full of running and closely contested 50-50s, Milan ended up producing the game’s first shot on target after eight minutes, when Ignazio Ibate’s right-wing cross almost sneaked inside the near post, but Buffon reacted well to block on the line.
The Bianconeri keeper would be called into action again just six minutes later, diving low to his right to save Balotelli’s menacing free-kick and getting up again to deny Luca Antonelli on the rebound.
The Rossoneri had started the half brightly and they made their pressure count in the 18th minute when Alex rose highest to meet Balotelli’s corner and head powerfully past Buffon.
The goal sparked Juve into action, Stephan Lichtsteiner taking Alvaro Morata’s centre into his stride and shooting towards the bottom corner, but Gianluigi Donnarumma got all of his 1.96 metre frame behind the strike.
The 17-year-old keeper then took no chances in palming away Claudio Marchisio’s rasping drive, but he was left retrieving the ball from the back of his net only moments later when Mandzukic coolly collected Morata’s pass to slot home for the second time this week following last Saturday’s goal against Empoli.
Massimiliano Allegri’s men were beginning to dictate the play for long periods in the opposition half, but Juraj Kucka’s long-range effort kept Buffon on his toes and ensured Milan became the first Serie A side this season to produce three shots on target in the opening 45 minutes against Juventus.
Lichtsteiner was getting a fair amount of joy down the right flank and he ended up being presented with the visitors’ next best scoring opportunity after receiving Pogba’s incisive pass, but the Swiss full-back pulled his effort wide of the far post from a difficult angle.
If the scores stayed level beyond the five-minute mark of the second period, it was largely thanks to Buffon’s utter brilliance, not only in parrying Carlos Bacca’s low drive, but then in getting his finger tips to Balotelli’s follow-up, sufficient in diverting the ball onto the underside of the crossbar and out.
The Italy international forward would come close again to re-establishing his side’s lead moments later, unleashing a fierce effort just off target.
A thoroughly entertaining encounter continued to see chances created, this time down the other end of the pitch, when Pogba’s whipped free-kick came off the post on the hour-mark.
Just five minutes later, the Frenchman was celebrating Juve’s second goal of the evening, when his shot at the far post bounced over Donnarumma and into the net for his seventh strike of this Serie A campaign.
The Bianconeri had only dropped two points this season from a winning position and they never looked likely to squander their lead here, as they restricted their hosts to a just the single opportunity which saw Kevin Prince Boateng volley wide of the mark.
With three crucial points in the bag, Allegri’s charges now enter the final six matches from a position of strength. Next up is the visit of Palermo in what represents the first of four remaining fixtures at Juventus Stadium.
JUVENTUS
Buffon, Barzagli, Bonucci, Rugani, Lichtsteiner (Cuadrado 81), Pogba, Marchisio, Asamoah (Evra 84), Alex Sandro, Mandzukic, Morata (Zaza 68)
Unused substitutes:Neto, Rubinho, Padoin, Lemina, Sturaro, Hernanes
Coach: Allegri
MILAN
Donnarumma; Abate, Alex, Romagnoli, Antonelli; Honda (Luiz Adriano 73), Montolivo, Kucka, Bonaventura; Bacca, Balotelli (Boateng 77)
Unused substitutes: Diego Lopez, Livieri, Calabria, De Sciglio, Ely, Mexes, Zapata, J.Mauri, Locatelli, Poli
Coach: Mihajlovic