Rome (AFOP) - Dusan Vlahovic has scored twice as Juventus claimed a 3-2 win at Empoli to move within seven points of Serie A leaders AC Milan.
The Turin giants were shaky at the back but secured a first win in four matches thanks to Vlahovic, who moved to the top of the league goalscoring charts ahead of Ciro Immobile.
Massimiliano Allegri’s side are unbeaten in 13 Serie A games, since a 1-0 loss to Atalanta in November.
Fourth-placed Juve are also locked in a battle with Atalanta, who they lead by six points, in the race to qualify for next season’s Champions League.
But an unlikely title challenge could still materialise, after a series of slip-ups from the top three of AC Milan, Inter Milan and Napoli.
Juve were 14 points off the pace and languishing seventh in the table in December, but have revived their slim hopes of winning a 10th title in 11 seasons.
Allegri opted to start Moise Kean and Vlahovic together up front at Empoli, with Alvaro Morata dropping to the bench after starting the midweek 1-1 draw at Villarreal in their Champions League last-16 first leg.
On-loan Everton striker Kean put Juventus ahead just after the half-hour mark, heading in Adrien Rabiot’s cross.
Polish midfielder Szymon Zurkowski levelled for the home side in the 40th minute, poking the ball in from close range.
But Juve retook the lead on the stroke of half-time, as Vlahovic collected Juan Cuadrado’s clever pass, sold the Empoli defence a dummy and slotted in.
The Serbian international’s second goal, in the 66th minute, was sublime. He somehow managed to drag substitute Morata’s pass from behind him with his first touch before dinking the ball into the net.