Title contenders Inter Milan drew level on points with city rivals AC Milan at the top of the table in Italy as Christian Vieri's hat-trick earned an easy 3-0 win at home to Empoli today.
Vieri's treble in 16 second-half minutes took the striker's league tally to 16 goals for the season and moved Inter up to second on 39 points behind Milan on goal difference.
Milan, however, can restore their three point lead later tonight with victory at Udinese who are unbeaten at their Fruili stadium this season.
Vieri's first goal at the San Siro arrived in the 69th minute, tapping home from close range after Empoli goalkeeper Gianluca Berti had spilled debutant Gabriel Batistuta's angled shot.
Inter went further ahead four minutes later when Empoli's defence failed to clear Emre Belozoglu's inswinging corner, allowing Vieri an easy headed chance a yard from goal.
Vieri completed the scoring five minutes from the end by converting Javier Zanetti's right-wing cross which Berti failed to hold onto.
Juventus marked the passing of honorary president Gianni Agnelli by moving up to third in the table with a 2-0 home win over Piacenza.
Alessandro Del Piero scored the opening goal in the 10th minute, volleying Gianluca Zambrotta's left-wing cross into the top corner with an acrobatic right-foot shot.
Juve doubled their advantage two minutes from the break.
Czech Republic midfielder Pavel Nedved played a quick one-two with Del Piero and struck a low left-foot shot which was brilliantly parried by Poalo Orlandoni.
However the Piacenza goalkeeper could only watch as the ball rebounded to the fortunate Nedved who cheekily lobbed the ball back into an unguarded net.
Lazio fell to fourth after suffering a shock 1-0 defeat at home to struggling Calabrians Reggina.
Elsewhere, veteran Roberto Baggio marked his return from injury with Brescia's equalising goal in a 1-1 draw at home to Parma after Daniele Bonera had given the visitors the lead.
In other matches Perugia beat Chievo 1-0 and Bologna were held to a 2-2 draw at home to Torino.