Juventus 1 - 0 Empoli: Juventus edge out Empoli to edge closer to Serie A title

Juventus took another step towards the Serie A title with a 1-0 home defeat of Empoli.

Mario Mandzukic's goal on the stroke of half-time was enough to secure victory and send them six points clear of second-placed Napoli, who visit relegation-threatened Udinese on Sunday.

Juve's goal came after a period of growing pressure, in which both Alvaro Morata and Stephan Lichtsteiner were caught offside while chasing through-balls.

Mandzukic scored in the 44th minute, heading Paul Pogba's cross into the bottom right corner beyond Lukasz Skorupski. It was Manzukic's first goal in three months.

Morata threatened to double Juve's lead in the second half when forcing a fine save from Skorupski, before Massimo Maccarone tested Gianluigi Buffon with a shot in the 69th minute.

Simone Zaza, twice, Morata and Kwadwo Asamoah all went close again late on, but Juve could not build on their advantage.

Their win means they equalled a club record of winning seven successive Serie A home matches without conceding.

Massimiliano Allegri's team have seven league fixtures, in addition to their Coppa Italia final against AC Milan - their next league opponents - remaining.