Goals from Carlos Augusto and Marcus Thuram secured a 2-0 win for Inter Milan against Como on Monday, which ensured that the Italian giants' unbeaten run continued.
It was Inter's 11th match without a defeat and positioned them within three points of Serie A leaders Atalanta.
Both the goals came in the second half, with Augusto heading home and Thuram sealing the fate of the match with a strike in added time.
Como came close to scoring the equaliser after the game's opening goal by Augusto, but a vital intervention from goalkeeper Yann Sommer prevented Nico Paz from finding the net around the 60-minute mark.
Thuram's strike brought his season's tally to 12, matching Atalanta forward Mateo Retegui at the top of the scoring charts.
Inter, currently in third position, trail Napoli by one point with a game in hand, following their postponed fixture against Fiorentina in early December due to Edoardo Bove's unexpected collapse.
The title holders face struggling Cagliari in their next match, with an opportunity to challenge Atalanta's position, as the leaders travel to face Lazio on Saturday evening.
Cesc Fabregas's Como dropped to 16th place, maintaining a narrow one-point advantage above the relegation positions.
