Two goals from Germany striker Miroslav Klose, on his return after more than a month out injured, helped Lazio to a 2-0 win over Livorno in Serie A on Sunday.
Fiorentina closed in on the Champions League places with a 3-0 home win against Bologna with Giuseppe Rossi scoring his 13th goal of the season.
Klose struck twice in the space of seven first half minutes, relieving the pressure on coach Vladimir Petkovic who had looked like facing the sack after six league games without a win.
Lazio climbed to eighth place on 20 points and Vincenzo Montella's Fiorentina went fourth on 30 points, only two behind Napoli in third.
Inter Milan will go back into fourth and close the gap on Napoli if they beat Rafael Benitez's side in Sunday's late game (1945 GMT). Leaders Juventus are home to Sassuolo (1730).
Klose's first for Lazio came in the 19th minute when he broke the offside trap and, after fluffing his first effort, slotted home on the rebound.
He pounced again in the 26th minute when a week effort from Hernanes was deflected into his path.
"We talk about Klose as added value not only for his goals but the push he gives the team. The other players benefit from that," said Petkovic. "With a champion like him everything becomes easier."
Lazio chairman Claudio Lotito said Petkovic could rest easier: "I was at Formello (the team training ground) for three days and I realised that the team needed a win to get going again," he said.
"I don't think that we are now in the position where we should fire the coach."I
Fiorentina had no problems with lowly Bologna and opened the scoring after 13 minutes through Josip Ilicic, who fended off two defenders to fire his first goal of the season.
Borja Valero doubled the hosts' lead just before the half hour and chipped the ball to Giuseppe Rossi who lobbed Livorno keeper Giancarlo Curci for the third in the 64th minute.
Torino moved to within six points of European football after goals from Alexander Farnerud and Ciro Immobile gave them a 2-0 win at Udinese.
Udinese coach Francesco Guidolin suggested he might quit if results did not improve.
"If it turns out that I am the problem then I am prepared to walk away. I have done it before in my career and I'm ready to do so again if needed," he said.
Genoa failed to build on their recent good run under manager Gian Piero Gasperini, dropping points at home when an injury-time header from Giuseppe De Luca earned Atalanta a 1-1 draw after Andrea Bertolacci had put the hosts in front.
A goal from Eder early in the first half moved Sampdoria four points from the drop zone with a 1-0 win at relegation rivals Chievo while Parma drew 0-0 with Cagliari.
Juventus will look to extend their lead at the top of Serie A to six points with a win against Sassuolo, while second placed Roma travel to AC Milan on Monday night (1945 GMT).
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