Juventus took one step closer to retaining the Serie A title after they comfortably defeated Udinese 2-0 at the Stadio Friuli.

The Bianconeri restored their eight point lead at the top of the Serie A standings with the win, while Udinese remain in 14th spot.

The opening stages of the first half proved to be a dull affair with neither side managing to create any openings, until Sebastian Giovinco curled one past Simone Scuffet from the edge of the area to give Juventus the lead in the 16th minute.

Giovinco nearly doubled the lead in the 25th minute but Scuffet got down well to parry the striker's out for a corner.

From the resulting corner, the visitors increased their advantage after Fernando Llorente finished into an empty net after an error from Scuffet presented the Spaniard with the opportunity.

The closest Udinese came to grabbing a goal back was just before the halftime break as Thomas Heautaux's long range strike flew just wide of the mark.

The first chance in the second half arrived in the 68th minute as Giorgio Chiellini's surging run set up Giovinco, who struck the upright from close range.

The visitors were happy to pass the ball around in the latter stages of the second half, as the hosts failed to trouble the Juventus defence.

However, the home side registered their first effort on target in the 87th minute as Maurizio Domizzi's shot from close range forced Gianluigi Buffon into a routine stop.

Nico Lopez almost pulled one back in stoppage time but the Udinese's strike fired his shot against the upright, as Juventus held on for a comfortable victory.