AC Milan also triumphed in the late game, the returning David Beckham producing a good all-round display in front of England coach Fabio Capello in a crushing 5-2 home win over Genoa.
Giuseppe Sculli's header gave Genoa the lead midway through the first half after Ronaldinho had a penalty saved but the Brazilian showed courage to slot in another spotkick to equalise when the rampant Massimo Ambrosini was again tripped.
Thiago Silva, Marco Borriello's classy second-half double and a Klaas-Jan Huntelaar penalty completed the rout for second-placed Milan, who had to start on-loan Beckham on the right of a front three because of Alexandre Pato's injury.
Champions Inter scored on 12 minutes when Mario Balotelli's shot was cleared from the line and new signing Goran Pandev nodded home, only for replays to show Balotelli's effort was in.
Striker Pandev had not played a league game since May having been banished from the Lazio squad in a contract dispute but made an immediate start because of injuries, suspensions and Cameroon's Samuel Eto'o being at the African Nations Cup.
"Patrick has found the best way to say goodbye," coach Jose Mourinho told Sky, adding he did not know his destination.
"I'm super satisfied. These are the matches that decide lots. What makes the difference is personality and character."
Paolo Castellini nodded a corner into his own net to give third-placed Juve the lead again on 39 minutes and Ferrara's men held on despite having Martin Caceres dismissed for two yellows.
At the bottom, Sergio Floccari netted twice on his Lazio debut in a 4-1 victory over Livorno and Sinisa Mihajlovic's Catania beat his former side
