Udinese secured back-to-back Serie A victories with a 2-0 success at Sampdoria on Monday, while Lazio were held by Bologna.
The visitors opened the scoring on 17 minutes when Antonio Di Natale's pass found Danilo alone in the box, the Brazilian defender taking full advantage of his free header.
Di Natale then got on the scoresheet himself as Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu's pass was deflected by Gianluca Berardi and into the path of the Italy international, who rounded off the points.
Nicola Pozzi also missed a late penalty for the hosts, as Udinese climb to eighth in the standings.
Sampdoria find themselves in 13th position.
In Monday's other match, Lazio, who left talisman Miroslav Klose on the bench, failed to break down a resilient Bologna, as both sides played out a stalemate at the Dall'Ara.
Vladmir Petkovic's Lazio had the best of the possession in Emilia-Romagna, but Federico Agliardi was not to be beaten between the posts, while Bologna striker Alberto Gilardino was left to rue a succession of missed chances for the hosts.
German international Klose was eventually brought on, but failed to find a winner.
The match fizzled out in the closing stages but not before Lazio attacker Libor Kozak was sent off following a second bookable offence.
Lazio sit in fourth spot, eight points behind leaders Juventus, while Bologna jump to 15th in the table.