Inter Milan concluded the year with a 1-0 win over Torino to retain control of Serie A and strengthen their bid for consecutive Italian league titles.
While Inter had already secured the lead for the season's halfway point entering the holiday break, it was a welcome victory a day after the club's offices were raided by finance police amid an ongoing investigation into false accounting.
Denzel Dumfries scored from the edge of area to conclude a counter-attack after taking a backheel pass from Edin Dzeko during the first half at the San Siro.
It was the third goal in four matches for the Netherlands right back.
Inter end 2021 four points ahead of city rival AC Milan, who won 4-2 at Empoli with a brace from Franck Kessie and a goal each from Alessandro Florenzi and Theo Hernandez.
Third-place Napoli dropped seven points behind Inter after losing 1-0 at home to relegation-threatened Spezia, who benefited from an own-goal from Napoli defender Juan Jesus.
Spezia did not produce a single shot on goal.
Manolo Gabbiadini scored 10 minutes from time to secure a 1-1 draw for Sampdoria at Roma.
Eldor Shomurodov had put Roma ahead eight minutes earlier on his third attempt after his first two shots were blocked.
Gabbiadini then scored from close range following a corner.
Roma are sixth, six points behind Atalanta and the final Champions League berth in Jose Mourinho's first season in charge of the Giallorossi.
Roma are level on points with seventh-place Fiorentina, who drew 1-1 at Verona.
Gaetano Castrovilli equalised for La Viola with a diving header after an opener from the hosts' Kevin Lasagna.
Lazio won 3-1 at Venezia with Pedro, Francesco Acerbi and Luis Alberto on target for the visitors.
The result concluded eight-placed Lazio's best calendar year in their Serie A history — with a club record 24th win in 2021.
Bologna won 3-0 at Sassuolo in their mid-table clash with goals from Riccardo Orsolini, Aaron Hickey and Federico Santander.
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