Juventus coach Claudio Ranieri was sacked Monday after a seven-game winless run dropped the Turin side from second to third and put them within a point of fourth-placed Fiorentina with two matches to go.
The former Chelsea boss, 57, whose future has been in doubt for weeks, has been replaced by ex-Juve and Italy defender Ciro Ferrara who comes in as caretaker.
Ferrara, 42, already on the Juve coaching staff, has been tasked with keeping Fiorentina at bay and holding onto an automatic Champions League berth.
Juve drew 2-2 to 11th-placed Atalanta Sunday.
Fiorentina are a point behind after beating Sampdoria 1-0.
AC Milan lost at Udinese Saturday to allow Inter Milan to celebrate their fourth straight scudetto.
Second-placed Milan are ten points behind Inter and three points ahead of Juve.
