Lazio go four clear with Palermo win

Andre Dias scored with Lazio's first chance of the game and the Biancoceleste defended their slender lead against an insistent but unfortunate Palermo.

Giuseppe Biava was sent off in the 77th minute but, even with a one-man advantage, the Rosaneri were unable to find a way through as Lazio held on for a win which takes them four points clear of Inter Milan at the top of Serie A.

Sampdoria grabbed a last-gasp 1-0 victory over Cesena at the Stadio Dino Manuzzi to move onto the fringes of the top four in Serie A.

Giampaolo Pazzini's first goal in the league this season in the third minute of stoppage time earned the Blucerchiati a somewhat fortunate win after the home side had done most of the running. Cesena drop into the bottom three as a result of the cruel, late defeat.

Napoli moved up to fourth place in Serie A thanks to Ezequiel Lavezzi's late winner at Brescia.

Coach Walter Mazzarri rested several key players ahead of the trip to Liverpool in the Europa League on Thursday and Lavezzi's 77th-minute goal justified the decision.

Brescia struck the woodwork twice, but were unable to respond to Lavezzi's goal, and the 1-0 defeat leaves them just one point off the bottom of the table in 14th place.

Cagliari struck twice in the second half to beat Bologna 2-0 and climb out of the Serie A relegation zone.

Nene broke the deadlock in the 50th minute and Radja Nainggolan doubled his team's lead with 12 minutes remaining. The outcome lifted Cagliari to 13th in the standings while Bologna dropped to 19th place.

Parma climbed out of the Serie A relegation zone with a goalless home draw against Chievo in a game which saw both sides reduced to ten men.

Blerim Dzemaili was sent off five minutes into the second half for the hosts while the visitors lost Gelson Fernandes late in the contest. Parma, who have not won since August 29, hit the woodwork in the second half but could not find the breakthrough and had to settle for a point.

Udinese continued their climb up the Serie A standings with a 2-0 victory at a Bari side who are free-falling in the opposite direction.

Alexis Sanchez scored one and set up the other for Mauricio Isla as the Friuli club moved to eighth. Paulo Barreto missed a penalty for Bari and they now find themselves propping up the rest of the teams after their fourth successive defeat.

In the late match, Catania and Fiorentina played to a goalless draw.

Source: espnsoccernet.com