Palermo held Roma to a 3-3 draw, but would have felt that they could have won the game.

Matteo Brighi got the go ahead goal after 20 minutes, when a pass by John Arne Riise took a detour off Francesco Totti, allowing the 28-year-old to hit the back of the net.

The pitch was difficult to play on, and eventually caused a mistake at the travellers’ end, which allowed Igor Budan to level the score.

Nicolas Burdisso gave the Lupi a lead to savour just before half time, but the Rosanero somehow managed to get back on par owing to a goal by Fabrizio Miccoli.

The hosts took the lead for the first time ten minutes into the second period, when Antonio Nocerino sent a stormy shot from the edge of the box, and into the goal.

As the visitors were staring at yet another forgettable result, the capital club were handed a lifeline when Rubinho was at the wrong end of a tackle, prompting the referee to rule against the goalkeeper, thereby awarding a penalty. ‘Er Pupone’ stepped up to the plate and sent the ‘keeper the wrong way to earn a point for his side.

Palermo 3-3 Roma
Brighi 20 (R), Budan 40 (P), Burdisso 44 (R), Miccoli 45 (P), Nocerino 56 (P), Totti pen 88 (R)

Palermo: Rubinho; Cassani, Kjaer, Goian, Balzaretti; Migliaccio, Cassani, Bresciano; Simplicio (Blasi 74); Budan (Mchdedlidze 76), Miccoli

Roma: Julio Sergio; Cassetti (Motta 61), Burdisso, Juan, Riise; Taddei, De Rossi, Pizarro (Okaka 80); Brighi (Faty 57); Totti, Vucinic

Ref: Rocchi

Parma caused an upset at the Stadio Olimpico, winning 2-1 against a Lazio side that has stumbled in recent times.

Valeri Bojinov opened the scoring after a cross from the right saw the Bulgarian finish with a left-footed volley.

The referee signalled a penalty when a challenge McDonald Mariga saw Julio Cruz falter in his steps. While some critics may call it a harsh decision, a penalty was what the man in charge appeared certain of, and Mauro Zarate promptly put the hosts back on terms.

Nicola Amoruso slotted home the winner from the spot kick, after Aleksandr Kolarov was sent off for a booking due to a tackle on Bojinov, following some remonstrations with the referee that earned him an early shower.

Lazio 1-2 Parma
Bojinov 21 (P), Zarate pen 42 (L), Amoruso pen 45 (P)

Lazio: Muslera; Liechtsteiner, Siviglia (Cribari 36), Diakitè, Kolarov; Mauri, Dabo, Baronio (Meghni 76); Matuzalem (Foggia 46); Cruz, Zarate

Parma: Mirante; Zaccardo, Dellafiore (Paci 69), Lucarelli; Zenoni, Mariga, Galloppa, Dzemaili (Morrone 77), Castellini; Amoruso (Paloschi 83), Bojinov

Ref: Velotto

Sent off: Kolarov 45 (L)

Inter cruised past Napoli with a 3-1 victory, ensuring that they climbed up to the top of the table.

The Nerazzurri took only two minutes to break the deadlock, as a header by Walter Samuel was warded off, and arrived for Diego Milito, who had trouble capitalising on his chance. In the meanwhile, Samuel Eto’o reigned supreme in the confusion surrounding the goalkeeper, and promptly sent the ball home to give his side the lead.

The visitors took another blow three minutes later, when Maicon sent in one to Diego Milito, who easily finished and doubled the lead in the process. After thirty minutes, Lucio bagged a goal to kill any chance that the Naples based team may have had, while Ezequiel Lavezzi bagged one that reduced the lead.

As Roberto Donadoni’s charges lunged forward in the second period, the Biscion withdrew its fangs and concentrated on counterattacking their opponents. Since the travellers were unable to break the San Siro defence, Inter ran away with three points on the day.

Inter 3-1 Napoli
Eto’o 2 (I), Milito 5 (I), Lucio 32 (I), Lavezzi 37 (N)

Inter: Julio Cesar; Maicon, Lucio (Cordoba 89), Samuel, Chivu; Stankovic, Cambiasso, Zanetti; Sneijder (Muntari 46); Milito, Eto’o (Mancini 90)

Napoli: De Sanctis; Santacroce (Aronica 60), Cannavaro, Contini; Maggio (Denis 68), Gargano, Bogliacino (Pazienza 85), Zuniga, Hamsik; Quagliarella, Lavezzi

Ref: Trefoloni

Football Italiano