Genoa slow Napoli´s European charge

Napoli’s drive for a Champions League place slowed on Saturday when they were held at home to a goalless draw by Genoa.

A win would have put Napoli level with second-placed AC Milan, but instead they stay fourth with 38 points from 22 games, 11 behind leaders Inter Milan, who visit Parma on Sunday.

The match got off to a high tempo start and Genoa defender Dario Dainelli almost conceded an own goal in the fifth minute when he diverted a low cross on to the post.

Napoli keeper Morgan De Sanctis dived well to push away a powerful left-footed Domenico Criscito free-kick at the other end in the 17th.

As the first half wore on there was plenty of tough tackling but few clear chances, although Napoli defender Paolo Cannavaro smacked a shot against the crossbar from outside the box shortly before the break.

The home team did almost all the attacking in the second period but to no avail.

Forward German Denis should have done better when he had only keeper Marco Amelia to beat, Marek Hamsik came close with a curling effort and Fabio Quagliarella nearly snatched it for Napoli with a looping header two minutes from full-time.

Palermo’s Champions League hopes also suffered a setback when they lost 4-2 at Bari, ending the match with 10 men.

Second-half goals by Vladimir Koman and in-form Brazilian forward Barreto sealed victory for the hosts after Palermo had hauled themselves level from 2-0 down.

The match’s turning point came in the 56th minute, when Palermo midfielder Fabio Liverani received a second yellow card for a nasty groin-high foul.

“We sat back a bit after going 2-0 up, but the second half was great,” said Bari coach Giampiero Ventura whose team ended a four-match winless run.

“We had lots of chances. It was beautiful, I liked it. I’m proud of what these lads are doing. Many of them are youngsters and they are disputing a championship that’s going beyond expectations.”

Defender Leonardo Bonucci fired in the opener in the fifth minute before Honduran Edgar Alvarez coolly slotted the ball past Palermo keeper Salvatore Sirigu for the second.

The visitors roused themselves and Fabrizio Miccoli rattled the crossbar with a free-kick before Uruguayan forward Edinson Cavani nipped in to put away a Federico Balzaretti cross and pull one back in the 27th minute.

Javier Pastore curled the ball inside the far post to level in 54th minute.

But Bari soon regained the lead with the advantage of an extra man.

Barreto converted a penalty in the 62nd minute for his 11th goal of the season, while Hungarian Koman sidefooted home in the closing stages.

Alberto Zaccheroni will go straight into the firing line when the newly appointed Juventus coach takes charge of his first game at home to Lazio on Sunday.

Zaccheroni was drafted in by the Juventus board on Friday after the sacking of Ciro Ferrara.

The 56-year-old, who guided AC Milan to the scudetto in 1999, inherits a squad desperately low on morale after five defeats in their last six league matches.

Sixth in the table, 16 points off Serie A leaders Inter Milan and out of both the Champions League and the Italian Cup, the best the Old Lady can realistically hope to rescue from a forgettable season is qualification for next season’s Champions League.

Second-placed AC Milan are looking for a response against Livorno on Sunday after their title ambitions suffered a sizeable blow with last weekend’s 2-0 derby defeat to Inter.

Inter, who are nine points clear after having played one game more than their city rivals, will be without Dutch playmaker Wesley Sneijder and Brazil defender Lucio at Parma on Sunday after their red cards in the derby.