Palermo close in on Champions League places

Brazilian Simplicio scored the winning goal three minutes from time as Palermo beat Parma 2-1 to move up to fifth in Serie A and just one point off a Champions League place.

The victory was no more than the Sicilian hosts deserved after Parma’s Jonathan Biabiany had cancelled out Edison Cavani’s opener.

After a goalless first half the game sprung to life when Cavani turned home a Fabrizio Miccoli free-kick on 62 minutes.

Parma equalised in contentious circumstances 10 minutes later when Biabiany’s angled shot found the net but the hosts believed the game should have been stopped for a foul on Cavani in the build-up.

Even so, the Sicilians snatched the victory late on when Miccoli teed up Simplicio to smash a rasping shot into the top corner.

Palermo trail fourth-placed Napoli by one point with Juventus, who travel to Livorno later on Saturday, three points further back.

Parma’s European hopes are fading as they sit in the bottom half.