Parma maintain fourth after Genoa draw

Jonathan Biabiany scored a brace as Parma drew 2-2 away to Genoa on Sunday to keep hold of fourth place in Serie A.

With Italy’s top three all playing on Saturday it was the battle for fourth and a Champions League spot next season that took centre stage.

Parma came into their match in fourth after Sampdoria’s 3-0 defeat at AC Milan on Saturday had dropped them to fifth.

And with several teams within touching distance of that crucial Champions League qualifying position it promised an exciting afternoon of action.

Rodrigo Palacio initially put Genoa in position to take fourth with a 14th minute goal after shrugging off a Parma defender.

But Biabiany struck on 36 and 59 minutes to give Parma the lead before Raffaelle Palladino equalised eight minutes later, leaving Genoa sixth.

At one point during the afternoon Sardinians Cagliari, who had won five of their last six matches and beat Juventus 2-0 a week ago, had looked in pole position to go fourth as they led 1-0 at Palermo at halftime through Alessandro Matri.

But goals from Igor Budan and reported Manchester United target Simon Kjaer 10 minutes apart gave Delio Rossi his first win as boss of the Sicilians.

Fiorentina moved up to fifth after their 2-0 home win over Atalanta ended their two-match losing streak in Serie A.

Peru international Juan Vargas opened the scoring on 26 minutes with a left-foot rocket from outside the box and Italy forward Alberto Gilardino clinched the victory a minute from time.

The race for fourth is so tight that Parma are only five points above Palermo in 13th.

Napoli extended their unbeaten run since Walter Mazzarri took over from Roberto Donadoni to nine matches in all competitions as Fabio Quagliarella scored a brace, including the winner two minutes from time, in a 3-2 success at home to Bari.

Bari had led 2-1 just after the hour mark through goals from Paulo Barreto and Andrea Ranocchia but then had Alessandro Parisi dismissed.

Cristian Maggio restored parity before Quagliarella’s late winner while Bari ended with nine men as Ranocchia also saw red in injury time.

At the bottom of the table Siena gave themselves a lifeline with a come-from-behind 3-2 home win over second bottom Catania.

The Tuscans were 1-0 and 2-1 down to the Sicilians after two Jorge Martinez strikes sandwiched an Emanuele Calaio effort.

Siena risked being cast adrift at the bottom of the table but goals from Claudio Terzi and Michele Paolucci secured the win and brought them level on points with Catania and three from safety.