Serie A wrap: Pressure builds on Benitez, Lazio held by Parma

The pressure will continue to intensify on under-fire Inter Milan boss Rafael Benitez after his side slumped to a 2-1 defeat at Chievo on Sunday.

The European champions travelled to Verona hoping to arrest a four-match winless streak but were undone by goals from Sergio Pellissier and Davide Moscardelli.

Inter should have opened the scoring in the early stages but after Samuel Eto’o set up Goran Pandev, the Macedonian striker hit the post after rounding Chievo keeper Stefano Sorrentino.

Pellissier made Inter pay with a towering header before an altercation occurred which could land Eto’o in hot water.

Slovenian defender Bostjan Cesar appeared to throw a weak punch at Eto’o’s face before he retaliated with a headbutt to the Chievo player’s chest.

Already this season, video evidence has been used to ban a player with Juventus midfielder Milos Krasic on the receiving end.

Despite Inter’s best efforts in the second half, substitute Moscardelli wrapped up the points eight minutes from time with a simple tap-in.

Eto’o managed a late consolation – his ninth of the season – but it mattered little as Chievo gained their first win in five matches.

The result leaves Inter nine points behind table-toppers AC Milan and six behind second-placed Lazio – who were held to a 1-1 draw at Parma.

Legendary Argentina striker Hernan Crespo gave Parma a 23rd-minute lead before Sergio Floccari ensured both sides would share the spoils.

An own goal from goalkeeper Eduardo and a Krasic strike extended Juventus’ unbeaten streak to 12 in all competitions as they won 2-0 at Genoa, while Palermo were 2-1 winners at newly promoted Cesena to rise to seventh.

Josip Ilicic’s 11th-minute opener was cancelled out by Erjon Bogdani but Fabrizio Miccoli struck a second-half winner for Palermo.

In other matches on Sunday, a Giampaolo Pazzini hat-trick fired Sampdoria to a terrific 3-2 away win at Lecce.

Pazzini struck twice in the first half – one from the penalty spot – before David Di Michele and Souleymane Diamoutene scored in the last 20 minutes to set up a tight finish.

But Pazzini ruined the home side’s afternoon with his finish two minutes from time.

Second-half goals from Alessandro Matri and Daniele Conti gave Cagliari a 2-1 away triumph at Brescia while Christian Terlizzi’s finish seven minutes from time saw Catania defeat Bari 1-0.

More to follow