Serie A leaders Inter Milan were held to a goalless draw by Udinese to bring an end to their eight-match winning streak.
However, coach Roberto Mancini will be relieved his men kept their unbeaten league record intact after playing for 70 minutes with 10 men following the dismissal of Cesar at Stadio Friuli.
And despite the result, Inter hold a five-point cushion over Roma at the top of the standings with opponents Udinese a distant fifth.
While Inter were held, their city rivals AC Milan had Alexandre Pato to thank for a 2-0 victory in a mid-table battle with Genoa.
The Brazilian, who only recently made his debut, nodded the first home in the 65th minute and the visitors' task was made all the more difficult shortly after that when goalkeeper Rubinho was dismissed.
The hosts made good use of their numerical advantage as Pato struck again eight minutes from time to help Milan climb into seventh place.
Juventus kept their faint title hopes alive after bringing to an end 10-man Livorno's fine unbeaten run with a 3-1 away win.
David Trezeguet bagged a brace either side of an Alessandro Del Piero strike as the Bianconeri bounced back from successive draws to close the gap on Inter to 10 points.
Fiorentina left it late to maintain their push for Champions League qualification as they won 2-0 to deny Empoli a much-needed point in their fight for survival.
Adrian Mutu and Giampaolo Pazzini struck in the final four minutes as La Viola recorded their fifth league win in a row to move four points clear of fifth-placed Udinese.
Last season's surprise package, Empoli, in contrast could be waving goodbye to top-flight football in May if their woeful form continues.
A second-half fightback from Reggina saw them come from 2-0 down to earn a point from a 2-2 draw at Atalanta.
Goals from Claudio Rivalta and Antonio Langella had put the home side in command before Luca Vigiani and Edgar Baretto struck to earn a vital point for Reggina, who climb out of the relegation places as a result.
Rolando Bianchi endured an ignominious debut for Lazio after being sent off five minutes after coming on in the second half of the Roman club's scoreless draw with Torino.
Torino also played with a man down after losing Simone Barone on the stroke of half-time, but the Biancoceleste were not able to capitalise on the short time they had an extra player on the pitch.
Bianchi, who moved from Manchester City earlier this week, started on the bench but was introduced on the hour mark only to earn two yellow cards in five minutes.
The result leaves Lazio in 14th place, three points clear of the drop-zone, while Torino are 16th in the standings.
Struggling Cagliari ended a run of six defeats with two goals deep in stoppage time helping them to secure a 2-1 victory over Napoli.
Already missing star midfielder Manuele Blasi, Cagliari looked like making it seven straight losses when they fell behind to Marek Hamsik's 58th-minute goal.
But Alessandro Matri levelled three minutes into stoppage time with a spectacular long-range effort and Daniele Conti headed in the winner a minute later.
Catania and Parma battled out a disappointing goalless stalemate on Sunday which does little to boost either side's flagging season.
Neither side established any supremacy in a poor first half which was largely spent in the middle third.
In Saturday's action, Alessandro Mancini's second-half header fired title-chasing Roma to a 1-0 victory over 10-man Palermo.
Mancini grabbed the only goal shortly after the hour mark and just after Palermo defender Leandro Rinaudo had been sent-off.
That was all the Giallorossi needed to temporarily close the gap on leaders Inter to four points.
Sampdoria jumped into sixth place after sweating their way to a 1-0 win over Siena.
Despite the visitors' overall supremacy, a goal from Antonio Cassano in the 44th minute was enough to earn a fortunate three points for Walter Mazzarri's men.
It also ensured a double over Siena, following Samp's 2-1 win on the opening day of the season.
But the Tuscan side will feel a little hard done by after once again playing well in Genoa, but coming away with a defeat which leaves them on the brink of the bottom three - into which they could drop on Sunday.
Source : www.sportinglife.com
