Round-up: hope for Chievo

At the other end of the table, Milan played out a disappointing goalless draw with Fiorentina at the San Siro, while Roma's 2-1 win over Palermo secures the Giallorossi's automatic qualification for the Champions League.

Empoli beat Catania 2-1 to take advantage of Fiorentina's slip-up and move back into a UEFA Cup spot in fifth while Lazio beat Livorno 1-0 to take back third place from Milan.

In Verona, Chievo got off to a flying start thanks to Sergio Pellissier's thunderous finish into the roof of the net after just five minutes, and Parma lacked the nous to get back into the game from that moment on. Claudio Ranieri's side started the day in the relative safety of 13th place, but now find themselves just a single point ahead of Siena, who occupy the final relegation spot.

The Tuscan side have only themselves to blame for their position after Daniele Corvia missed a penalty when given the chance to cancel out Luca Ariatti's opener for Atalanta in Bergamo. Simone Vergassola showed his team-mate how to do it after the break when he levelled things up from the spot, but a 40-yard wonder goal from substitute Christian Vieri put Atalanta back in the driving seat on 65 minutes. A bad day got worse for Siena when Valentim Alberto received his marching orders in added time before Morris Carrozzieri headed home with the last touch of the game to seal the win for Atalanta.

Messina's 1-0 defeat to Inter in Sicily hammered the nail in their Serie A coffin in another tale of a missed penalty. Artuto Di Napoli was the culprit this time, and his 70th minute spot kick was saved by Francesco Toldo. Minutes later substitute Hernan Crespo finished from a corner to give Inter all three points and leave Messina to contemplate life in Serie B.

Torino took a giant step towards securing their top flight status with victory over Ascoli, a result that relegated their opponents after a dismal season that has seen them win just three games. Alessandro Rosina netted what proved to be the winner after 18 minutes to give Toro hope of staying in Serie A for a second successive season.

Goals from Nicola Pozzi and Sergio Almiron gave Empoli victory over Catania, who managed to hold on to their lead despite Gionatha Spinesi's goal to move back into UEFA Cup contention.

The Azzurri took fifth place at the expense of fellow Tuscans Fiorentina who could only draw 0-0 in Milan, and should count themselves lucky to have escaped with a point after another penalty was missed. This time it was Kaka who, after his incredible display during the demolition of Manchester United midweek, proved he is human after all by passing up on the opportunity to put Milan in the lead on 26 minutes.

Roma survived a late scare against Palermo to consolidate second place with a 2-1 win over the Rosanero. Francesco Totti edged closer to the winning this season's Capacannoniere title with his 22nd goal of the season to put the Giallorossi ahead at the Renzo Barbera with a stunning free kick on 17 minutes before Fabio Cassetti doubled the Giallorossi's lead with a neat finish on 36 minutes. Giovanni Tedesco gave the hosts hope with a late strike, but Roma held on as Palermo continue their free fall down the table.

In Rome, Lazio had Luis Jiminez to thank for all three points after the Chilean's 26th minute shot went in off both posts. The loss means Livorno can still be relegated, a fact that was clearly not lost on their supporters, who turned on their captain Cristiano Lucarelli with vulgar depictions of the Amaranto captain posted around the Stadio Olimpico.

Fabio Quagliarella came closest to breaking the deadlock in the goalless draw between Sampdoria and Reggina in Genoa, and the point was just enough for the visitors to keep their heads above the relegation zone.

Rounding off the weekend's action, Udinese midfielder Sully Ali Muntari's fine finish just before the break was cancelled out by Davide Marchini's second half strike for Cagliari. Vincenzo Iaquinta was then sent off for an elbow, allowing Cagliari to capitalise on their man advantage and nick all three points with five minutes remaining when Andrea Capone pounced to send the Sardinians into 11th.