Empoli deny Roma at death

Roma appeared to be cruising to victory after racing to a two-goal first half lead, but a stirring second period comeback from Empoli ultimately made the Giallorossi's trip to Tuscany a frustrating one.

With Inter not playing until later on in the evening - in a crunch clash against Juventus - Roma had been given the perfect opportunity to put the ball firmly back in the defending champions' court. Unfortunately, they failed to do so.

It was hardly the best preparation for Roma's Champions League clash with Sporting on Wednesday and whatever the outcome of tonight's match in Turin, Inter will now end the week with daylight separating them from the chasing pack.

That Roma slipped up against struggling Empoli - who had won just two league games this season prior to Sunday's encounter - was disappointing for the capital club, although the fight their opponents put up at the Stadio Carlo Castellani was anything but typical of their recent form.

But it was Roma who started the game the by far the brighter side and Luciano Spalletti's side were two goals up within 32 minutes.

The initial breakthrough came as early as the 14th minute, when Ludovic Giuly slotted home after a quick interchange of passes involving David Pizarro and Simone Perrotta on the edge of the hosts' penalty box.

That lead was then doubled just after the hour mark as Matteo Brighi headed home a cross from the effervescent Mancini - captain for the day in the continued absence of Francesco Totti through injury.

But the tide began to turn when Empoli skipper Ighli Vannucchi beat Doni in the Roma net with a stunning strike from 25 yards in the 67th minute to set up a grandstand finish during which Empoli belied their lowly Serie A status by giving their more illustrious opponents a real run for their money

And home fans were not to leave disappointed as Doni was again beaten by a long-range effort - this time a lofted free-kick from 20-year-old Giovinco which sailed over the keeper's head and into the top corner in the 90th minute.

Sampdoria came back from Wednesday's 5-0 home defeat to AC Milan by crushing Cagliari 3-0 in Sardinia.

Sergio Volpi gave Samp the lead in the 33rd minute with a thunderous, right-footed shot from outside the area.

Andrea Caracciolo fired home the rebound of his own effort six minutes later and Christian Maggio headed in a Claudio Bellucci free kick to seal the win just before half time.

Samp's Mirko Pieri was sent off in the 68th for a nasty foul on Pasquale Foggia.

Atalanta claimed the points thanks to two Antonio Langella goals scored in the space of two minutes in the second half.

Catania reduced the deficit eight minutes from time thanks to Gionatha Spinesi's right-footed shot from the edge of the area.

Atalanta's Cristiano Doni missed a spot-kick, conceded for a foul on Sergio Floccari, in the 24th minute.

The Sicilians went ahead in the eighth minute when Uruguayan striker Edinson Cavani tucked away a low Fabio Simplicio pass from the baseline.

Julio Leon rifled in a free kick to equalise in the 59th and then put the home side in front seven minutes later, only for Palermo's Franco Brienza to even things up again with a header in the 76th.

Genoa thought they had won when Marco Borriello fired home in the 82nd but Brazilian striker Amauri headed in a Simplicio free kick to snatch a draw in stoppage time.

A second-half effort by Livorno striker Alessandro Diamanti that produced a great save from Udinese keeper Samir Handanovic was the highlight of an uneventful draw.

The arrival of new coach Renzo Ulivieri, who replaced the sacked Massimo Ficcadenti on Thursday, was not enough to spur basement club Reggina to their first win of the season.

Napoli's Argentine striker Ezequiel Lavezzi scrambled home a late goal to cancel out Luca Vigiani's 54th-minute header.

Napoli's Emanuele Calaio missed a penalty in the 76th after Salvatore Aronica brought down Lavezzi.

Parma striker Bernardo Corradi, on loan from Manchester City, broke free of his markers to slip home a Reginaldo cross in the 23rd minute.

Paolo De Ceglie levelled matters 10 minutes later with a fine, diagonal, left-footed effort.

Parma regained the lead in the second half with Davide Matteini but Daniele Galloppa earned Siena a draw with a fine strike that took a deflection on its way to the net in the closing stages.