Roma drifted even further behind leaders Juventus in the Serie A title race after being held to a 1-1 draw at Verona yesterday.

The Giallorossi needed to respond to Juve’s victory over Atalanta and Francesco Totti put them on the right track with a 26th-minute opener at the Stadio Marc’Antonio Bentegodi.

But Bosko Jankovic struck for Hellas seven minutes before the break to earn the hosts a share of the spoils, while leaving Roma nine points off the pace in their quest for the Scudetto.

The Giallorossi have drawn six of their last seven games and next week’s meeting with Juve in Rome will be critical to their chances of catching the Turin giants.

Lazio reached fourth place by coming from behind to defeat Palermo 2-1 in the capital.

The prolific Paulo Dybala fired surprise package Palermo ahead midway through the first half before Stefano Mauri levelled to keep it interesting heading into half-time.

Italy midfielder Antonio Candreva scored the winner in the 78th minute – injuring himself in the process – as Lazio duly leapfrogged Fiorentina, who were held to a 1-1 draw at home to Torino last night, to claim the final automatic European berth.

Palermo ended the game with 10 men after Edgar Barreto was sent off in the 90th minute.

Milan returned to the top half after goals from Giacomo Bonaventura and substitute Giampaolo Pazzini secured a 2-0 home victory over Cesena.

Bonaventura struck midway through the first half at San Siro and Pazzini converted a late penalty to alleviate some of the pressure mounting on head coach Filippo Inzaghi.

But the Rossoneri still have plenty to prove sitting in a distant eighth place, where they are seven points off the European pace. Cesena remained in 19th and are seven points from safety.

Also living with the threat of relegation are Chievo, who slumped to a resounding 3-0 loss at Empoli. Daniele Rugani opened the scoring for the Tuscans, with veteran striker Massimo Maccarone bagging a second-half brace to boost his team up to 14th in the Serie A standings.

Serie A

Empoli 3
Rugani 23; Maccarone 46, 67;
Chievo 0

HT: 1-0. Att: 5,000.

Verona 1
Jankovic 38;
Roma 1
Totti 26;

HT: 1-1. Att: 17,953.

Lazio 2
Mauri 33; Candreva 78;
Palermo 1
Dybala 26

HT: 1-1. Att: 32,000.
Red card: Barreto (P) 90.

Milan 2
Bonaventura 23; Pazzini 90 pen;
Cesena 0

HT: 1-0. Att: 27,958.

Fiorentina 1
Salah 85;
Torino 1
Vives 87;

HT: 0-0. Att: 31,000.
Missed penalty: Babacar (F) 10.

	P	W	D	L	F	A	Pts
Juventus	24	17	6	1	51	13	57
Roma	24	13	9	2	37	18	48
Napoli	23	12	6	5	42	30	42
Lazio	24	12	4	8	40	27	40
Fiorentina	24	10	9	5	36	24	39
Genoa	23	9	8	6	35	28	35
Sampdoria	23	8	11	4	29	26	35
Milan	24	8	9	7	35	30	33
Torino	24	8	9	7	27	25	33
Palermo	24	8	9	7	38	39	33
Inter	23	8	8	7	37	30	32
Sassuolo	23	6	11	6	29	33	29
Udinese	23	7	7	9	26	31	28
Empoli	24	5	12	7	25	27	27
Verona	24	6	7	11	27	43	25
Chievo	24	6	6	12	18	30	24
Atalanta	24	5	8	11	21	35	23
Cagliari	23	4	8	11	30	43	20
Cesena	24	3	7	14	23	47	16
Parma (-1)	23	3	2	18	20	47	10

Playing today
Napoli vs Sassuolo - 19.00
Cagliari vs Inter - 21.00

Top scorers
14 goals: Tevez (Juventus).
13 goals: Icardi (Inter).
12 goals: Higuain (Napoli), Menez (Milan), Dybala (Palermo).

Next fixtures

Tomorrow: 18.30 Sampdoria vs Genoa.

Saturday: 20.45 Chievo vs Milan.

Sunday: 12.30 Cagliari vs Verona 15.00 Cesena vs Udinese; Atalanta vs Sampdoria; Palermo vs Empoli, Genoa vs Parma; Sassuolo vs Lazio. 18.00 Inter vs Fiorentina 20.45 Torino vs Napoli.

Monday: 20.45 Roma vs Juventus.

Serie B
Livorno vs Avellino - 0-1
Pescara vs Catania - 1-0

Leading standings: Carpi 52; Bologna 47; Avellino 45; Livorno, Vicenza 43; Frosinone 41; Spezia 39; Lanciano 37; Perugia 36, Pescara 36; Ternana 35.

Lega Pro

Group A: Giana Erminio vs Monza 2-1; Novara vs S. Torres 2-0; Arezzo vs Bassano 1-0; AlbinoLeffe vs Pavia 0-2.

Group B: Piacenza vs Reggiana 2-0; Carrarese vs Lucchese 3-0; L’Aquila vs Teramo 0-0; Pistoiese vs Forli 2-1; Gubbio vs Prato 1-1; Spal vs San Marino 1-1.

Group C: Vigor Lamezia vs Martina 1-1; Aversa vs Catanzaro 3-0.