Irrepressible Roma captain Francesco Totti scored twice to haul the Serie A title challengers back from two goals behind against arch-rivals Lazio and earn them a 2-2 draw in a pulsating derby yesterday.
A stunning volley by Paul Pogba set front-runners Juventus on the way to a 3-1 win at Napoli which extended their lead to three points and Cagliari gave Gianfranco Zola his first Serie A win as coach when they beat bottom club Cesena 2-1.
The 38-year-old Totti, in his 23rd season at Roma, began the fightback when he turned in Kevin Strootman’s cross three minutes after the break.
Then, after brilliantly hooking home a Jose Holebas cross for his 11th goal against Roma’s old rivals, Totti celebrated by jumping the advertising hoardings, grabbing a camera from one of the coaching staff and taking a selfie.
Totti’s afternoon, though, was nearly ruined in the last minute by Germany veteran Miroslav Klose whose close-range shot was magnificently saved by Roma goalkeeper Morgan De Sanctis.
Stefano Mauri had volleyed third-placed Lazio in front in the 25th minute and Felipe Anderson, who set up the first goal, increased their lead with a low shot from outside the area which went through a forest of legs.
At the San Paolo, Pogba’s fantastic volley lit the touchpaper at a ground where reigning champions Juve have managed to lose five times since last tasting victory back in September 2000.
Defender Miguel Britos tried to prolong the visitors’ poor run in Naples by equalising midway through the second half but Martin Caceres hit back before Arturo Vidal confirmed Juve’s 3-1 win with a thunderous stoppage-time goal.
Juventus have 43 points from 18 games followed by Roma (40), Lazio (31) and Napoli and Sampdoria (30).
Argentinian duo Rodrigo Palacio and Mauro Icardi were on target as Inter inflicted a 3-1 defeat on Genoa at San Siro.
Palacio opened the scoring in the 12th minute and Icardi added a second before the break. Genoa's Maxime Lestienne was denied by the bar in the 62nd minute but Armando Izzo gave the visitors a lifeline in the 85th minute.
Vidic on target
However, Nemanja Vidic restored the two-goal lead two minutes from time as Inter clinched their sixth win of the campaign to climb to ninth place, two points adrift of Genoa.
A single second-half goal from Eder was enough to boost Sampdoria to a 1-0 victory over Empoli at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris.
Fiorentina resisted a spirited fightback from Palermo to secure a frenetic 4-3 victory at the Stadio Artemio Franchi.
It looked like Palermo were there for the taking after captain Manuel Pasqual's goal gave dominant Fiorentina the lead heading into half-time yesterday afternoon.
Jose Maria Basanta nudged the Tuscans further ahead following the restart but Palermo suddenly sprang to life and restored parity through a smash-and-grab brace from substitute Robin Quaison.
Juan Cuadrado then scored to quell the visitors' celebrations and Joaquin added a goal of real quality to earn Fiorentina all three points, even though Palermo had time to grab a third thanks to Andrea Belotti and his penalty.
The victory lifts Vincenzo Montella’s men above Genoa and into sixth place while Palermo slip to 10th.
Serie A
Atalanta 1
Zappacosta 72;
Chievo 1
Lazarevic 90;
HT: 0-0. Att: 12,000.
Red card: Bellini (A) 89.
Cagliari 2
Joao Pedro 11; Donsah 27;
Cesena 1
Brienza 89;
HT: 2-0. Att: 10,000.
Missed penalty: Joao Pedro (Cag) 11.
Fiorentina 4
Pasqual 20; Basanta 51; Cuadrado 65; Joaquin 74;
Palermo 3
Quaison 59, 61; Belotti 81 pen;
HT: 1-0. Att: 27,400.
Inter 3
Palacio 12; Icardi 39; Vidic 88;
Genoa 1
Izzo 85;
HT: 2-0. Att: 37,525.
Napoli 1
Britos 64;
Juventus 3
Pogba 29; Caceres 69; Vidal 90;
HT: 0-1. Att: 50,000.
Roma 2
Totti 48, 64;
Lazio 2
Mauri 25; Anderson 29;
HT: 0-2. Att: 55,000.
Sampdoria 1
Eder 49;
Empoli 0
HT: 0-0. Att: 19,947.
Verona 3
Sala 39; Toni 72; Valoti 90;
Parma 1
Lodi 64;
HT: 1-0. Att: 15,915.
| P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | |
| Juventus | 18 | 13 | 4 | 1 | 38 | 9 | 43 |
| Roma | 18 | 12 | 4 | 2 | 31 | 13 | 40 |
| Lazio | 18 | 9 | 4 | 5 | 33 | 21 | 31 |
| Napoli | 18 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 33 | 24 | 30 |
| Sampdoria | 18 | 7 | 9 | 2 | 23 | 17 | 30 |
| Fiorentina | 18 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 25 | 17 | 27 |
| Genoa | 18 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 24 | 20 | 27 |
| Milan | 18 | 6 | 8 | 4 | 27 | 21 | 26 |
| Inter | 18 | 6 | 7 | 5 | 29 | 25 | 25 |
| Palermo | 18 | 6 | 7 | 5 | 30 | 30 | 25 |
| Sassuolo | 18 | 5 | 9 | 4 | 20 | 23 | 24 |
| Udinese | 18 | 6 | 5 | 7 | 21 | 24 | 23 |
| Verona | 18 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 21 | 28 | 21 |
| Torino | 18 | 4 | 7 | 7 | 13 | 19 | 19 |
| Empoli | 18 | 3 | 9 | 6 | 17 | 23 | 18 |
| Chievo | 18 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 13 | 20 | 18 |
| Atalanta | 18 | 3 | 8 | 7 | 14 | 24 | 17 |
| Cagliari | 18 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 23 | 35 | 15 |
| Parma (-1) | 18 | 3 | 1 | 14 | 18 | 39 | 9 |
| Cesena | 18 | 1 | 6 | 11 | 15 | 36 | 9 |
Top scorers
11 goals: Tevez (Juventus).
10 goals: Icardi (Inter).
9 goals: Dybala (Palermo), Higuain (Napoli), Callejon (Napoli), Menez (Milan).
Next fixtures
Saturday: 18.00 Empoli vs Inter. 20.45 Palermo vs Roma.
Sunday: 12.30 Lazio vs Napoli. 15.00 Milan vs Atalanta; Cesena vs Torino; Chievo vs Fiorentina; Genoa vs Sassuolo; Parma vs Sampdoria; Udinese vs Cagliari. 20.45 Juve vs Verona.
Lega Pro
Group A: SudTirol vs Como 2-0; Sassari vs Pro Patria 4-0; G. Erminio vs Arezzo 0-3; Mantova vs Alessandria 2-0; Novara vs Monza 2-2.
Group B: Carrarese vs Tuttocuoio 5-1; Pro Piacenza vs Grosseto 4-2; Reggiana vs Forli 1-0; Ascoli vs Pistoiese 6-3.
Group C: Lamezia vs Aversa 1-1; Benevento vs Ischia 2-0; Cosenza vs Salernitana 0-0; Messina vs Barletta 0-2; Lecce vs Lupo Roma 2-1; Martina vs Foggia 2-1; Paganese vs Matera 0-0.