By DPA,
Milan : Napoli missed a chance to seize the Serie A lead as hosts Genoa came from behind in a high-voltage game to beat them 3-2 despite having two men dismissed.
Napoli remained two points behind joint leaders Lazio, Udinese and champions Inter Milan, all on 13 points. Lazio drew 1-1 with Lecce Saturday, when champions Inter Milan edged Bologna 2-1, while Udinesec Sunday won 2-0 over Torino through a Fabio Quagliarella brace.
The side from Naples Sunday took an early lead as Argentinean Ezequiel Lavezzi, a former Genoa player, profited from a bad backward pass and tore through the defence to beat Rubens Rubinho.
Genoa’s rampant attacks left room to dangerous counters from the guests, who came close with a header and a high shot from Argentinean German Denis before the hosts’ equalizer in the 44th minute when defender Greek Sokratis Papastathopoulos fired a low drive by the far post.
Genoa’s reversal in the 52nd minute owed much to Argentinian Diego Milito for an assist he provided for Raffaele Palladino’s lay-in.
Three minutes later, the dismissal of striker Marco Rossi for a last-man foul seemed to be bad news for Genoa, but Milito in the 73rd minute scored a crucial third goal shortly before Denis set the score on 3-2 and Papastathopoulos was sent off with one minute left.
In Turin, Juventus lost to Palermo after two dismal draws and remained rooted on nine points in what appears to be a worrying crisis.
Former Juve striker Fabrizio Miccoli pounced to volley home a ball slapped by Gianluigi Buffon in the 24th minute as the hosts again displayed weak midfield and scoring tactics.
The diminutive Miccoli, now on five goals with Milito, left the pitch with an injury 10 minutes before a free-kick from captain Alessandro Del Piero tied the game in the 39th minute.
Two minutes later, though, a harsh foul caused the dismissal of Mali midfielder Mohamed Sissoko with a second yellow card.
With Juve pressing ahead despite the deficit, Brazilian Fabio Simplicio set up the young Georgian Levan Mchedlidze for a winning shot in the 81st minute.
“There were no dark clouds over us before the game,” Juve coach Caludio Ranieri said. “But this home defeat hurts us. After three draws (including one with BATE Borisov) we wanted a win.
“The boys did all they could, they levelled, but Palermo punished us on their only occasion in the second half.
Giants Roma also crashed badly as defenders Philippe Mexes and Christian Panucci were sent off in a 1-0 defeat at Siena, while Fiorentina won 2-0 at 10-man Chievo.
Atalanta lie second on 12 points with Palermo after beating 4-2 a Sampdoria side down to nine men, Catania lie on 11 after drawing 1-1 with 10 men at Reggina, while AC Milan are level with Juve and Genoa on nine points when they visit bottom side Cagliari in a late game.