THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
MILAN, Italy — Sampdoria drew 1-1 at home to Parma to move level on points with Serie A leader Inter Milan in on Sunday.
Giampaolo Pazzini gave Sampdoria the lead in the 23rd minute, before Parma drew level with a goal from Daniele Galloppa in the 30th.
Juventus then failed to take advantage of Sampdoria’s draw, slumping to its first defeat of the season as Edinson Cavani and Fabio Semplicio scored first half goals to give Palermo a 2-0 win.
Inter, which beat Udinese 2-1 on Saturday, is top with 16 points, ahead of Sampdoria on goal difference. Juventus is third with 14, the same number of points as Fiorentina.
"It went how we expected," Sampdoria coach Luigi Del Neri said. "It was very physical, very intense. Parma played well and were dangerous in attack."
"After the win over Inter last weekend we are used to working at a high intensity and it is something the guys are getting used to."
AC Milan needed a goal six minutes from time by Ronaldinho to avoid an embarrassing defeat away to 10-man Atalanta and ease the pressure on beleaguered coach Leonardo.
Despite playing against 10 men from the 40th minute, following a red card for Ivan Radovanovic, Milan struggled for fluency and showed few signs of improvement from the Champions League loss to FC Zurich in midweek.
"We had a lot of difficulties against 10 men," defender Alessandro Nesta said. "We should have beaten them. Milan should be able to beat any team that is down to 10 men."
"There was a lot of confusion of how to defend against 10 men. We lacked concentration when they counterattacked and we have to work on this."
Pazzini almost gave Sampdoria the lead in the 13th. His strike partner Antonio Cassano made space to cross into the area, but Pazzini’s header was tipped over the bar by Parma goalkeeper Antonio Mirante.
Two minutes later Parma fullback Cristiano Zaccardo went close with a header from Damiano Zenoni’s free kick.
In the 23rd Luigi Del Neri’s side did take the lead. Daniele Mannini crossed into the area and this time Pazzini found the net with his header.
Parma levelled in the 30th minute, when Jonathan Biabiany headed a cross back to Nicola Amoruso on the edge of the area and the veteran striker laid it back for Daniele Galloppa to fire home.
Sampdoria felt they should have had a penalty early in the second half after Galloppa appeared to trip Pazzini in the area.
Then in the 58th Andrea Poli nearly doubled Sampdoria’s lead, but McDonald Mariga cleared his shot off the line to ensure his side took a point.
"We were positive and worked hard. We had a shot cleared off the line. I would say it was definitely a penalty, but the referee made a mistake. But we all make mistakes and you have to accept them without rancour," Del Neri said.
Cavani came close to opening the scoring in the 15th minute, but hooked Fabrizio Miccoli’s cross wide. In the 37th though he made no mistake, racing into the area to fire past Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon.
Simplicio doubled Palermo’s lead five minutes later. Miccoli lofted a free kick deep into the Juventus area and the Brazilian slid in to volley home.
In the second half Juventus midfielder Diego hit the bar from a free kick, Miccoli failed to capitalize on a one on one with Buffon and Mark Bresciano forced Buffon into an acrobatic save from long range.
"The coach deserves this win," Miccoli said of Walter Zenga. "He’s a great coach and he has taken us to a higher level. We are a good team and deserved this."
The defeat caps a frustrating week for Juventus coach Ciro Ferrara. A week ago his side failed to go top after letting Bologna equalize in injury time and in midweek they drew away to Bayern Munich in the Champions League.
"Nothing worked tonight," Ferrara said. "We can’t look for excuses, Palermo played better, with more intensity and deserved the win. That’s football."
"I’m disappointed, but we need to move on. We will have to analyse things, but we will not be losing our heads."
Milan coach Leonardo went into the match away to Atalanta with questions being raised about his future as coach of the club following the 1-0 loss at home to Zurich in the Champions League.
In the 22nd Atalanta heaped further pressure on the Brazilian by taking the lead. Gyorgy Garics crossed from the right, Cristiano Doni drew the attention of the Milan defence and the unmarked Simone Tiribocchi swept the loose ball past Marco Storari.
Milan’s task was made easier when Radovanovic was sent off after receiving two yellow cards.
Despite going down to 10 men, Atalanta went closest to adding to the score. Simone Padoin crossed to Tiribocchi, but the striker fired over from close range.
Leonardo introduced Ronaldinho and Filippo Inzaghi after the break, but it failed to inspire Milan and the best his side managed initially was a low shot by Clarence Seedorf that brushed the outside of post.
With time running out, though, defender Nesta chipped over the defence, Ronaldinho controlled the ball on his chest and poked it past Atalanta stopper Andrea Consigli.
"Leonardo is calm (about the situation) and he knows the team is with him," Nesta added.
Also Sunday, it was; Bologna 1, Genoa 3; Cagliari 1, Chievo Verona 2; Fiorentina 0, Lazio 0; AS Roma 2, Napoli 1; and Siena 0, Livorno 0.