A brace by David Di Michele gave Palermo a 2-1 win on Sunday at struggling Lazio to push the Sicily side level on six points with Roma atop the Serie A.
Rome lead the table on goal difference following a 3-1 win at 10-man Siena, while Inter Milan, who were held 1-1 on Saturday at home by visiting Sampdoria, are one of five teams on four points.
Di Michele put Palermo ahead on 11 minutes, curling a lob past Angelo Peruzzi, and beat the veteran goalkeeper again on 38 minutes with another dipping shot.
Brazilian Simplicio came close for Palermo, firing against the post, while Lazio missed two glaring chances by Christian Manfredini and Goran Pandev.
In the second half, the hosts' pressure yielded only a consolation goal on 73 minutes by Tommaso Rocchi. The striker's close-range shot did nothing to reduce Lazio's 11-point penalty imposed after a match-fixing trial.
Pitted against the tough Tuscany hosts at Siena's rain-drenched pitch, Roma opened with a dangerous free kick from Romanian Christian Chivu and had things made easy on 28 minutes when Siena midfielder Ezio Brevi was dismissed for hitting an opponent.
Roma had more chances, with a drive from international Daniele De Rossi bravely saved by Austrian keeper Alex Manninger, who also blocked a spurt from Simone Perrotta.
Brazilian Rodrigo Taddei, a former Siena midfielder, was on target on 46 minutes with a fierce shot followed on 70 minutes by a David Pizarro effort.
Liechtenstein's Mario Frick curled home a free kick for Siena's only goal before Stefano Okaka scored Roma's third in the dying seconds.
"My team were in good form and did what they had to do against a well-organized Siena. They did what they could and were clever when they pulled one back," Roma coach Luciano Spalletti said.
Promoted sides Atalanta and Catania drew 0-0 and also lie on four points with newcomers Messina, who drew 1-1 at Ascoli, and Empoli, helped in their 1-1 draw against Chievo Verona by the first-half dismissal of Brazil midfielder Luciano.
Udinese beat promoted Torino 2-0, and Livorno secured a Tuscany derby, beating Fiorentina 1-0 through a second-half header from captain Cristiano Lucarelli.
The second straight defeat left the Florence side stuck at the bottom with a heavy 19-point deficit, while Reggina brought their points tally to minus 12 with a 2-1 win over Cagliari on Saturday.
Also penalized by eight points, were giants AC Milan, now on minus two points thanks to a late 2-0 beating of hosting Parma, secured through a free kick from Dutchman Clarence Seedorf and a spot kick converted by Brazilian Kaka.
RSS