Serie A leaders FC Internazionale Milano could only move one point further clear of AC Milan after drawing 0-0 with Genoa CFC, on a day when Fabrizio Miccoli's late winner secured US Città di Palermo a 1-0 win against AS Livorno Calcio that lifted the Sicilian side into fourth.

Inter have now registered three goalless stalemates in their last four league fixtures but they still sit four points clear of AC Milan, who also drew a blank against AS Roma on Saturday. José Mourinho's men rarely threated until the final half an hour at San Siro, with Wesley Sneijder and Maicon going closest only to both send their shots narrowly wide.

Palermo also struggled to break the deadlock against relegation-threatened Livorno, with the visitors' goalkeeper Rubinho pulling off a number of saves to deny the team he left on loan in January. They finally engineered an opening with nine minutes remaining, however, substitute Nicolás Bertolo advancing down the left and setting up Miccoli to drive low into the corner from in front of goal.

That took Delio Rossi's men within 13 points of Inter, with UC Sampdoria another three points behind after they came back to post a 2-1 home success against S.S. Lazio, who lost Mauro Zárate to a 77th-minute red card. Defeat left the capital club three points above the danger zone and allowed bottom side AC Siena to climb within five points of safety via a 1-1 draw with Parma FC, for whom Luis Antonio Jiménez was dismissed late on.

Second-bottom Atalanta BC also gave their survival bid a slight boost courtesy of a goalless stalemate with Udinese Calcio that hauled them to within four points of Lazio. In Sunday's other matches, SSC Napoli dropped to seventh following their 2-1 reverse at Bologna FC – all the goals coming in the first 14 minutes – AS Bari overcame AC Chievo Verona 1-0 and Cagliari Calcio drew 2-2 with Calcio Catania.