Palermo and Roma take maximum points

US Città di Palermo made it five Serie A home wins out of five this term by defeating Bologna FC 3-1, before AS Roma left it late at struggling Novara Calcio.

Bologna − coached by Stefano Pioli, who was sacked by Palermo before the start of the domestic season − fell behind when Eran Zahavi (13) swept in the rebound after Jean-François Gillet had beaten out an angled drive from Josip Iličić.

Matías Silvestre doubled the lead with a header from a Zahavi corner, with Iličić slipping the third under Gillet 16 minutes from time. Gaston Ramirez replied late on for Bologna, who had won their previous two games.

Palermo are fifth, two places and as many points ahead of Roma. The Giallorossi travelled to Novara on the back of successive defeats and seemed set to extend their winless run to three matches until Bojan Krkić (73) broke the deadlock. Pablo Osvaldo doubled the visitors' advantage three minutes later, consigning third-bottom Novara to their fifth defeat in ten league games.

UEFA Champions League contenders SSC Napoli host leaders Juventus in the pick of Sunday's games. The Genoa CFC-FC Internazionale Milano fixture was postponed on Friday because of flash flooding in the area.