Sampdoria draw at Lazio, miss top spot

Surprise pacesetters Sampdoria failed to rejoin Inter Milan at the top of Serie A after being denied a late penalty shout in a 1-1 draw at Lazio on Sunday.

Luigi Del Neri's side took the lead in an open game thanks to Giampaolo Pazzini's powerful header on 40 minutes following a cute cross from Marco Padalino.

However, Lazio hit back quickly when midfielder Matuzalem burst into the box to score and the second half seemed to be fizzling out once Padalino and Lazio's Roberto Baronio were dismissed for picking up two bookings.

Samp's Antonio Cassano then sparked the game back into life by striking the bar before the referee was unmoved by Pazzini being pole axed in the area by Lazio 'keeper Fernando Muslera.

Inter, who crushed Genoa 5-0 on Saturday, hold a two-point lead over Sampdoria with Juventus and Fiorentina four points behind the champions in joint-third after Saturday's 1-1 draw.

Christian Maggio's late goal gave Napoli a 2-1 win over Bologna on Sunday in Walter Mazzarri's first game in charge.

Maggio converted a cross from Argentina striker Ezequiel Lavezzi, who angered Mazzarri by only arriving back from international duty on Saturday.

Colombian centre back Nelson Rivas hit his head after falling awkwardly in bottom side Livorno's 2-1 home defeat by Palermo. After being rushed to hospital, officials said he had recovered consciousness and was not in danger.

Udinese, who had to start with Serie A top scorer Antonio Di Natale on the bench because of a knock, lost 3-1 at home as Antonio Conte's Atalanta won their first game of the season.

In other results, Catania beat Cagliari 2-1, Bari won 2-1 at Chievo and high-flying Parma overcame Siena 1-0.

Struggling AC Milan host AS Roma later in the day.