MILAN - European champions AC Milan continued to struggle in the Italian domestic league on Sunday as they slumped to an embarrassing 1-0 defeat at home to Empoli.
Rossoneri goalkeeper Dida sought and obtained forgiveness from the Milan fans before the kick-off for the antics in the Champions League match against Celtic that earned him a two-game ban.
But Empoli striker Luca Saudati was in less charitable mood, as his second-half goal saw Milan slip 10 points behind city rivals and leaders Internazionale, the Italian champions.
Milan have only won two of their eight Serie A matches this year in a spell club owner Silvio Berlusconi has described as the worst in his 21-year reign.
Alessandro Del Piero celebrated his new contract with Juventus with the only goal in a 1-0 win over Genoa.
That lifted Juve second and they held on despite the late sending-off of Pavel Nedved.
Claudio Bellucci struck twice in 12 second-half minutes as Sampdoria secured a comfortable 3-0 win over struggling Parma.
Vincenzo Montella also got on the scoresheet as the hosts completed victory.
Fiorentina brushed aside local rivals Siena with an excellent performance in Sunday's Tuscan derby.
A first-rate display of attacking football saw the home side dominate with goals from Giampaolo Pazzini, Adrian Mutu and substitute Christian Vieri, while the visitors rarely threatened.
Gyan Asamoah struck a superb second-half equaliser for Udinese to deny Palermo all three points on their trip to the mainland.
Carvalho Amauri put the Rossaneri ahead in the 17th minute and it looked like that was the way it would stay until Asamoah's 65th-minute leveller.
Ten-man Torino produced a spirited late comeback to snatch a 2-2 draw at Atalanta.
The Bergamaschi looked to have taken control of the match when Adriano Ferreira Pinto put them ahead on the stroke of half-time and Cristiano Doni doubled the advantage from the penalty spot midway through the second period.
But, despite being reduced to 10 men thanks to Cesare Natali's dismissal for the incident which led to the spot-kick, Toro hit back with goals from Nicola Ventola and Marco Motta.
Ten-man Lazio spoiled the debut of new Livorno coach Giancarlo Camolese by edging a close encounter in Tuscany.
Goran Pandev scored the only goal on the stroke of half-time, and although the Romans were made to battle with one less player following the 62nd minute dismissal of Fabio Firmani, they held on for the win.
Alessandro Matri earned Cagliari a draw after Christian Terlizzi opened the scoring for Catania.
On Saturday, Internazionale were made to work hard for the three points at Reggina with Adriano's goal all that separated the sides after 90 hard-fought minutes.
Roma and Napoli shared a thrilling 4-4 draw. Ezequiel Lavezzi put Napoli in front after just two minutes before Francesco Totti equalised with a perfectly-taken penalty on the half-hour mark.
Simone Perrotta was on hand two minutes before the break to grab Roma's second, while Daniele De Rossi and David Pizarro both scored for the Giallorossi in a frantic second half.
But goals from Marek Hamsik, Walter Garagano and Marcelo Zalayeta after the break ensured Napoli returned from the capital with a share of the spoils.
