Serie A round-up

Juventus reclaimed top spot in the Serie A table after a convincing win over Palermo as Cesena earned a first victory of the season.

Juve return to the top, Udinese lose and Cesena enjoy first win

Juventus reclaimed top spot in the Serie A table after a convincing home win over Palermo as Cesena earned a first victory of the season. Simone Pepe opened the scoring after 20 minutes to set Juventus on the way to a 3-0 success over Palermo to lift the Old Lady back above Lazio at the summit. Alessandro Matri added the second goal just three minutes after half-time and Claudio Marchisio rounded off the scoring on 65 minutes. Bottom club Cesena gained their first three-point haul of the campaign at the 11th attempt after a 1-0 success at fellow strugglers Bologna. The only goal arrived with six minutes remaining when Marco Parolo scored to provide Cesena with a much-needed boost. Udinese missed out on the chance to take over at the top after going down to a 2-0 reverse away to Parma. Daniele Galloppa hit the post early on for Parma before the hosts made the breakthrough on 58 minutes through Jonathan Biabiany. The second arrived with 14 minutes to go when Sebastian Giovinco converted from the penalty spot after Biabiany had been fouled. Genoa made progress up the standings after a 1-0 home triumph over Novara, with both teams finishing the match with 10 men. Luca Antonelli was sent off for Genoa just before half-time and, after Novara's Riccardo Meggiorini was dismissed on 81 minutes, Miguel Veloso scored the winner with four minutes left. German Denis twice put Atalanta in front away to Siena, but Alessandro Gazzi scored a late equaliser to earn the hosts a 2-2 draw. Denis opened the scoring on 15 minutes from the penalty spot after he had been fouled, but a penalty from Gaetano D'Agostino drew Siena level just before half-time. Atalanta regained the initiative through Denis eight minutes into the second period before Gazzi pounced late on for Siena. Catania were left to rue a missed penalty after suffering a 2-1 defeat at home by Chievo Verona. Sergio Pellissier's spot-kick put Chievo in front in first-half injury-time and Catania's Francesco Lodi then saw a 68th minute penalty saved. Chievo scored a second goal just five minutes later through Paolo Sammarco, rendering Sergio Almiron's effort on 78 minutes a mere consolation. Roma moved to fifth after a 2-1 win over Lecce at the Stadio Olimpico. Miralem Pjanic put the home side ahead in the 24th minute and Fernando Gago doubled the Romans' lead early in the second half. Andrea Bertolacci cut the deficit on the hour mark but Roma held on to clinch their fifth triumph of the campaign, while the defeat has left Lecce in 18th place, two points adrift of safety.