Roma draws 0-0 at Chievo, Mattiello breaks his leg
MILAN (AP) - Roma was held 0-0 Sunday at Chievo Verona as the capital side's title hopes took another blow in a Serie A match which was marred by a gruesome injury to youngster Federico Mattiello.
The 19-year-old Mattiello, who is on loan at Chievo from Juventus, was stretchered off in tears after breaking his leg in a clash with Radja Nainggolan.
It was Roma's eighth draw in nine league matches and left it eight points behind Juventus, which hosts Sassuolo on Monday. Napoli remained four points behind after squandering a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 at home to Inter Milan.
Elsewhere, crisis-hit Parma played again after postponing two matches. The financially-stricken club drew 0-0 at home to Atalanta, in Edy Reja's first match in charge of the visitors.
Also, Empoli continued its push for survival as it drew 1-1 with Genoa to extend its unbeaten run to six, while Udinese came from behind to beat Torino 3-2 and end its opponents' 12-match unbeaten streak. Cesena drew 0-0 with Palermo.
Mattiello was injured in the 16th minute at Verona. Video images from the game showed the bottom half of the midfielder's right leg bending and initial reports said he has broken both his tibia and fibula.
Mattiello was carried off to a standing ovation from the fans and the benches off both teams. It was only his third appearance for Chievo after joining from Juventus in January, but he has impressed and was regarded as one of Italy's promising talents.
Players from both teams were visibly shaken by the injury and the match took a while to get going again after the restart.
Roma should have taken the lead at the end of the first half following a great counterattack from Juan Iturbe, who found Gervinho. The Ivory Coast midfielder raced down the right but his effort scraped the outside of the far post.
Chievo also had chances with Valter Birsa firing wide from a good position and Roma goalkeeper Morgan De Sanctis twice denying Riccardo Meggiorini.
It was a valuable point for Chievo, which moved six points away from the relegation zone.
Napoli was looking to close the gap on Roma to two points and appeared on course to do so after taking a seemingly comfortable lead.
Marek Hamsik headed in Henrique's cross six minutes after the interval before Gonzalo Higuain doubled Napoli's advantage shortly after the hour mark with a stunning curled strike into the far top corner from 25 yards.
It was the Argentina forward's first league goal since a double against Genoa on Jan. 26.
However, the match turned on its head 18 minutes from time when Rodrigo Palacio pulled one back after a series of close-range shots were charged down.
Inter leveled three minutes from time with a cheeky chipped penalty from Mauro Icardi after Henrique was shown a second yellow card and sent off for pulling down Palacio in the area.
Bottom club Parma has been sold twice this season and wages have gone unpaid for months. Its previous two matches - at home with Udinese and at Genoa - were postponed indefinitely because the club couldn't pay for basic services such as security and electricity.
However, the league voted to give Parma a 5-million euro ($5.5 million) emergency fund Friday to help the club finish the season.
There were banners displayed at the stadium against current owner Giampietro Manenti as well as the Italian football federation and the league.
It was a new start for relegation-threatened Atalanta too after it sacked Stefano Colantuono on Wednesday, replacing him with Reja. The former Lazio and Napoli coach was sent to the stands in the 63rd minute for dissent.
Parma winger Cristian Rodriguez was also sent off, three minutes from time, following a second booking.