Lazio keep on title trail as Palermo slip up

Edy Reja's team remain seven points off leaders AC Milan, who thrashed Parma 4-0 on Saturday, and well in the championship mix.

Goals from Alvaro Gonzalez on 18 minutes and Libor Kozak just before the hour mark ensure Lazio maintained their grip on a Champions Legaue place.

However, Udinese are not letting up in their pursuit of a top four finish as they cruised to a 3-0 win at troubled Cesena.

Antonio Di Natale scored another brace, either side of a strike by Gokhan Inler, keeping fifth placed Udinese just two points behind third-placed Lazio.

However it wasn't such happy news for Palermo whose hopes of securing a Champions League finish suffered a blow as they fell to a shock 4-2 defeat at home to Fiorentina.

The hosts twice took the lead through Javier Pastore and Antonio Nocerino but goals from Alberto Gilardino, Michele Camporese, a Cesare Bovo own goal and captain Riccardo Montolivo turned the game around.

It leaves Palermo just outside the top four and they have also played a game more than their rivals.

What was all the more surprising was that until this match struggling Fiorentina had averaged less than a goal a game and hadn't won on their travels all season.

Palermo coach Delio Rossi gave a sobre assessment of his team.

"We weren't phenomenal before and we're not idiots now," he said.

"Unfortunately we conceded the equaliser straight after going ahead and we didn't manage to get our noses back in front.

"Things went badly today, we had a chance to make it 3-1 and then we caved in to their comeback.

"The lack of concentration at a corner cost us dearly."

Palermo took an early lead on seven minutes as Josip Ilicic pulled the ball back for Argentine Pastore to send a precise finish past Artur Boruc.

However, Fiorentina pushed forward and Gilardino missed two good chances, including a one-on-one with Salvatore Sirigu before finding the net with a header from Valon Behrami's cross.

Palermo started the second half as they had done the first with a clever chip from Fabrizio Miccoli being headed home at the far post by Nocerino.

But again back came La Viola as Camporanese finished right footed after a corner.

Montolivo then beat Sirigu with a speculative long-range effort that crashed back off the post.

And substitute Adem Ljacic set up two late goals on the counter attack as Palermo crumbled.

His cross from the left was bundled past his own keeper by Bovo before he teed up Montolivo's killer fourth two minutes from time.

The action didn't end there, though as Palermo's Abel Hernandez shuddered the bar in injury time of a thrilling contest.