(MENAFN- Gulf Times) Sampdoria and Fiorentina scored precious away wins to maintain their hopes of European football next season as AC Milan saw their hopes of Champions League football dented by a shock 1-0 home loss to Atalanta.
Gonzalo Bergessio and Roberto Soriano pounced on poor Parma defending to score one apiece in the second half to hand Sinisia Mihajlovic's visitors a second consecutive win for the first time since October.
Samp's eighth win of the campaign sent them up to fourth in Serie A but the Genoa-based high-flyers trail Napoli, who moved up to third after a 1-0 win away to Lazio earlier, only on goals difference.
Fiorentina had failed to string two wins together since November and Vincenzo Montella's men looked to be heading for another draw away to struggling Chievo after Sergio Pellissier struck for the hosts in the 74th minute to level Gonzalo Rodriguez's 35th minute opener.
However Chievo suffered a costly lapse of concentration in added-on time, when Senegalese centre-forward Khouma Babacar sent a looping header over 'keeper Benjamin Bizzarri.
La Viola's eighth win of the campaign moved them up to sixth, 13 points adrift of leaders and champions Juventus and only three behind Napoli in the third and last Champions League qualifying place.
Milan expected a tough encounter against Atalanta at the San Siro, having beaten the Bergamo-based side only twice in their past 11 meetings.
And the visitors made life even tougher when German Denis beat Spanish 'keeper Diego Lopez with the outside of his right boot after a fine attacking move launched after Frenchman Jeremy Menez lost possession in midfield when attempting a needless backheel flick.
On-loan Atletico Madrid forward Alessio Cerci made his debut for the Rossoneri, but was replaced in the second half by Giampaolo Pazzini as Milan scurried for an equaliser, only to succumb to a fifth defeat of the season.
Milan remain in eighth at 17 points behind Juve and now seven behind Napoli, who had Gonzalo Higuain's 18th minute strike to thank for a precious win away at Lazio.
Genoa, meanwhile, remain in European contention in seventh but fought back to level three times before snatching a share of the spoils from a 3-3 home draw with Sassuolo thanks to Giannis Fetfatzidis's late spot-kick.
Domenico Berardi gave Sassuolo a 19th minute lead from the spot, only for Iago Falque to level six minutes later with a deft chip from a tight angle over 'keeper Andrea Consigli.
Sassuolo restored their lead five minutes after the restart when Mattia Perin misdjudged his punch at a corner, allowing Simone Missiroli to fire home from close range.
Moments later Fetfatzidis restored parity when Sassuolo gave up possession in midfield and Falque picked up the loose ball to deliver for the Greek international to round Consigli.
Berardi restored Sassuolo's lead on 70 minutes, although Simone Zaza did all the work after robbing Armando Izzo on the right flank to set up his fellow strike partner on the edge of the area. Fetfatzidis, however, levelled from the spot at the death after Francesco Magnanelli's clumsy challenge on Juraj Kucka.
Elsewhere, Maxi Lopez hit a late winner to hand Torino the points at Cesena, who saw Franco Brienza hit two spot-kicks, the second pulling the hosts level following first-half strikes by Marco Benassi and Fabio Quagliarella.
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