| Empoli had goalkeeper Gianluca Berti to thank for their 2-2 draw at Palermo. The Rosanero's unbeaten record was ended last week by a 4-2 defeat at Lazio - a game they had been leading 2-0 - but the 4-0 thrashing of Anorthosis Famagosta boosted their confidence in the UEFA Cup. Empoli had lost their opening three Serie A games only to win the last two, so they were back on track.
Palermo took the lead after seven minutes when a Mariano Gonzalez cross was not cleared effectively and Andrea Caracciolo was able to fire in from six yards.
The celebrations were cut short, as within 90 seconds Empoli had equalised. Igli Vannucchi's cross reached Francesco Tavano for a weak but precise finish that beat Nicola Santoni.
An Eugenio Corini free kick was just wide of the target, but at the other end Tavano's fine solo effort was cut short by the goalkeeper.
Stephen Makinwa horribly wasted a Gonzalez low cross, sending his finish looping over from six yards. His teammate Caracciolo perhaps did even worse soon after, somehow drilling wide from close range after a defensive error.
Those errors proved costly, as Empoli took the lead on the stroke of half-time. The Palermo defence allowed the Tuscans to run forward on the counter-attack and Tavano fired home from the edge of the box after combining with Almiron.
The Rosanero wasted another great chance after the restart, as Berti parried Caracciolo's effort into the path of Makinwa, who fired it over the bar. There was also a tough save on Fabio Grosso's attempt.
Franco Brienza replaced Gonzalez for a more attacking line-up and his introduction proved crucial, as his cross from a set-piece found Makinwa's close-range header to make it 2-2.
Berti flew to palm Brienza's rising left-foot strike out of the top corner of the net, as Palermo piled on the pressure. The Empoli goalkeeper also closed down Caracciolo at the near post and rushed off his line to keep out Pepe.
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