| Bernardo Corradi's first goal for his new club earned Parma a precious victory over rock-bottom Empoli. This was already a relegation dogfight, as Empoli were still looking for their first point - and goal - while Parma were without a win so far this season. Luca Bucci returned to the sticks after Cristiano Lupatelli's injury, while Daniele Bonera, Domenico Morfeo, Marco Marchionni and Ferdinand Coly, who suffered an injury in the warm-up, were sidelined.
Empoli really should have taken the lead after 13 minutes when Christian Rigano' latched on to Bonetto's long pass and skipped round the goalkeeper, but he hesitated and Paolo Cannavaro dived in to intercept at the last moment and prevent a certain goal.
The Tuscans had been growing in their influence on the game, but it was Parma who broke through after 17 minutes. Bernardo Corradi took advantage of Coda's defensive error to control Cannavaro's pass and fire his right-foot finish into the far corner of the net. It was the ex-Valencia man's first goal for the club since returning from his Liga experience.
Moments later, Corradi's glancing header was just wide and Marco Delvecchio had a fierce shot parried by goalkeeper Berti. The ex-Roma man also saw his chipped cross-shot flicked over the bar, as the goal gave Parma a real confidence booster.
The Empoli defence, which conceded four against Juve last week, was very shaky and another Corradi header was off target. On the stroke of half-time, Delvecchio and his teammate combined again, as Berti stuck out a foot to keep out Corradi's header at the near post.
Rigano' did not come back out for the second half due to a knee injury, making way for Mirko Gasparetto, but Parma continued to fine space inside the area. Corradi pounced on Vanigli's poor clearance and fired on to the side-netting. At the other end, Lodi's angled drive whistled just past the upright.
Some wonderful Fabio Simplicio footwork broke through, earning a free kick for Vanigli's foul, and Delvecchio drilled the resulting set-piece off target.
Mark Bresciano was more accurate, as his stunning strike from the edge of the box was palmed out by Berti to keep Empoli in the running.
Parma were very unlucky not to be 2-0 up moments later, as Andrea Pisanu's curling effort slammed off the far post and into the path of Corradi, who was taken by surprise and couldn't turn in from six yards.
Berti was increasingly under siege at the Stadio Tardini and had his palms stung by a touched-on Simplicio free kick and Giovanni Pasquale's powerful effort from the edge of the box.
There was bad news for the Tuscans, as substitute Gasparetto was stretchered off after just 25 minutes with bruised ribs and replaced by youngster Nicola Pozzi.
Nonetheless, Empoli went close to an equaiser when Giuseppe Cardone's overhead kick goalline clearance prevented Tavano from nodding into an empty net.
Parma gave 19-year-old Luca Cigarini his Serie A debut for the final 10 minutes, but the Tardini crowd held their heads in their collective hands as Delvecchio somehow managed to blaze wide from six yards. Another dreadful Coda error allowed Simplicio's cross to slip through and the ex-Roma man wasted the opportunity.
They were almost made to pay for that miss, as seconds later Bucci was on his toes to turn Serafini's point-blank header round the post.
There was no doubting which of the two goalkeepers was kept the most busy, as in stoppages Berti beat away a scorching Bresciano half-volley and on the counter-attack Tavano's deflected attempt looped on to the roof of the net.
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