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The spoils were shared at the Stadio Castellani, though Parma can be more pleased with this result.
This was a vital relegation six-pointer with just a point separating them going into the Stadio Castellani. Gigi Cagni had a perfect return to the Empoli bench, winning 1-0 away to Torino, while Hector Cuper had picked up five points from four matches since replacing Mimmo Di Carlo in March. Cristiano Lucarelli returned from suspension to shore up the Parma front line.
Parma had won three of their last five trips to the Castellani and this Serie A fixture had never ended in a draw.
The Gialloblu opened the scoring in a messy goal after eight minutes. Andrea Gasbarroni chipped up a cross for Lucarelli's free header which took a deflection off an Empoli defender to loop over the goalkeeper.
Lucarelli could have made it 2-0 with his splendid volley on Luca Cigarini's cross, but it cannonned off the near upright.
Soon after, Andrea Raggi required a goalline clearance to deny Gasbarroni on Igor Budan's assist. The two players changed places with Budan springing the offside trap from Gasbarroni's pass and calling Luca Bucci into a decisive intervention.
Bucci parried a dangerous Sebastian Giovinco free kick and at the other end Dessena fired straight at Daniele Balli.
It took a moment of magic to draw level and it was provided by Giovinco. The Juventus-owned starlet dribbled past two players and curled a perfect right-foot finish into the far corner from just inside the box.
Giulio Falcone nodded a Cigarini free kick into the grateful arms of Balli. After the restart Luca Saudati quite rightly had a penalty appeal ignored, as he appeared to trip over his own feet. Saudati went off with an injury soon after, so Empoli were left with no centre-forwards at their disposal.
Abate smacked a fierce piledriver over from 30 metres and Guillermo Giacomazzi nodded a Marianini cross off target.
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