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Lazio fought back to earn a draw in Sicily in chaotic fashion, as there were two red cards and a missed penalty.
The Biancocelesti are accustomed to injury worries, but this was a crisis even by their standards, as Goran Pandev was suspended with Roberto Baronio, Stefano Mauri, Mourad Meghni, Valon Behrami, Mobido Diakhitè, Gaby Mudingayi, Massimo Mutarelli and Luciano Zauri sidelined. This meant Fabio Vignaroli received his Lazio debut in midfield. The Rosanero, on the other hand, were brimming with confidence after two straight wins against Fiorentina and Atalanta.
This is a notoriously unpredictable fixture, as in the past three seasons there have been a win each and a 3-3 draw. The Sicilians got off to a blistering start, as within 120 seconds Cristian Zaccardo had turned a corner on to the side-netting.
Giulio Migliaccio went off with a sprained knee and Lazio threatened with a glancing Tommaso Rocchi header, while Federico Agliardi did well to stick out a foot and parry Fabio Firmani's close-range finish.
Marco Ballotta punched away a Fabrizio Miccoli free kick, but Palermo took the lead on 34 minutes. Miccoli's set-piece found Fabio Simplicio for a powerful header under the bar.
Aleksandar Kolarov blasted just off target from distance and Caserta's effort was saved. On the stroke of half-time, Ballotta got down to block a Miccoli free kick.
Lazio seem to have left their concentration in the locker room, as within 50 seconds Palermo had doubled their lead. Amauri sprung the offside trap around the halfway line, ran forward and lifted his shot over the on-rushing Ballotta.
Firmani pulled one back by pouncing on a misplaced Kolarov strike with his right foot flashing into the far corner.
Federico Agliardi had his palms stung by a Kolarov cracker, but Sebastiano Siviglia saw red for bringing down Amauri as he went to meet a Miccoli effort. It was also a spot-kick, but incredibly the Brazilian ballooned his penalty over the bar.
It proved a costly error, as soon after Lazio equalised. The Sicilian defence left substitute Igli Tare totally unmarked from six yards to turn in a De Silvestri cutback. De Silvestri saw the visitors end the game with just nine men on the pitch for two bookable offences.
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