Honours even at Bentegodi

Chievo restricted Parma to a frustrating 1-1 draw at the Stadio Marc'Antonio Bentegodi on Sunday.

Chievo restricted Parma to a frustrating draw at the Stadio Marc'Antonio Bentegodi that did nothing to boost either side's ambitions for the Serie A season. The Flying Donkeys were eager to seal a first win over Parma since May 2007 but Roberto Donadoni's men took the lead against the run of play, Ishak Belfodil scoring from Parma's first attack immediately before the break. Alberto Paloschi ensured the points were shared with a headed goal shortly before the hour mark but - with other results going against them - both clubs slipped one place down the league table, to ninth and 12th respectively. Chievo endured a frustrating first half, going in at the break 1-0 down despite their domination all over the field. With three minutes played Cyril Thereau missed the first of two clear-cut chances, the French striker firing weakly at Antonio Mirante when one-on-one with the Parma goalkeeper. The two players squared up again in the 10th minute, Mirante winning the duel again as Chievo settled for a corner. Parma's defence was uncharacteristically shaky but proved to be resilient enough to keep the hosts at arm's length until the half-hour mark. Gennaro Sardo's cross-cum-shot fooled Mirante into taking a central position but the veteran stopper readjusted at the very last moment to palm the ball clear. The Parma frontline had chased the ball to no avail for 40 minutes but former Lyon striker Belfodil would make a rare opportunity count. The Algerian striker was well placed to seize on Nicola Sansone's crafty pass and beat Christian Puggioni with the outside of his left boot at the first time of asking. Sansone could not sustain his creative buzz as play resumed and his sloppy touch on the counter-attack handed Chievo the initiative. Eugenio Corini's charges would make it count in the 56th minute, Thereau drifting the ball over to Paloschi, whose firm header beat Mirante's charge off the line. Mirante got the better of Thereau once again to deny Chievo a swift turnaround but Parma were now shaken and firmly on the back foot. Marco Andreolli sent the visiting goalkeeper sprawling with a firm header as time ticked away but the hosts began to run out of energy and ideas. Amauri had been the matchwinner in Parma's recent encounter with Palermo but his promising early cross into the box skipped away from a clutch of team-mates four minutes from time.