AC Milan continue to set the pace in Serie A as Lazio drew and Juventus were thrashed at home by Parma.
Bottom club Bari earned a priceless win against fellow strugglers Lecce and Palermo kept up their pursuit of UEFA Champions League football.
Sierra Leone youngster Rodney Strasser came off the bench to score the only goal of the game five minutes from time as leaders Milan won 1-0 away to Cagliari.
Second-placed Lazio now trail Milan by five points after being held to a frustrating 0-0 draw away to Genoa.
Sebastian Giovinco returned to haunt his parent club Juventus as he scored twice in Parma's 4-1 victory at Stadio Olimpico.
Juve's task was tough from the outset after Felipe Melo was sent off after just 17 minutes and Giovinco, who is on loan at Parma from the Turin club, then scored either side of half-time.
Nicola Legrottaglie pulled one back on the hour mark, but Hernan Crespo converted a penalty two minutes later and substitute Raffaele Palladino completed the rout in the last minute.
Bari clinched a vital three points in their quest to avoid relegation after a battling 1-0 success at Lecce.
Substitute Stefano Okaka scored the only goal 11 minutes from time before Lecce had Guillermo Giacomazzi sent off in stoppage-time.
Marco Borriello and Mirko Vucinic scored a brace apiece as Roma left it late to record a 4-2 home win over Catania.
Borriello scored after just five minutes for Roma, but Catania headed into half-time in front following goals from Matias Silvestre and Maxi Lopez.
However, Borriello levelled two minutes into the second half before Vucinic came off the bench to score twice in the final four minutes to clinch the points for Roma.
Palermo enjoyed a positive start to 2011 after claiming a comfortable 3-0 success at home to Sampdoria.
Fabrizio Miccoli made the breakthrough after 37 minutes before second-half goals from Giulio Migliaccio and substitute Massimo Maccarone made the game safe.
Fiorentina continue to toil at the wrong end of the table after being held to a 1-1 draw away to Bologna.
Evergreen striker Marco Di Vaio put Bologna ahead after just five minutes, but Fiorentina nicked a point through substitute Mario Santana midway through the second half.
Reported Manchester United target Alexis Sanchez was among the goals as Udinese beat Chievo Verona 2-0 at home.
Sanchez struck after 14 minutes and Antonio Di Natale added another on 25 minutes before Udinese had Ergun Berisa sent off on 34 minutes.
Cesena gained a welcome three points in their battle to stay up after winning 2-1 away to relegation rivals Brescia.
Luis Jimenez and Luca Ceccarelli scored before the break for Cesena, with Eder replying for Brescia five minutes into the second half.