Parma moved back into the top six with a 1-0 win away to bottom club Sassuolo.
Marco Parolo's early goal was enough for the Gialloblu, who moved ahead of Hellas Verona into the final Europa League place.
Sassuolo were dominated throughout and their afternoon got even worse in the second half when substitute Domenico Berardi was sent off only a minute after his introduction, damaging any hope of an already unlikely comeback.
Bologna missed a penalty and had a man sent off as they were held to a goalless draw in their clash with Verona.
Rolando Bianchi squandered the game's best chance when he won the spot-kick two minutes after half-time but saw it saved by home goalkeeper Rafael.
Relegation-threatened Bologna's frustration at letting the chance of maximum points elude them spilled over late on when first-half substitute Jonathan Cristaldo was dismissed for an elbow on Vangelis Moras.
Goals from Stefano Okaka and Manolo Gabbiadini helped Sampdoria put back-to-back losses behind them as they cruised to a 2-0 victory at Torino.
Morale must have been low among the Genoa-based side after defeats to Roma and AC Milan, but they responded strongly.
Okaka opened the scoring in the seventh minute before Gabbiadini settled matters after 79 minutes with a wonderful strike.
Atalanta got back to winning ways at home with a 2-1 success over relegation-threatened Chievo.
Substitute Luca Cigarini struck the match-winning goal five minutes from the end after Bostjan Cesar's 65th-minute red card had reduced Chievo to 10 men.
Cesar was given a second caution after a soft, but ill-advised, slap to the face of German Denis with his side trailing to Carlos Carmona's first-half goal.
Chievo did equalise moments later when Dario Dainelli headed in from a free-kick but the Flying Donkeys failed to hold on as Denis supplied the assist for Cigarini.
Genoa left Catania in serious relegation danger after winning 2-0 at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris.
Luca Antonelli gave the Genovese side the lead in the 14th minute, and after Giuseppe Bellusci was sent off shortly before the break, there was only going to be one winner.
Genoa had to wait until five minutes from time before sealing victory, though, with 20-year-old Stefano Sturaro's first strike in Serie A settling their nerves and ending Catania's hopes.
On Saturday night, Roma failed to make significant inroads into Juventus' advantage after being held to a 0-0 draw at home to Inter Milan.
The Giallorossi created the better chances, but Inter were good value for the point.
