Stuttering Palermo held 1-1 by Chievo

ROME, Feb 18 (Reuters) Palermo's stuttering Serie A form continued today, when they were held 1-1 by relegation-threatened Chievo Verona.

The Sicilian side, who have earned four points in their last four games, lie third in the division on 43 points, 20 behind leaders Inter Milan, who beat Cagliari 1-0 yesterday.

AS Roma are second on 49 points after losing 1-0 to fourth-placed Empoli (35 points) yesterday.

In today's other matches, two goals from striker Goran Pandev gave Lazio a 2-0 win over Torino that lifted the Rome-based team to fifth on 34 points, despite the three-point penalty they were given in the match-fixing scandal.

There was disappointment, however, for Parma's new coach Claudio Ranieri, whose bid to save the club from relegation began with a 1-0 defeat to Sampdoria.

Reuters AB DB2237