Palermo drew 0-0 with Genoa at the Stadio Renzo Barbera in Serie A action on Saturday evening.
The Rossoblu had appeals for a penalty waved away on the stroke of halftime whilst Salvatore Aronica was dismissed on 76 minutes for the hosts, but neither side could find a breakthrough in a crucial relegation tussle.
Neither side had managed a shot with nine minutes gone, but Juan Manuel Vargas nearly gifted the home side the lead when he headed Steve Von Bergen’s free-kick just wide of his own goal.
Jasmin Kurtic blasted high and wide from distance for Palermo, whilst Edgar Barreto saw his own long-range effort smothered easily by Sebastien Frey.
Stefano Sorrentino made light work of Juraj Kucka’s shot from the edge of the box, and moments later Vargas launched a wayward attempt into the stands on the half-volley.
Daniele Portanova and Francelino Matuzalem were booked for the Grifone in quick succession, the latter being cautioned for an ugly flying kick on Ezequiel Munoz that left the Argentine in need of treatment.
Some intricate interplay by the visitors saw Andrea Bertolacci play Marco Borriello in behind the defence, but Sorrentino rushed off his line to beat away the Italian’s effort at point blank range.
The Rosanero immediately came flying upfield on the counter, but the assembled home crowd were left disappointed as Josip Ilicic fired wide of the far post after a mazy run through the centre of the pitch.
The Slovenian soon after cut inside from the right flank to unleash a dipping drive from distance, but Frey was well positioned to make the catch.
Borriello played an intelligent flick-on for Bertolacci to fire in from 18 yards out, but Sorrentino got down well to smother the young Italian’s low effort.
Controversy abounded with the last act of the first half, as Marco Rossi appeared to have been dragged down by Santiago Garcia in the area for a penalty whilst chasing a lofted ball from Emiliano Moretti, but the referee instead promptly brought the first period to a close.
After the restart Borriello nearly snatched the opener from an ill advised headed backpass from Aronica, but Sorrentino was on hand to quell the danger.
Miccoli went just wide of the upright minutes later with a long free-kick struck with the outside of his boot, whilst Alberto Malesani made his first change of the match in bringing on Mauro Boselli for Diego Fabbrini.
Ilicic burst down the left to play the ball perfectly across the face of goal for Boselli, but Frey performed a fantastic reaction save at close range to keep the sides level.
On 75 minutes the Rosanero were reduced to 10 men, as Aronica was given his marching orders after his second yellow card for a rash challenge from behind on Borriello.
Rossi made way for Eros Pisano for the Grifone as Borriello sliced his shot from distance miles off target, whilst former Palermo man Cesare Bovo replaced Matuzalem soon after.
Borriello continued to menace the opposition goal with a long range effort and an acrobatic volley from the centre of the area, but Sorrentino denied the Italian each time.
Ciro Immobile came on for Juan Vargas as time wound down, with Andrea Dossena and Mauro Formica replacing Edgar Barreto and Ilicic respectively for the Rosanero.
Neither side could create an opportunity in the four minutes of second half stoppage time, and thus split the points in a scoreless draw.
You can follow Ian Capasso on Twitter: @capasso10
