Parma drew 0-0 with Genoa at the Stadio Ennio Tardini in Sunday lunchtime Serie A action.
Andrea Bertolacci twice hit the frame of the goal for the Grifone in a bright performance for the 22 year-old, but neither side could ultimately break through as the match played out to a scoreless stalemate.
Just seven minutes into the match the home side were forced into a substitution, with injured Inter loanee McDonald Mariga making way for Sotiris Ninis.
The first real chance of the day fell to the visitors, however, as Nicola Pavarini needed to leave his feet to palm away Bertolacci’s header away from a Francesco Pisano cross.
Amauri thieved the ball from Francelino Matuzalem and burst forward into the penalty area on the counter, but could only fire tamely into the arms of Sebastien Frey from a dangerous position.
Bertolacci had another header charge down, whilst Ishak Belfodil’s cranial attempt was tipped around the post ever so slightly by Frey. The referee failed to see the keeper’s touch, awarding a goal-kick instead of a corner.
On the stroke of halftime, Bertolacci knocked down a ball over the top in the box for Marco Borriello to have an shot on goal on the half-volley, but the Italian skied over the bar to maintain the deadlock.
After the restart, Bertolacci nearly gave Genoa the lead with a cracking effort, but his searing drive from distance cracked off of the woodwork with Pavarini rooted to the spot.
On 57 minutes the Roma youth product rattled the upright once again, hitting the base of the post on the volley to give Marco Rigoni an opportunity on the follow up, but the flag was raised to end the move.
Borriello looked to catch Pavarini off his line with a chipped attempt from long range, but the veteran keeper was wise to the striker’s intentions.
Andrea Coda came on for Yohan Benalouane on the hour mark as Parma made their second substitution of the game.
Amauri found space to shoot in the box after some good work by Marco Parolo on the right flank, but was denied at close range by the alert Frey.
Davide Ballardini threw on a recovered Juan Manuel Vargas for Rigoni as both sides looked to grab the upper hand with the match entering its final stages.
Belfodil had a chance to put his side on top, but mistimed his jump to head wide at the far post after a deft flick-on by Amauri.
Djamel Mesbah made his debut for the Ducali on 78 minutes, replacing Massimo Gobbi on the left side of midfield.
Jonathan Biabiany controlled on the edge of the area to unleash a left-footed strike, the ball deflecting off of Andreas Granqvist to fly just wide of the post.
Ciro Immobile came on for Borriello, whilst Ruben Olivera was also thrown on for the exhausted Bertolacci.
Four minutes of added time could not produce a winner, with the sides settling for sharing the points in a match devoid of goals.
You can follow Ian Capasso on Twitter: @capasso10
