Sampdoria and Roma both benefited from a goalless draw at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris as they moved into a share of fifth position in Serie A.
Chances were few and far between on a bitterly cold night in Liguria, although Roma created the better opportunities in a strong half-hour spell in the second half.
After a bright start, Samp started to suffer as they have done in recent weeks, but they showed the strength to react and clinch a point which sees them rise five places in the table, just three points behind fourth-placed Parma.
The first signs of winter hit Genoa with force as the temperature dropped with a freezing wind ensuring both teams sustained a high tempo merely to keep warm.
Former Roma forward Antonio Cassano tried to warm the home fans too with his imagination and creativity inspiring the home team to make a better start to the game.
His vision enabled him to cross the ball to Daniele Mannini, whose volley from just inside the penalty area missed the post by inches as Roma goalkeeper Julio Sergio could only watch and hope.
Moments earlier, Roma had two chances with Rodrigo Taddei's volley deflecting just wide while John Arne Riise's volley from a training-ground corner came even closer to breaking the deadlock.
Angelo Palombo tested Julio Sergio with a 25-yard drive which turned wickedly in the air, forcing the Roma keeper to push the ball behind.
From the corner, Marius Stankevicius' header bounced back off the base of the post, but it did not fall too kindly for Giampaolo Pazzini, who headed the rebound wide from close range.
Roma reacted well in the second half and, for half an hour, they laid siege to the Samp goal.
Nicolas Burdisso's header missed the target before Simone Perrotta poked a shot wide with just Luca Castellazzi to beat after a good combination between Mirko Vucinic and Francesco Totti.
Castellazzi tipped Vucinic's header over the crossbar as the Giallorossi kept getting closer to scoring, but when Perrotta's header was blocked at point-blank range by Palombo, it was clear that it was not going to be their night.
Samp were unable to find a way of beating Julio Sergio either, although they did manage to contain Roma and not suffer any nervous moments in the final 15 minutes.
But Cassano was not seeing enough of the ball and, without their playmaker, the Blucerchiati lacked creativity as they settled for a draw in front of their own fans.
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