Atalanta 2-2 Palermo

Palermo saw their Europa League hopes disappear after being held to a draw at Atalanta.

The Sicilian side had gone into the game trailing Roma by two points and needing a win to keep their qualification hopes alive.

But with Roma winning 3-2 at AC Milan, Palermo could only take a point at Atalanta which means victory in the final game of the season will not be enough to close the four-point gap on sixth place.

Palermo started well but the first real chance of the game did not come until the ninth minute when the visitors saw Fabio Simplicio fire over from distance.

Eight minutes later Atalanta's Marino Defendi set up Daniele Capelli for a close range header but Marco Amelia saved low to his left.

Palermo took the lead just after the half hour when an effort from Davide Succi found the goal.

Federico Balzaretti set up the chance and Succi grabbed the goal which boosted the European hopes of the visitors.

Palermo went close to increasing their lead one minute before half-time when Marco Bresciano shot from the middle of the Atalanta box but it was well saved by young home keeper Andrea Consigli.

The visitors went close again when Roberto Guana nearly scored on the stroke of half-time.

Guana finished with a right foot shot from the edge of the Atalanta box after being provided with the chance by Fabrizio Miccoli but the effort went just past the post.

The home side were level five minutes into the second half.

Tiberio Guarente crossed from the right for Gianvito Plasmati who headed home into the top right corner from six yards.

Palermo were denied a chance to restore their lead soon after when midfielder Giulio Migliaccio hit a right foot shot from the edge of the area.

The effort was headed for the bottom right corner of the goal but was well saved by Consigli.

Palermo were battling hard to keep their hopes of European qualification alive but they were dealt a blow when the home side went back in front.

Gaurente was again the provider as he set up Plasmati for his second goal of the game.

Guarente's free-kick found Plasmati whose header found the top right corner from close range.

With 15 minutes to go Palermo gave themselves hope when they equalised. Their goal came from Miccoli whose right foot shot from inside the Atalanta box beat Balzaretti into the bottom right corner.

Amelia kept the visitors in the game when he denied Cristiano Doni whose left foot shot was on target.

The Palermo keeper also had to be alert with eight minutes left as Atalanta's Alessio Cerci shot from 25 yards.

Amelia was also called upon a minute later as his save denied Miccoli who tried his luck with a shot from 30 yards out.

A minute before full-time Miccoli again went close to giving the home side victory but his free-kick went just past the post.