Both goalkeepers Dida and Gianluigi Buffon were the major protagonists in a game which could have gone either way, but ended, rightly, with a share of the spoils.

An Antonio Cassano-inspired Sampdoria defeated Reggina 3-0, allowing coach Walter Mazzarri to celebrate a win over the club he led to safety last season.

Cassano set up Claudio Bellucci for the first goal after only five minutes and was the liveliest player on the pitch before Paolo Sammarco doubled the scoreline 10 minutes into the second half.

Cassano was involved in a more unsavoury moment with Reggina coach Renzo Ulivieri shortly after and, while Ulivieri was sent off, Cassano's game also ended at that point as Mazzarri withdrew him as a precautionary measure before he, too, saw a red card.

Reggina defender Maurizio Lanzaro was not spared such a fate as he was sent off just a minute before Bellucci grabbed his second and Samp's third in the 76th minute.

On Sunday, champions and leaders Internazionale defend top spot against Fiorentina while Roma host Udinese. Atalanta meet Napoli while Catania and Palermo clash in the Sicilian derby, a fixture which last season was marred by the death of a policeman.

Lazio travel to Siena while Parma is the venue for Empoli. Cagliari host Livorno while Genoa make the short trip to Torino.