Brescia dent Roma's title hopes

Title-chasing Roma missed out on the chance to reclaim top spot in Serie A after losing their unbeaten away record in a 1-0 defeat away to Brescia.

Jonathan Bachini scored the decisive goal just before half-time, slotting home from the penalty spot after Walter Samuel had fouled Simone Del Nero in the box.

Roma's defeat, their second this month, means they could lose further ground on league leaders AC Milan, who are away to Bologna on Sunday.

Milan have 45 points from 18 matches, two more than second-placed Roma who have played a game more.

Reigning Italian champions Juventus, currently in third place on 40 points, can draw level with Roma if they win at home to Chievo on Sunday.

Brescia, who were missing their talismanic striker Roberto Baggio because of injury, climb three places into 10th place.

Roma coach Fabio Capello admitted his side had lost their way after going the first 14 games unbeaten.

"It's a difficult moment and these negative results speak for themselves," he said. "We must deal with this situation, stop worrying about Milan and think only about ourselves.

"We have to rediscover the kind of form we showed at the beginning of the season and play without fear."

Brescia's Luigi Di Biagio said he was relieved to return to winning ways following back-to-back defeats to Milan and Chievo which drew them closer to the drop zone.

"I'm very happy with the game went - victory was very important for us," said the former Roma midfielder. "We were worried about facing Roma, so we looked to hit them on the counter-attack and everything worked out well - we are very happy."

Roma, held to a 1-1 draw at home to Udinese last week, dominated the first-half, but failed to put their chances away, with striker Antonio Cassano the biggest culprit.

The recently-capped Italy international wasted two gilt-edged chances from close range with only Federico Agliardi in the Brescia goal to beat.

And the visitors paid for their wayward shooting in the 42nd minute when Argentine defender Samuel pulled back the lively Del Nero to give away a penalty.

Roma goalkeeper Ivan Pelizzoli, returning to the first team after a muscular injury forced him to miss two matches, got his hand to Bachini's poorly struck kick but could not prevent the ball from creeping over the line.

Roma spent most of the second-half camped in the home side's half, but failed to break through a rigid Brescia defence which held firm to secure the Lombardy club's fifth victory of the season.

Earlier Saturday, Reggina improved their chances of avoiding the drop and plunged Empoli deeper into the mire after defeating their fellow strugglers 2-0.

Two second-half penalties, both conceded by goalkeeper Luca Bucci, eased Reggina's relegation fears, both conceded by Luca Bucci.

The Empoli goalkeeper brought down Emiliano Bonazzoli five minutes after the break and Reggina's captain Francesco Cozza converted the spot-kick for his fifth goal of the season.

Empoli, who held reigning champions Juventus to a 3-3 draw last week, pushed hard for an equaliser, but their fate was sealed a minute from time when Bucci blundered again.

The 34-year-old veteran clumsily upended David Di Michele and the Reggina striker took over the penalty-taking duties in the absence of the substituted Cozza and netted with ease.

Reggina's victory saw them climb up into 12th place, while Empoli remain fourth from bottom on 13 points, five adrift of Modena.

The bottom four clubs will be relegated to the second division.