Report: Bari 1 Parma 1

The visitors were fortunate to take a 36th-minute lead after Nicola Belmonte turned the ball into his own net following a cross by Damiano Zenoni.

Parma thought they had done enough to secure its third away win this season but Bari battled back to clinch a deserved point at the San Nicola stadium.

The coaches of each side will be pleased to have taken another step towards securing top-flight status for another season.

The result has lifted Bari to 11th place, level on 39 points with Cagliari.

Parma trail one point behind Bari with nine games remaining.

Both sides went into the game in the midst of an impressive season after winning promotion last term.

Bari have had problems on the road but they entered the game on the back of a 2-0 win at Lazio, its first triumph away from home since October 18.

But it was Parma that enjoyed a strong start and almost went ahead in the fifth minute.

Alessandro Lucarelli latched onto Luis Jimenez's cross and his powerful header was kept out thanks to a fine save from Bari goalkeeper Jean Francois Gillet.

At the other end, Riccardo Meggiorini forced Parma goalkeeper Nicola Pavarini to fully stretch to clear his left-footed strike towards the near post.

Meggiorini was unlucky not to hand Bari an eighth-minute lead.

His left-footed strike from 15 yards out hit the right post with Pavarini already beaten.

Parma reacted and put a good move together in the 18th minute.

Francesco Valiani fed Luis Jimenez inside the area and his bullet strike was parried away by Gillet.

Midway through the first half, Davide Lanzafame forced Gillet to make another good save from his right-footed strike.

On the half-hour mark, Parma's Hernan Crespo struck high and wide from the edge of the area.

Crespo also missed a great chance after 35 minutes when his powerful header from Valiani's free-kick went inches wide of the far post.

Parma reaped the reward for its attacking play seconds later.

Zenoni surged inside the area and his cross-cum-shot was deflected by Belmonte into the back of the net.

The hosts showed more determination after the re-start and earned two corners early in the second half.

Bari should have levelled the score on the hour mark but Belmonte struck wide from inside the area.

Shortly after, Sergio Almiron's 25-yard strike went over the bar.

With 15 minutes remaining, substitute Ferdinando Sforzini's close-range header was cleared by Pavarini.

Bari's effort paid off in the 85th minute when substitute Pedro Kamata fed Massiello inside the area and his right-footed strike beat Pavarini.

Meggiorini should have handed the hosts all three points but fired high and wide from 12 yards as Parma held on for a point.

Bari take on Sampdoria on Thursday morning (AEDT) while Parma host title-chasing AC Milan next.