A win for Lecce would have taken them to the top of the table, but they rarely threatened until the closing stages and saw their unbeaten record come to an abrupt end in Verona.

In the day's other match, Gianfranco Zola inspired Cagliari to a 2-1 victory at home to Brescia which lifted the promoted Sardinian side up to third, behind Chievo on goal difference.

After a dull first half at the Bentegodi stadium, Chievo broke the deadlock in the 48th minute when Roberto Baronio's powerful low drive went through a sea of legs and past Vincenzo Sicignano in the Lecce goal.

The home side doubled their advantage 11 minutes from time, Simone Tiribocchi bundling the ball home with the help of a deflection off Souleymane's shoulder.

Mirko Vucinic halved the deficit in stoppage time with a superb 20-yard shot that arrowed into the top corner, but Lecce's late surge was to no avail as Chievo maintained their unbeaten run.

Zola got Cagliari off the mark in the 13th minute from the penalty spot, only for Andrea Caracciolo to equalise for the visitors shortly before half-time.

But Zola, who spent seven years in England playing for Premiership side Chelsea, refused to be beaten and a moment of magic from the 38-year-old striker set up the winning goal for Antonio Langella seven minutes from time.

Zola's inch-perfect angled pass picked out his overlapping team-mate, who cut inside his marker before striking a powerful right-footed shot in off the post.

Tempers flared after Langella had restored the home side's lead and Cagliari's Mauro Esposito and Brescia's Davide Zoboli were both sent off.