Former striker Destro levels late to stun Roma

Bologna striker Mattia Destro hit a last-gasp leveller from the spot to secure a share of the points in a rain-lashed 2-2 draw with former club Roma that saw three penalties on Saturday.

Roma made the short trip north only one point off leaders Fiorentina and second-placed Inter Milan and looking to maintain their title push three days before meeting Barcelona in a crucial Champions League fixture.

But Rudi Garcia's men were left lamenting dropping two precious points that could see them drop down the standings after the remainder of the Serie A fixtures this weekend.

Roma, missing injured forwards Gervinho and Mohamed Salah, were frustrated from the outset by the wet conditions at the Dall'Ara stadium and went behind to an Adam Masina strike on 14 minutes.

The visitors fought their way back into contention for the win when Miralem Pjanic, seven minutes after the restart, then Edin Dzeko struck from the spot to give the visitors a 2-1 lead with 18 minutes left on the clock.

But disaster struck for Roma when right-back Vasilis Torosidis, a late replacement for Maicon, completely misjudged his challenge on Emanuele Giaccherini inside the area.

Destro stepped up to beat Wojciech Szczesny in the Roma goal, incensing the visitors further when he spent most of the remaining two minutes celebrating his leveller.

Roma moved one place up to second although Garcia's men risk dropping down the table depending on how Inter, Fiorentina and Napoli fare against Frosinone, Empoli and Verona respectively.

In Saturday's late game champions Juventus host AC Milan looking to close their nine-point gap.