Parma have defeated Udinese 1-0 at the Stadio Ennio Tardini to end their 11-game winless run in Serie A.
Silvestre Varela's goal after 54 minutes proved to be the difference, with a rare victory seeing the strugglers move up to 15 points for the season.
The first chance of the contest fell to the feet of Massimo Coda, who managed to get on the end of a rebound inside the box, but he saw his effort kept out by Orestis Karnezis.
Udinese, who had drawn their last two games heading into this one, managed to grow into the game as the first half wore on, and they very nearly edged ahead when Igor Bubnjic struck the post with his half-volley attempt.
Francesco Lodi's free kick was heading for the back of the net if not for the intervention of Karnezis, but Parma did not have to wait much longer to make the breakthrough.
The goal came in rather fortuitous circumstances, as Varela's cross from the left evaded everyone inside the area and went straight through beyond the reach of Karnezis.
It could have been two soon after when Ishak Belfodil managed to get a shot away inside the box, but this time the Bianconeri stopper was equal to it.
In the end it mattered little, with bottom-of-the-table Parma seeing out the remainder of the contest to condemn their opponents to a defeat which leaves them in 13th place.
Daniel Lewis
