Roma could miss the chance to move level on points with Juventus at the top of Serie A as they head into the break trailing 1-0 at Palermo.

The home side took a surprise lead with just two minutes played as Paulo Dybala combined with strike partner Franco Vazquez inside the box and tucked an unstoppable effort into the bottom corner.

Palermo caused Roma all kinds of problems in the opening stages, coming close to adding a second through Michel Morganella moments later when his long-range effort narrowly missed the target.

Rudi Garcia's high-flyers were largely restricted to efforts from range, but one of them almost came off in the 35th minute as Leandro Paredes's strike from outside the box whizzed past the upright.

But it was Palermo who ended the half the brightest, almost heading into the break two goals to the good as Edgar Barreto's header six minutes before half time needed a good save from Morgan De Sanctis to stay out.