Chivu pulls Parma out of Serie A drop zone on managerial bow

Parma moved out of the Serie A relegation zone on Saturday after beating Bologna 2-0 on Cristian Chivu's senior managerial debut and ending a seven-match winless run.

A first-half penalty from Ange-Yoan Bonny and Simon Sohm's super finish 11 minutes from the end moved Parma up to 17th in Italy's top flight, two points above Empoli who dropped into the bottom three and host Atalanta on Sunday.

Former Romania defender Chivu agreed a contract with Parma until the end of next season after Fabio Pecchia was sacked on Monday.

Chivu, who as a player won three Serie A titles and the 2010 Champions League with Inter Milan, had been out of work since leaving Inter's youth set-up last summer.

Later on Sunday reigning champions Inter will have the chance to move top of the league when they host revitalised Genoa at the San Siro.

Lazio moved into the Champions League positions, one point ahead of Juventus, following a disappointing goalless draw at Venezia.