Genoa remained in contention for a place in Europe next season thanks to a narrow win over Chievo.

Captain Marco Rossi earned his side all three points with a 63rd-minute strike which takes the Rossoblu above Juventus in the Serie A table, but still a point behind sixth place, which is currently occupied by their city rivals Sampdoria.

Chievo battled hard for a point in a very even contest on a difficult surface in the Ligurian capital.

Genoa's home form has kept them in the hunt for a place in Europe next season, and they had a good chance to go ahead in the 10th minute when a good team move involving Rodrigo Palacio and Giuseppe Sculli set Robert Acquafresca up in front of Stefano Sorrentino.

Sorrentino's touch took the sting out of the Genoa striker's goalbound shot and Davide Mandelli was able to get in behind to clear the ball just before it crossed the goal line.

Five minutes later, it was Chievo's chance to threaten the opening goal.

Luca Rigoni's pass was perfectly weighted into the path of Luciano, but he was thwarted by Genoa goalkeeper Marco Amelia.

Luciano set Sergio Pellissier up for Chievo's next chance in the 27th minute, but Amelia was alert and raced from his line to make a block on the edge of the penalty area.

Both sides were losing possession too easily with no rhythm developing to the game, which was also played on probably the worst surface in Serie A.

The state of the pitch may have accounted for Acquafresca's failure to gain full control of the ball inside the penalty area in the 34th minute when the ball fell out to Giandomenico Mesto, who shot wide from 10 yards.

Things could only get better in the second half and when Dario Dainelli's header was saved by Sorrentino, it looked like Genoa were moving up a gear.

But it took them until the 63rd minute before they went ahead with their longest-serving player Rossi taking matters into his own hands to turn and beat Sorrentino with an angled shot into the far corner.

It was a goal out of nothing and probably the only way to break the deadlock in a tight game characterised by sloppy play.

But it was not over and Andrea Mantovani came close to an equaliser when he headed just inches wide of the post from a corner.

Chievo intensified their search for an equaliser and Mario Yepes should have got it five minutes from time when he placed a weak free header straight at Amelia from six yards.

At the other end, Sculli headed wide and Omar Milanetto rattled the crossbar with a speculative effort from 25 yards.