( CNN ) -- Inter Milan were held to a drab goalless draw by Genoa in the San Siro on Sunday to leave them four points clear of arch-rivals AC Milan in Serie A . It proved a frustrating night for the reigning champions and in particular their coach Jose Mourinho , who was serving the second of a three-match touchline ban . He fielded a three-strong attack of Mario Balotelli , Goran Pandev and Diego Milito , but they drew blank against a determined visiting side . Only in the closing minutes did Inter threaten with Maicon , striking substitute Samuel Eto ' o and Wesley Sneijder going close . Inter moved to 59 points , with Milan their nearest challengers after being held goalless by AS Roma on Saturday . In other action on Sunday , Palermo stepped up their campaign for a Champions League place with a 1-0 win over Livorno . Fabrizio Miccoli 's goal nine minutes from the end took the Sicilians into fourth place in Serie A , two points clear of Juventus , . Palermo beat Juve in Turin last weekend in a match which could prove crucial in the battle for qualification . Sampdoria are in sixth , a point further back , after a 2-1 home win over Lazio . The struggling visitors took a seventh-minute lead through Sergio Floccari but goals later in the first half from Stefano Guberti and Giampaolo Pazzini were enough to give Samp the three points . Napoli continued to slip down the table after a 2-1 defeat at Bologna , with Marcelo Zalayeta and Brazilian Adailton scoring early goals to claim the three points .
Inter Milan held to a goalless draw by San Siro in Genoa . Livorno forced to watch match from the stands after touchline ban . Palermo up to fourth in Inter Milan after 2 -0 win over Livorno .