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10-man Napoli defeat Genoa; 9-man Getafe stun Villarreal

Napoli's Marek Hamsik scores the winning goal against Genoa in Saturday's Serie A match.
Napoli's Marek Hamsik scores the winning goal against Genoa in Saturday's Serie A match.
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
  • Napoli keep pace with AC Milan and Lazio with a 1-0 defeat of Genoa in Serie A
  • Palermo beat Parma 3-1; Udinese overcome Fiorentina 2-1
  • In Spain, third-placed Villarreal got down to 1-0 defeat at Getafe
  • Inter Milan to face Seongnam Ilhwa from South Korea in semi-final of FIFA Club World Cup
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(CNN) -- Napoli maintained the pressure on Serie A pacesetters AC Milan and Lazio with a 1-0 away win against Genoa on Saturday night.

Marek Hamsik scored the game's only goal after 25 minutes, heading home past goalkeeper Eduardo for his seventh goal of the season.

Despite a numerical advantage in the closing minutes of the match -- Napoli's Michele Pazienza was sent off after receiving a second yellow card for a challenge on Omar Milanetto -- Genoa couldn't find an equalizer.

The result puts Napoli second in the table with 30 points, with both Milan (away to Bologna) and Lazio (who travel to Juventus) playing on Sunday.

Earlier in the day, Palermo came from behind to beat Parma 3-1 to move up to fifth place in the table.

Alessandro Lucarelli gave Parma the lead when he netted in the seventh minute. But three second half goals ensured that the Sicily side bagged all three points.

Mauricio Pinilla equalized in the 51st minute and Fabrizio Miccoli added another ten minutes later, before Christian Zaccardo wrapped up the win with a goal moments before the final whistle.

Udinese also overturned a first half deficit to come out on top against Fiorentina and extend their unbeaten run at home in Serie A to six matches.

Juan Manuel Santana scored in the 31st minute after an error by Udinese's goalkeeper Samir Handanovic. But Pablo Armero stunning strike after 61 minutes put the hosts back on level terms and Antonio Di Natale was on hand to snatch the winner nine minutes from time.

Rafa Benitez's Inter Milan will face Seongnam Ilhwa of South Korea in the semi-final of the FIFA Club World Cup taking place in the United Arab Emirates.

The Asian champions thrashed local side Al Wahda 4-1 on Saturday.

First-half goals from Mauricio Molina and Sasa Ognenovski earned Seongnam Ilhwa a 2-1 lead at half time -- Fernando Baiano scored in the 27th minute for the Gulf team.

Choi Sung-Kuk (71st minute) and Cho Dong-Geon ten minutes later ensured a showdown with the current European champions on Wednesday.

In Spain's La Liga, nine-man Getafe beat third-placed Villarreal 1-0. Juan Albin scored the winner in the 89th minute but was then sent off for taking off his shirt during his celebrations -- the Uruguayan striker having already been booked ten minutes earlier.

Defender Daniel Diaz was given his marching orders after a fierce tackle on Villarreal striker Nilmar shortly before half-time.

Meanwhile, second from bottom Almeria pulled off a shock 3-1 win away to Sevilla.

Frederic Kanoute missed a first half penalty for the home side before Fabian Vargas gave Almeria the lead three minutes into the second half. Pablo Piatti made it 2-0 in the 81st minute to all but seal the win.

Kanoute made amends for his earlier miss pulling one back two minutes later but when defender Alexis was shown a second yellow card the game was up for Sevilla.

Pablo Piatti's second goal of the match in injury-time made sure of the three points which lifts Almeria to 18th, one place above Sporting Gijon.

Atletico Madrid enjoyed a comfortable 2-0 win over Deportivo La Coruna thanks to a first half brace from Sergio Aguero.

The Argentine striker opened the scoring with a superb individual effort in the eighth minute -- moments after Diego Forlan has missed a penalty kick.

Aguero claimed his second 10 minutes before the break coolly slotting home after being played through by Simao.

The win moves Atletico up to sixth place with 23 points.