Empoli dealt Roma's Serie A title hopes a significant blow by holding the Scudetto-chasing Giallorossi to a 1-1 draw at Stadio Olimpico tonight.

Massimo Maccarone's penalty earned the visitors a 1-0 half-time lead in a first half that saw both teams reduced to 10 men - Kostas Manolas and Riccardo Saponara those given their marching orders.

Maicon levelled on 57 minutes, but Rudi Garcia's side, who sit second in the table, fell short and invited leaders Juventus to move nine points clear if they beat Udinese on Sunday.

It was the visitors who started the better of the sides and Manuel Pucciarelli had Roma hearts in mouths early on when he beat Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa before firing across the face of goal.

The hosts continued to toil in the final third, with Daniele Rugani throwing himself in the way of Miralem Pjanic's close-range strike.

A tentative first half sparked into life on 38 minutes when defender Manolas was shown a straight red card for bringing down Saponara inside the box.

Maccarone stepped up to dispatch the resulting penalty, but Empoli's bid to preserve that lead was dented when Saponara was also dismissed for a second yellow card on the stroke of half time.

That incident acted as a wake-up call for Roma, who were back on level terms within 12 minutes of the restart.

Maicon, restored to the first XI, vindicated Garcia's decision to start him by stroking home the equaliser on 57 minutes to reinvigorate the hosts.

They very nearly completed the turnaround five minutes later when second-half substitute Davide Astori saw his towering header come off the crossbar in what proved to be the last chance of the game.