Hellas Verona ended their three-game winless run in Serie A by coming from behind to beat Empoli 2-1 this afternoon.

Riccardo Saponara gave the visitors the lead in the sixth minute when he was slipped through on goal by Massimo Maccarone and fired a low effort past the keeper.

Luca Toni then came close to equalising for Verona when his snap-shot from inside the box was tipped onto the bar by Davide Bassi.

However, the hosts were level moments later as Vangelis Moras met Mounir Obbadi's free kick at the back post and headed an effort into the far corner.

After the break, Toni threatened again with a powerful header that ended up going inches over the crossbar.

Fernandinho then felt that he should have been awarded a penalty after going down under a challenge from Vincent Laurini, but he was instead booked for simulation.

Just a minute later, Verona took the lead as Bassi's poor punch landed at the feet of Jacopo Sala, who made no mistake in firing the loose ball into the back of the net.

Empoli poured forward in search of an equaliser, but they were unable to find a second goal as they lost in the league for the second successive weekend.