Cagliari have eased their relegation fears by beating 10-man Parma 1-0 in their Serie A clash this afternoon.

The visitors threatened in the opening stages when Sebastian Eriksson saw his strike pushed around the post by Antonio Mirante.

Parma were next to come close as Antonio Cassano drilled in a low free kick that was palmed wide by Marco Silvestri.

In the 34th minute, Cagliari were awarded a penalty following Alessandro Lucarelli's foul on Mauricio Pinilla just inside the box.

Pinilla himself stepped up to the take the spot kick and made no mistake with a composed strike into the bottom corner.

Cassano almost responded immediately, but after working some room in the box, he flashed a shot just over the bar.

Parma's hopes of getting back into the game suffered a blow when Felipe shown a straight red card in the 53rd minute for punching Luca Rossettini.

Jonathan Biabiany then had a chance to bring the 10 men level, but after being picked out in the box, he could only lash a strike over the bar.

In the 82nd minute Parma were agonizingly close to equalising but Amauri's close-range header was tipped around the post by a one-handed save from Silvestri.

Afriyie Acquah saw a long-range strike blocked by Silvestri in stoppage time, but Parma were unable to find the net as their hopes of qualifying for the Europa League suffered a damaging blow.