Catania beat Bologna 1-0 at the Stadio Angelo Massimino in Serie A on Sunday afternoon.
A goal from Sergio Almiron late in the first half was enough for the hosts to take the victory.
Catania were the more forthright of the two teams in the opening quarter of the game, though neither themselves, or Bologna caused any real problems. The visitors withstood a couple of potentially dangerous counter-attacks but goalkeeper Gianluca Curci was mostly untroubled.
That was until ten minutes before the break, when Catania suddenly decided to up the ante. Giovanni Marchese’s close-range volley was turned behind by Curci, before Sergio Almiron headed the ensuing corner narrowly wide.
Inside the final five minutes of the half Gonzalo Bergessio headed an Alejandro Gomez cross against the post, before the Elefanti eventually found the breakthrough. Almiron once again met a corner in the area, and this time punished Bologna, glancing the ball into the back of the net a couple of minutes before half time.
The goalscorer had a great chance to make it 2-0 right from the restart, though, bearing down on goal, his shot was disappointing, and was straight at Curci.
After seeing off an early second half barrage, Bologna create a few chances of their own, with Alberto Gilardino thwarted by Mariano Andujar from point-blank range before the Argentine goalkeeper made a two-handed save from distance to keep his side within reach.
Bologna’s best chance of an equaliser came with just over ten minutes to go, after Gyorgy Garics crossed low from the right. Davide Moscardelli and Alberto Gilardino both stabbed at the ball but neither could make a clean contact, and the chance broke down.
Mariano Izco had a good chance to seal the win in stoppage time, though his effort went narrowly wide. Regardless, Catania took the victory.
