Catania get off the mark

Catania held Parma to a goalless draw to clinch their first point this season.

Catania held Parma to a goalless draw on Sunday at the Angelo Massimino Stadium to clinch their first point this season. The heavy rain which had fallen earlier in the day in Catania made playing conditions difficult for both sides. The result will please Catania coach Rolando Maran, whose team went into the encounter on the back of three consecutive defeats and having given away seven goals. However, Catania's struggles in front of goal - they have found the net just once - continue. Parma, like Catania, remain winless after four games coach Roberto Donadoni will be disappointed that his players could not make the most of their chances. Gonzalo Bergessio should have given Catania a second-minute lead when he got behind Jaroslav Plasil's cross, but his six-yard strike went inches wide of the far post. Parma had their first chance in the 37th minute when Antonio Cassano's goal-bound shot was deflected out for a corner. On the stroke of half-time, Parma goalkeeper Antonio Mirante had to dive to his right to clear Nicola Spolli's powerful header from Pablo Barrientos' cross. Parma came to life in the second half and on the hour mark Amauri came close to breaking the deadlock when he got past Spolli and struck a right-footed shot towards the far post, forcing Catania goalkeeper Mariano Andujar into a full-stretch save. In the 77th minute, Plasil's diagonal effort from the edge of the area beat Mirante but went inches wide of the near post. Parma substitute Afriyie Acquah had the last opportunity of the game but saw his goal-bound shot blocked by defender Nicola Legrottaglie. Catania travel to Rome to face Lazio on Wednesday while Parma hosts Atalanta next.