Bari 1 : 1 Catania - Catania claim survival point

Posted Sunday, April 10, 2011 by PA

Catania edged a point closer to Serie A safety after scrapping out a 1-1 draw at rock-bottom Bari.

The Sicilians have been revitalised under former Argentina midfielder Diego Simeone but fell behind at the Stadio San Nicola when Alessandro Gazzi netted for the hosts after 33 minutes.

Catania rallied and equalised on the stroke of half-time through Maxi Lopez.

Both sides had chances to win it in the second half and both had late strikes disallowed.

Bari, who had accumulated just 20 points in 31 games before today's encounter, started brightly and Erik Huseklepp had the first chance only to drag it wide after playing a neat one-two with Gergely Rudolf.

Sergio Almiron then shot wide after finding a yard of space in the box. The pressure told just after the half-hour mark, though, Gazzi nodding a corner into the top right-hand corner.

Catania finally offered a threat going forward after 39 minutes with a Gonzalo Bergessio shot flying wide.

And the visitors found themselves on level terms after 44 minutes, former Barcelona striker Lopez beating two men before lobbing the ball superbly over home goalkeeper Jean Francois Gillet.

Gillet distinguished himself after 63 minutes with a fine save to prevent Alejandro Gomez from putting Catania in front and then again to keep out a drilled Lopez strike.

Lopez and Bergessio combined well with 15 minutes to go, the move culminating in the latter firing in a shot which Gillet again saved.

Bergessio wasted a golden opportunity to put Catania ahead after 79 minutes, failing to finish from close range, before, at the other end, Mariano Andujar saved well from Massimo Donati.

Catania, without an away win in 14 months, thought they had edged ahead after 86 minutes only to have Ezequiel Schelotto's `goal' ruled out for offside while in stoppage-time Bari substitute Emanuel Rivas had a strike chalked off when the referee adjudged him to have fouled Andujar.

Bari are now 11 points from safety and appear doomed with only six games to go. Catania are five points above the bottom three.