Catania 1 : 1 Genoa - Legrottaglie gifts Genoa late draw

A late own goal from Nicola Legrottaglie handed Genoa a valuable point from a 1-1 Serie A draw at Catania.

The Sicilians were within sight of only a second win of the season thanks to Pablo Barrientos' goal on the hour mark, but their former Juventus defender Legrottaglie headed the ball into his own net three minutes from time.

The result leaves Genoa and Catania with five points apiece and tied for 15th place after seven games.

Sunday's game also featured the return of Gian Piero Gasperini to the Genoa bench.

The Piedmont coach, who led the Rossoblu for four seasons before being sacked in 2010, replaced Fabio Liverani in the wake of last week's 2-0 defeat to Napoli.

Lucas Castro was first to test Mattia Perin in the sixth minute with a shot from 30 yards, but the young Genoa goalkeeper made the save.

Midway through the opening half, Catania keeper Mariano Andujar kept out Juraj Kucka's powerful header from Sime Vrsaljko's cross, but Mario Santana almost beat him with a stinging drive that went just wide of the far post.

Genoa fans voiced their disapproval in the 44th minute as referee Gianpaolo Calvarese ruled an Alberto Gilardino goal out for offside, and Catania should have gone in front when Barrientos fed Gonzalo Bergessio in the box, his left-footed strike defused by Perin.

Castro was unlucky not to give Catania the lead five minutes after the interval when his powerful header from Jaroslav Plasil's free-kick hit the crossbar.

But the Elefanti would take a deserved lead in the 60th minute.

Luca Antonini's poor clearance proved to be as good as an assist for Barrientos, who made no mistake in sending a right-footed shot from the middle of the area beyond Perin's reach.

The visitors could not believe their luck, then, as Legrottaglie managed to rise higher than Genoa striker Gilardino to nod the ball into the back of the net to stun the home crowd three minutes from time.