The match started off well for Catania, with the home side trying their luck at Morgan De Sanctis's goal twice in the first minute. But Napoli threatened with one of their classic counterattacks, and the rossazzurri panicked. Pablo Alvarez, the last man, cut out Edinson Cavani as he charged toward goal. The referee showed no hesitation in showing a red card, and Catania were set to play 88+ minutes down a man.
Catania 0-0 Napoli: Visitors Clueless Against Ten-Man Catania
Despite being up a man for almost the entire match, Napoli couldn’t get on the board against Catania, and leave Sicily with just a point.
Yet the partenopei just couldn’t break down Catania, a situation they’ve been in far too many times when visiting -- they’ve never managed to win at the Stadio Angelo Massimino. It wasn’t so much that Catania were parking the bus, although they did stick like glue to any Napoli player approaching the goal. The home side continued to take their chances, but imprecision got the best of them. As it did the visitors, who constantly made sloppy passes and failed to create opportunities. It didn’t help that they were constantly having their legs sliced out from beneath them, either.
By the end of the match, Walter Mazzarri had overloaded the pitch with attackers, bringing on Edu Vargas and Lorenzo Insigne to supplement Cavani and Goran Pandev. But the youngsters just couldn't compensate for Pandev's mis-judgments and Cavani's appalling touches. It seems Napoli are destined to remain winless at Catania.
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