Catania secured only their third victory of the season after coming out on top in this relegation six pointer. Gonzalo Bergessio put the Elefantini ahead, before Lodi struck from the penalty spot. The result moves the Sicilians level on points with Livorno at the foot of the table and plunges Bologna back into the relegation mix. Stefano Pioli's future as coach of the Rossoblu will also be under threat once more.
Catania vs Bologna, final score 2-0: Lodi inspires Sicilians to victory
Francesco Lodi made a successful return to Catania, creating one and scoring the other in a 2-0 victory over Bologna.
Maurizio Lagana
Lodi proved to be the spark that Catania have seemed to lack so far this season. His move back to the Stadio Angelo Massimino outfit comes after spending just six months at Genoa. In contrast, Bologna badly missed their suspended talisman Alessandro Diamanti and looked toothless in attack.
The away side fashioned the game's first real effort on nine minutes. Panagiotis Kone teed himself up to send a bicycle kick over from inside the area. Both sides wasted good chances from corners. Nicolas Spolli and Jonathan Cristaldo were the two culprits that sent free headers off target.
Catania fired a warning shot from a free kick. Lodi floated it towards Bergessio and Gianluca Curci got his fingertips to the ball just before the frontman headed it wide.
Bologna failed to heed the danger from set pieces. From another free kick, the home side took the lead midway through the first half. Lodi was the provider once more for Bergessio, who snuck in unmarked at the far post to head the ball into the net. The Bologna marking was nonexistent with the defence all at sea.
Lucas Castro almost doubled the lead ten minutes before the break, but his angled drive fizzed wide of the far post. Bologna mustered a couple of efforts on the stroke of half time. Davide Moscardelli shot straight at Alberto Frison, then sent a disappointing set piece over the bar with the final kick of the half.
Alexis Rolin wasted a glorious chance two minutes after the restart. The defender wasn’t closed down and was allowed to hit a vicious shot wide from the edge of the box.
After Bergessio headed a Kone free kick over to protect his goalkeeper, Catania began to dominate. Barrientos picked out Bergessio to head wide, before Lodi curled a 30 yard free kick off the post. Catania were awarded a penalty on 66 minutes after Archimede Morleo went to ground and blocked a low cross with his hand. Lodi stepped up and buried the spot kick, sending Curci the wrong way.
Diego Perez clashed with Bergessio and had to leave the field momentarily to have a head wound cleaned up. The woodwork then came to Bologna's rescue. Barrientos latched onto a through ball and his effort struck the post with Curci beaten.
Deep in stoppage time, the home side broke free once more, but Barrientos rolled his effort the wrong side of the post.
Catania: Frison, Peruzzi, Spolli, Rolin, Alvarez, (Biraghi 60) Plasil, Izco, Castro, (Legrottaglie 83) Barrientos, Lodi, (Guarente 87) Bergessio
Bologna: Curci, Morleo, Antonsson, Natali, Mantovani, (Bianchi 67) Crespo, Della Rocca, Perez, Kone, Moscardelli, Cristaldo (Acquafresca 74)
Goals: Bergessio 23 (C) Lodi pen 66 (C)
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