Good afternoon and welcome to Sports Mole's live commentary of Catania's clash with Bologna in Serie A.
Today's game marks the resumption of both sides' season following the winter break and it's is very much a relegation battle, as the division's bottom club host Bologna, who sit one point above the drop zone.
Catania were thumped 4-0 by Roma prior to the break on December 22, while the visitors overcame Genoa 1-0.
Please note, kick off is 2pm.
Good afternoon and welcome to Sports Mole's live commentary of Catania's clash with Bologna in Serie A.
Today's game is an important one for the bottom end of Serie A. Catania are rock-bottom of the divison, and while a win won't move them out of the drop zone, it will take them up to 13 points, above Livorno into 19th.
Bologna, who are currently just a point above the dreaded drop zone can move away with victory. The three points will see them go above Chievo, so certainly a lot to play for for both sides this afternoon.
Of course, Serie A’s big game was last night as Juventus ran out 3-0 winners against Roma to emphatically end their opponent’s 17-game unbeaten run. Goals from Leonardo Bonucci, Arturo Vidal and Mirko Vucinic were enough for Antonio Conte's side.
We're still waiting for team news at the moment, we will get that to see as soon as it reaches us.
Catania: Frison; Peruzzi, Spolli, Rolin, Alvarez; Plasil, Izco, Castro, Barrientos, Lodi; Bergessio
Bologna Stojanovic; Morleo, Antonsson, Natali, Mantovani, Crespo; Della Rocca, Perez, Kone; Moscardelli, Cristaldo
There was a game earlier on today in Serie A and it finished Napoli 2-0 Sampdoria. Dries Mertens helped himself to a brace for Rafael Benitez's side. You can see the match report of the Sports Mole homepage.
There are several other games in Italy's top division this afternoon, AC Milan host Atalanta, while Genoa play Sassuolo. Parma entertain Torino while Udinese host Verona. Lazio play Inter Milan later this evening as Serie A returns for the New Year.
The two teams are just emerging out of the tunnel. Not long now until kick off at Stadio Angelo Massimino.
You have to feel that Catania are going to have a real go here this afternoon. They are rock-bottom and need to give their season a shot in the arm. Three points at home to fellow strugglers would be just the tonic.
KICKOFF And we're off and running.
BOOKING Mantavani goes in the book very early on here. It was a soft one.
The game resembles something of playground football for a few seconds as both sides fight it out in the Cantania area. Pinball stuff!
Peruzzi fires in the first effort at goal which goes over the bar. Not a bad attempt though
It's really good play from Moscardelli who manages to hold off three challenges before trying a one-two. He doesn't get it back though which is a shame, because it was nice play.
Cristaldo tries to escape down the left, but to his frustration, he is flagged offside. He could have easily have held his line there, he was right out on the touchline.
Plasil delivers a corner that is headed clear, but it comes straight back into his path, but he fires a tame effort low. Easy for the goalkeeper.
We're still awaiting the first chance of the game. Izco thought he had broken free, but the official pulled it back for a foul of Della Rocha. Good decision.
That's the closest we've come to a goal. It's a wonderful cross, but no Catania forward is able to get their head on it and eventually Stojanovic gathers in the Bologna goal.
Corner for Catania is headed over Bergessio. He's disappointed with himself there.
Mantavani sends a long ball over the top for Cristaldo to chase. He gets on the end of it and wins a corner.
Cristaldo from the resulting corner heads wide. He perhaps could have done better there, he wasn't under a lot of pressure.
CHANCE! Bergessio is again kicking himself after he reached Lodi's deep free kick. The keeper missed it and he was unable to convert at the far post. Biggest chance of the game.
Catania have played some nice stuff at times, but they do look a bit light up front. This time it's shifted wide to Peruzzi but he had just strayed offside.
That was a big chance for Catania. They had two against one over inside the area, but they were unable to make their advantage count as the cut-back was cut out.
BOOKING Perez goes in the book for Bologna.
There have been no other goals in the 2pm kick offs in Serie A.
GOAL! Catania 1-0 Bologna (Bergessio)
Well this time, he has no need to kick himself. It's a wonderful delivery from Lodi and Bergessio rises highest to head home into the far corner. Great header.
Catania have their tails up now, and Lodi sends a 25-yard daisy cutter at goal, but it is just wide. He has been at the heart of everything good from the home side today.
Bologna have work to do if they are to get back into this. Catania have been the better side since the opening goal.
More wonderful approach play from the home side that isn't quite matched with the final pass. They work it well around the edge of the box but the killer pass is over hit and it goes out for a goal kick.
It's very ambitious from Castro who tried to hammer one in from a wide left position. It flew across the face of the goal and went harmlessly out for goal kick.
UPDATE Kaka has put Milan a goal up against Atalanta.
That goal was the Brazilian's 100th for Milan and he celebrated with a shirt bearing his name and the milestone on the back.
Back to this particular game, and Bologna have perhaps demonstrated why they are in the position they are. They have offered virtually nothing as an attacking force.
Plasil tries a swerving effort on the edge of the box but he never comes close to getting the required dip and it goes over the bar.
Plasil nearly gets on the end of a through ball but Stojanovic is alert and smothers it inside the area. Good reading of the play from the keeper.
Bergessio, who has been full of enthusiasm here, charges down a long ball but the striker had strayed offside. He's proving that hard work brings rewards this afternoon though. It is his goal that separates the sides.
Cristaldo is temporarily off the pitch with an injury.
Mscardelli fires in the first real effort for Bologna but it is straight at Frison in the Catania goal.
BOOKING Spolli is in the book for the Catania.
HALF TIME: Catania 1-0 Bologna
Well there we have it. Not a lot of quality on show, which perhaps explains both sides' perilous positions, but it's Gonzalo Bergessio's header that has given the home side the lead at the interval.
UPDATE: Elsewhere in Serie A this afternoon, Milan are leading Atalanta 1-0 thanks to Kaka's 100th strike for the Rossoneri. Genoa are two goals to the good at home to Sassuolo and Parma are leading Torino 2-1. Finally, Udinese trail Verona 2-1.
The day's earlier game saw Napoli beat Sampdoria 2-0 thanks to a Dries Mertens brace.
Back to this particular game, and we will have to see a lot more from Bologna if they are to get back into this match. It hasn't been a classic by any stretch, but Catania certainly deserve the lead.
Francesco Lodi is having a good game for the side and they will want to get him on the ball high up the pitch in the second half. He has looked like unlocking the defence a couple of times, and of course, supplied the free kick for the goal.
Again, looking elsewhere Lazio host Inter Milan in this evening's game, and what a match that promises to be.
The teams are just emerging from the tunnel, so we're not far off the second half. This would be a massive result for Catania if they hold on to their lead.
KICKOFF Bologna get the second period underway
Alvarez is perhaps fortunate to win a free kick there inside the Bologna half. It gives Lodi another chances to deliver though...
CHANCE! The free kick is only half cleared and Rolin fires one in from the edge of the box that goes narrowly wide. Good effort.
It's lovely from Castro as he surges past one challenge before jinking past another. He gets the ball stuck underneath he feet though and is eventually dispossessed.
CHANCE! Well that represents Bologna's best chance. Cristaldo sneaks round the back from the free kick and almost gets on the end of it. It eventually goes out off a Catania defender but the referee awards a goal kick. Strange decision.
Again, it's nice play until the finish. Bergessio receives a ball on the edge of the box and manages to turn but his flick is cut out as he tried to feed a teammate.
Morleo wins a free kick in a promising position wide left. It was a cynical foul from Peruzzi and he duly goes into the book for it.
It's fizzed in, but well headed away from Peruzzi. That was heading in for sure. Corner to Bologna, but it evades everyone.
UPDATE: Atalanta have had a goal ruled out against AC Milan.
CHANCE! Lodi on his unfavoured right foot swipes a shot from outside the box at goal. It goes close.
Pablo Alvarez is down for Catania, and there is a break in play.
In fact that's Alvarez's last action, he is brought off.
CHANCE! Well, we've spoken about Lodi's free kicks several times and this time he goes mighty close himself with a curling effort. So close.
Wonderful 60-yard pass from Lodi is brought down by Castro, who eventually wins a throw in high up the pitch. Catania scramble it into the Bologna area, but the visitors clear it.
PENALTY TO CATANIA
Lodi given a chance to step up and double the lead
Catania 2-0 Bologna (Francesco Lodi)
The midfielder makes no mistake. He has deserved that goal.
The penalty came about after a low cross was cut out with the hand of a Bologna defender. I think it was Perez, and he was on the floor and he made the block. Fair decision in my book.
BOOKING Della Rocca goes in the book.
It now looks a long way back for Bologna. They have been poor for most of the game.
UPDATE: Kaka has scored his second of the game for Milan. They now lead Atalanta 2-0.
CHANCE! Barrientos goes scampering through and hits the post with a toe-poke. That really would have been the three points if that had gone in.
UPDATE; Milan now lead 3-0 against Atalanta thanks to Cristante.
Bologna now look a beaten side. Cristaldo has been replaced by Acquafresca for the visitors.
Peruzzi fires in a low cross looking for Castro, but it is cleared out for a corner.
Bologna knock on the door with a couple of crosses into the box, but neither trouble the Catania goal and it is eventually cleared.
Bergessio wins a header to try and release Barrientos but the Bologna defence are alert and clear it.
The game has had the sting taken out of it the last five minutes or so. Catania seem content with their lead, while the visitors have looked lethargic throughout.
Bergessio gets there ahead of the goalkeeper and the stopper wants a foul. However, Bologna manage to get it clear.
CHANCE! How has Bergessio missed? He did the hard work, shrugged off two challenges and waited for the keeper to go down before sweeping it wide. Should have scored.
CHANCE! Acquafresca with a big chance. It's vut back to him on the penalty spot but his left-footed effort is blocked by the Catania defence.
Guarante comes on for Lodi and the departing goalscorer goes off to a huge applause.
Another deep, high cross is floated over from Bologna, but it comes to nothing again. This has been as poor as I can remember this season from a side in terms of attacking intent.
There will be five minutes of stoppage time, presumably for Alvarez's injury.
Kone tries am ambitious swerving effort from all of 30 yards, and it goes well wide.
Another long range effort comes in from Della Rocca. This is marginally closer, but it still doesn't trouble the goal.
FULL TIME: Catania 2-0 Bologna
Well, it was comfortable for the home side wasn't it? The win was never really in doubt as soon as Gonzalo Bergessio opened the scoring.
Well that's all from me, I hope you enjoyed the commentary, until next time, bye for now.
