Catania 0-0 Atalanta

Catania and Atalanta played out a goalless draw that did little to ease the relegation concerns of either club.

Atalanta had Gianpaolo Bellini sent off for a second yellow card with 16 minutes remaining, but in a match when goalmouth action was limited the away side easily held out to claim a point.

Both sides hit the woodwork early on but that was as close as they would come to a goal as they stayed deep in the relegation picture.

Atalanta, who have now failed to score in five of their past six away trips, remain second from bottom and three points behind Catania who fell to 17th place and just a point above the drop zone.

Atalanta controlled the first half, although it took some last-gasp defending and a slice of luck to avoid falling behind after three minutes.

Matias Silvestre thought he had put the hosts ahead with a firm header from a corner only for Ferreira Pinto to make an ungainly goal-line clearance which ricocheted off the crossbar and back into play.

The home side were then indebted to the woodwork after 13 minutes when Nicola Amoruso volleyed a cross from Jaime Valdes against the post.

Atlanta slowly started to take control of the game and Pinto fired a warning shot when he burst into the area and unleashed a drive Catania goalkeeper Mariano Andujar dived to save.

Atalanta's wave of attacks were finding no end product, but there was little threat at the other end to concern.

On a rare Catania foray forward the away defence closed ranks quickly with Thomas Manfredini and goalkeeper Andrea Consigli combining to snuff out a Maxi Lopez chance.

After the break both sides had chance to take the lead but were let down badly by their finishing.

Catania's Japanese midfielder Takayuki Morimoto found space in the area but shot over the crossbar after 57 minutes.

At the other end Cristiano Doni miscontrolled with the goal gaping after Simone Padoin had done well to pick him out on the edge of the area.

Doni at least forced Mariano Andujar into a save with a header in the 65th minute while a Pinto shot from the edge of the area soon after also required some quick work from the home goalkeeper.

Atalanta were reduced to 10 men in the 74th minute when Bellini was given his second yellow card, but with neither side packing a punch up front the game finished goalless.