Livorno have piled the pressure on Catania coach Rolando Maran by recording a 2-0 win in Serie A, thanks to a second-half brace from Paulinho.

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The newly-promoted outfit went into the clash full of confidence after a 4-1 success over Sassuolo before the international break, while Catania had suffered successive defeats at the start of their campaign.

Both sides struggled to create clear-cut opportunities in a tight first half, with four yellow cards handed out before the half-time whistle in a scrappy opening.

After the break Catania threatened on the counter and created the best opening of the match by some distance, with Gonzalo Bergessio's effort flashing across goal before going just beyond the far post.

Just after the hour mark Livorno broke the deadlock through Paulinho, who tucked away his second goal of the season from close range.

Catania threw on Sebastian Leto in search of an equaliser but fell further behind when Paulinho struck again six minutes later, this time producing a tidy finish from a tight angle after neat approach play from Innocent Emeghara.

Bergessio struck the crossbar with an overhead kick in the closing stages, but his frustration summed up a difficult day for Catania, as Livorno made it back-to-back wins on their return to Serie A.