Catania headed into their Serie A fixture against Bologna on Monday looking to kick off 2014 with a bang.
The hosts were eventually successful in their quest as they got the better of their opponents 2-0 at the Stadio Angelo Massimino.
Read Sports Mole’s live minute-by-minute text commentary of the match below to check how the action unfolded.
3.57pmWell that's all from me, I hope you enjoyed the commentary, until next time, bye for now.
3.53pmWell, 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.
3.51pnFULL TIME: Catania 2-0 Bologna
90+3 minsAnother long range effort comes in from Della Rocca. This is marginally closer, but it still doesn't trouble the goal.
90+1 minsKone tries am ambitious swerving effort from all of 30 yards, and it goes well wide.
90 minsThere will be five minutes of stoppage time, presumably for Alvarez's injury.
89 minsAnother 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.
87 minsGuarante comes on for Lodi and the departing goalscorer goes off to a huge applause.
86 minsCHANCE! 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.
85 minsCHANCE! 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.
84 minsBergessio gets there ahead of the goalkeeper and the stopper wants a foul. However, Bologna manage to get it clear.
83 minsThe 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.
82 minsBergessio wins a header to try and release Barrientos but the Bologna defence are alert and clear it.
81 minsBologna knock on the door with a couple of crosses into the box, but neither trouble the Catania goal and it is eventually cleared.
79 minsPeruzzi fires in a low cross looking for Castro, but it is cleared out for a corner.
78 minsBologna now look a beaten side. Cristaldo has been replaced by Acquafresca for the visitors.
76 minsUPDATE; Milan now lead 3-0 against Atalanta thanks to Cristante.
75 minsCHANCE! 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.
74 minsUPDATE: Kaka has scored his second of the game for Milan. They now lead Atalanta 2-0.
73 minsIt now looks a long way back for Bologna. They have been poor for most of the game.
73 minsBOOKING Della Rocca goes in the book.
71 minsThe 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.
68 minsThe midfielder makes no mistake. He has deserved that goal.
68 minsCatania 2-0 Bologna (Francesco Lodi)
67 minsLodi given a chance to step up and double the lead
65 minsPENALTY TO CATANIA
65 minsWonderful 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.
62 minsCHANCE! 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.
60 minsIn fact that's Alvarez's last action, he is brought off.
58 minsPablo Alvarez is down for Catania, and there is a break in play.
57 minsCHANCE! Lodi on his unfavoured right foot swipes a shot from outside the box at goal. It goes close.
56 minsUPDATE: Atalanta have had a goal ruled out against AC Milan.
55 minsIt's fizzed in, but well headed away from Peruzzi. That was heading in for sure. Corner to Bologna, but it evades everyone.
54 minsMorleo 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.
52 minsAgain, 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.
50 minsCHANCE! 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.
49 minsIt'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.
47 minsCHANCE! The free kick is only half cleared and Rolin fires one in from the edge of the box that goes narrowly wide. Good effort.
46 minsAlvarez is perhaps fortunate to win a free kick there inside the Bologna half. It gives Lodi another chances to deliver though...
45 minsKICKOFF Bologna get the second period underway
3pmThe 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.
2.59pmAgain, looking elsewhere Lazio host Inter Milan in this evening's game, and what a match that promises to be.
2.57pmFrancesco 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.
2.54pmBack 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.
2.53pmThe day's earlier game saw Napoli beat Sampdoria 2-0 thanks to a Dries Mertens brace.
2.52pmUPDATE: 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.
2.49pmWell 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.
2.46pmHALF TIME: Catania 1-0 Bologna
45+1 minsBOOKING Spolli is in the book for the Catania.
45 minsMscardelli fires in the first real effort for Bologna but it is straight at Frison in the Catania goal.
44 minsCristaldo is temporarily off the pitch with an injury.
41 minsBergessio, 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.
40 minsPlasil 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.
38 minsPlasil 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.
37 minsBack 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.
35 minsThat goal was the Brazilian's 100th for Milan and he celebrated with a shirt bearing his name and the milestone on the back.
35 minsUPDATE Kaka has put Milan a goal up against Atalanta.
34 minsIt'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.
33 minsMore 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.
30 minsBologna have work to do if they are to get back into this. Catania have been the better side since the opening goal.
27 minsCatania 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.
24 minsWell 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.
23 minsGOAL! Catania 1-0 Bologna (Bergessio)
22 minsThere have been no other goals in the 2pm kick offs in Serie A.
22 minsBOOKING Perez goes in the book for Bologna.
21 minsThat 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.
19 minsCatania 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.
18 minsCHANCE! 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.
17 minsCristaldo from the resulting corner heads wide. He perhaps could have done better there, he wasn't under a lot of pressure.
16 minsMantavani sends a long ball over the top for Cristaldo to chase. He gets on the end of it and wins a corner.
14 minsCorner for Catania is headed over Bergessio. He's disappointed with himself there.
13 minsThat'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.
11 minsWe'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.
9 minsPlasil 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.
8 minsCristaldo 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.
6 minsIt'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.
4 minsPeruzzi fires in the first effort at goal which goes over the bar. Not a bad attempt though
2 minsThe game resembles something of playground football for a few seconds as both sides fight it out in the Cantania area. Pinball stuff!
1 minsBOOKING Mantavani goes in the book very early on here. It was a soft one.
1 minsKICKOFF And we're off and running.
1.58pmYou 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.
1.56pmThe two teams are just emerging out of the tunnel. Not long now until kick off at Stadio Angelo Massimino.
1.56pmThere 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.
1.50pmThere 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.
1.48pmBologna Stojanovic; Morleo, Antonsson, Natali, Mantovani, Crespo; Della Rocca, Perez, Kone; Moscardelli, Cristaldo
1.45pmCatania: Frison; Peruzzi, Spolli, Rolin, Alvarez; Plasil, Izco, Castro, Barrientos, Lodi; Bergessio
1.42pmWe're still waiting for team news at the moment, we will get that to see as soon as it reaches us.
1.41pmOf 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.
1.38pmBologna, 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.
1.35pmToday'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.
1.32pmGood afternoon and welcome to Sports Mole's live commentary of Catania's clash with Bologna in Serie A.