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Ciro Polito saved Cristiano Doni's penalty to earn Catania a potentially crucial point in Bergamo.
Both sides needed a confidence booster after Atalanta have recently lost to Torino and Cagliari, while the Sicilians were sliding towards relegation and had just five points on their travels all season. Catania had never won in Bergamo in Serie A either and since the halfway stage of the season gathered just six points from an available 30. Maximiliano Pellegrino and Moris Carrozzieri were suspended for the home side, so the defence needed a complete overhaul.
Sergio Floccari curled past the post and Catania threatened in their first real chance, as Ferdinando Coppola fingertipped a Giuseppe Mascara header out from under the bar, but the striker was in an offside position.
Ciro Polito performed a fine reaction save on Floccari's acrobatic overhead kick.
On 24 minutes the referee awarded a penalty for Lorenzo Stovini's handling offence as he came sliding in to block Cristiano Doni's effort. Doni stepped up and a goal would have made him the all-time top scorer in Atalanta's top flight history, but Polito stuck up a strong trailing hand to tip it over the bar.
Inacio Pia' was halted for a very tight offside flag against his former club, but Ferreira Pinto blasted off target when clear on goal for Atalanta.
Colucci's fierce strike was fingertipped out of the top corner by Coppola after the restart.
Gionatha Spinesi curled a right-foot effort over the bar and a Sabato cross-shot skimmed the woodwork.
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