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Empoli celebrated their third consecutive victory, but Catania saw a penalty saved.
This was a relegation battle between two teams moving in opposite directions. Empoli left Napoli with a shock 3-1 victory last Sunday, but also lost top scorer Nicola Pozzi for the season with a knee injury, while the Sicilians had four defeats from their previous five games. Felice Piccolo and Cristian Silvestri sat out bans, but Ighli Vannucchi returned for the Tuscans.
It was a special occasion for Silvio Baldini, who Coached Empoli from 1999 to 2003. The home side poured forward from the start, as Luca Saudati had three shots on goal in the opening eight minutes.
Ciro Polito did brilliantly to parry a Sebastian Giovinco volley from point-blank range.
Catania finally pushed forward with Davide Baiocco skimming the woodwork, then both Martinez and Gionatha Spinesi failed to make the most of a Giuseppe Mascara counter-attack.
Under-21 international starlet Giovinco gave Empoli a deserved lead. He skipped past Christian Terlizzi and thumped a shot that bounced in front of the goalkeeper to slot in at the near post.
Mascara's header cracked against the crossbar from a Martinez cross from the right, but Empoli were unfortunate not to double their lead when Giovinco was halted for an incorrect offside flag when one-on-one with Polito.
Catania also required a Spinesi goalline clearance to keep out Vittorio Tosto's header.
Moments later Martinez made the most of slight contact on Francesco Pratali for a penalty, but Davide Bassi did well to save Spinesi's spot-kick.
Empoli put the points in the safe with an Alessandro Budel left-foot rocket from 20 metres that beat Polito at the near post. It was his second goal in as many games.
Giovinco should have made it 3-0, but failed to convert Busce's assist in front of an open goal.
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