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Fabrizio Miccoli's splendid free kick gave Palermo a second consecutive victory to bring down Walter Zenga's Catania.
The Sicilian derby is always a heated affair, but rarely more so than in this troubled time. The Rosanero had found a new lease of life under Stefano Colantuono and defeated Juventus 3-2 in a thrilling encounter last week, while the Elefantini were reborn with new boss Walter Zenga's debut 3-0 victory over Napoli.
Last season this tie ended with a spectacular 5-3 home win, but Mattia Cassani was suspended for the Rosanero, who had Fabio Simplicio and Alberto Fontana injured. Zenga repeated the tactical masterstroke of placing left-back Juan Manuel Vargas in a more advanced position. Curiously, the two Tedesco brothers were facing off on opposite sides.
Fabio Caserta's overhead kick whistled past the far post and at the other end Marco Biagianti horribly scuffed from a promising position. Palermo had the better of the early play, but were frustrated by a very solid Catania line-up.
Ciro Polito comfortably smothered a low Giulio Migliaccio effort from the edge of the box, while Giacomo Tedesco blasted over after a clean Federico Balzaretti tackle.
The best chance of the game so far came on 28 minutes. Izco won back possession and threaded through for Gionatha Spinesi, but Giovanni Tedesco did just enough to deflect the finish over the bar from nine yards. From the resulting corner, Cristian Terlizzi nodded inches past the woodwork.
A precise but too weak Amauri header was plucked out of the air, but should have scored a cracking goal moments later. Bosko Jankovic got away down the right channel and swept in a stunning cross with the outside of his right foot, but Amauri came sliding in a second too late to finish it off at the back post unmarked.
Federico Agliardi, rushed on just before kick-off when Fontana failed a fitness test due to a back problem, fumbled a Vargas free kick and was able to recover.
Straight after the restart Jankovic's free kick caused chaos, as Migliaccio's header ricocheted off a defender and a desperate Tedesco just failed to tap in at the back post.
At the other end Spinesi was allowed to get a free header on a cross from the left and brought a great reaction save out of Agliardi.
Palermo brought back Fabrizio Miccoli from injury for a more attack-minded side. He made a immediate impact, as within two minutes Jankovic held up Amauri's cross for the former Juventus man to trap and sweep inches past the base of the far post.
It was a much more open game now and Izco blasted over and a splendid Caserta tackle cut short Izco as he was lining up the shot with only the goalkeeper to beat.
Amauri was halted for a debatable offside position and Edison Cavani replaced Mark Bresciano.
On 67 minutes there was a great chance for the Rosanero, as Jankovic's cross found Amauri's header for a crucial reaction save from Polito and Terlizzi cleared from a Miccoli follow-up.
They had another splendid opportunity, as Migliaccio's glancing header sent a Miccoli set piece skimming the upright with Polito rooted to the spot.
The deadlock was finally broken six minutes from time when Miccoli earned a free kick and promptly curled a fantastic finish over the wall and in at the near post. The Catania wall opened up and the goalkeeper didn't move as it sailed in for Miccoli's seventh goal of the season.
Miccoli came close to a second with a solo run that flashed across the face of goal, though goalkeeper Polito came up for a Catania corner and very nearly got the headed equaliser.
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