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Catania climbed to an impressive 10 points thanks to Michele Paolucci's counter-attack - double the tally notched up by Chievo.
Both sides were looking to create some momentum after positive midweek results, as the Sicilians held Juventus to a 1-1 draw and the Flying Donkeys stalled with Torino. Gionatha Spinesi, Ezequiel Carboni, Taka Morimoto and Pablo Alvarez were out for the home side, while Mauro Esposito, Simone Bentivoglio and Brazilian youngster Kerlon didn't make the trip.
No opponent had yet scored at the Massimino this season. It was a special game for Cesar and Lorenzo Squizzi, facing their former club.
Giuseppe Mascara flashed a shot across the face of goal and a similar move saw Martinez just fail to get the final touch to a Michele Paolucci cross.
Catania opened the scoring with a splendid Paolucci solo effort. It started from a Chievo corner and long clearance, Paolucci skipped past two defenders, waltzed round the goalkeeper and placed a precise angled drive into the far bottom corner.
Chievo fought back as a Michele Marcolini snapshot skimmed the frame of the goal, Albano Bizzarri parried a Sergio Pellissier piledriver and Vincenzo Italiano's diving header.
The Sicilians almost made it 2-0 when Martinez ran on to a Pablo Ledesma through ball and his right-foot finish shaved a coat of paint off the base of the far post.
A Davide Mandelli snapshot from 30 metres was well smothered by Bizzarri, but Giuseppe Mascara horribly wasted an excellent scoring opportunity when he dribbled through the Chievo defence only to fire over.
Ledesma also threatened in a similar move, this time getting the shot on target to test Lorenzo Squizzi, while Silvestre's header from a Mascara cross was straight at the goalkeeper.
Erjon Bogdani came off the bench and immediately hit the woodwork, as a defensive error set up what was effectively a dead-ball situation from 10 yards, but the low strike cracked against the base of the upright.
The Flying Donkeys were hit in their attempts to get back into it when Mandelli received a second booking for his challenge on Giacomo Tedesco.
It still wasn't over, as in the six minutes of stoppages Davide Baiocco's strike from the edge of the box smashed against the upright.
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