Catania 0 - 0 Napoli

Catania 0-0 Napoli

Updated: November 7, 2009, 8:01 PM UK

Napoli remain in sixth place in Serie A after failing to break down their struggling opponents who will regret their failure to take their chances.

Takayuki Morimoto had a number of opportunities for Catania while Cristian Llama tested the Napoli goal but the hosts remain second from bottom.

Ezequiel Lavezzi wasted a great chance for Napoli, who would have climbed to fourth in the league if they had won today so neither side will feel satisfied with the outcome.

Catania have won just one game this season - against Cagliari - but they have by no means been humiliated at home and recently enjoyed a four-game unbeaten run.

However, they then lost three successive matches so today's draw at least ended their losing sequence.

Napoli, by contrast, have enjoyed a highly-impressive start to the season and were on a high coming into the game after beating second-placed Juventus 3-2 last time out, despite being 2-0 down at one stage.

However, it was the hosts who showed first as an attacking force today, Morimoto turning and shooting at the edge of the penalty area only to see his shot fly wide.

Alessandro Potenza then sent in a close-range header for the Sicilian side but it failed to threaten goalkeeper Morgan De Sanctis, who easily gathered.

However, Napoli then went on the attack when Christian Maggio beat Pablo Alvarez before shooting wide from about 10 yards.

Again Catania came forward and Giuseppe Mascara unleashed a shot from 25 yards which came off team-mate Morimoto but although the deflection wrong-footed De Sanctis, the ball missed the goal and went out.

Three minutes before half-time and Catania had a great chance to go ahead when Morimoto - who had been at the centre of any threat posed by the home team - went past defender Gianluca Grava and fired in from close range but shot straight at the keeper and the opportunity had gone.

The hosts had another chance three minutes after half-time and again it was Morimoto, the 21-year-old putting his close-range header from Llama's right-wing cross just wide.

Catania could have lived to regret that miss as Napoli had an opportunity just a minute later when Alessandro Potenza made a hash of a clearance in his own area and Lavezzi found himself with just the keeper to beat.

However, the Argentina striker sent the ball wide of the left post and the chance had gone.

De Sanctis saved Llama's 30-yard free-kick before the midfielder produced a fierce left-footed shot from the same distance which forced the keeper into a superb save with the ball headed for the right corner.

Morimoto and Mascara both sent shots wide for Catania before Fabio Quagliarella volleyed wide for the visitors, as the match ended goalless.