Catania have squeezed past Pescara 1-0 at Stadio Angelo Massimino in Serie A this evening.

Alejandro Gomez's 53rd-minute strike was enough to give the home side the points as the club extended their record points tally in Italy's top division to 55.

Rock-bottom Pescara has goalkeeper Mattia Perin to thank for keeping their side level at the break, as the shot-stopper pulled off a string of saves to deny the Elfanti.

Perin first denied Gonzalo Bergessio at the second attempt early on, before the keeper thwarted Pablo Barrientos with a smart save round the post.

Barrientos then had another chance for his side, but Perin again was equal to the effort as he narrowed his angle well to deny the striker just before half time.

However, there was little Perin could do about Gomez's strike eight minutes after the break as he finished home a sweeping counter-attack from close range to give his side the lead.

For all his heroics, Perin was nearly caught out after 69 minutes when a corner kick from Barrientos bounced off the bar with the keeper caught completely off guard by the strike.

The victory means that Rolando Maran's side have leapfrogged Inter Milan into seventh in the division.