Catania edged past Genoa to get their season off to a winning start on Sunday as they bid to avoid a second successive relegation dogfight.
Having only just managed to stay up last season, coach Walter Zenga had emphasised the importance of a strong start and got just that as Giuseppe Mascara's 61st minute strike sunk last year's surprise package.
It was the second time that Catania got the ball in the net as Cristian Silvestri had seen an earlier effort scrubbed out for a foul.
Catania wasted little time and had the better of the opening stages, with new-boy Nicolae Dica testing out Genoa goalkeeper Rubinho after Giuseppe Biava picked up an early yellow card for a foul on Michele Paolucci.
Then, in the 11th minute, Silvestri headed home but the whistle had already gone as he appeared to elbow Rubinho as he jumped.
Catania striker Jorge Martinez went for the spectacular in the 18th minute but he mis-timed his overhead kick and caught not the ball but the arm of Biava.
A minute later Martinez did make contact as he looked to surprise Rubinho with the goalkeeper off his line, but the effort went just wide.
After a bright start from the hosts, the pace began to slow as the Sicilian heat took its toll on the players.
The next chance did not come until first-half injury time when Genoa created their first true opening.
Andrea Gasbarroni raced forward to break into the box before shooting, but Catania goalkeeper Albano Bizzarri was equal to the effort and pushed the ball to safety.
Mascara had a chance from a free-kick early in the second half but could not clear the wall as the ball went out for a corner.
The home crowd then claimed a penalty as Paolucci fell under the challenge of Biava but the referee waved play on.
However, two minutes later Catania were ahead regardless.
Martinez crossed from the right and Rubinho failed to deal with it as his attempted clearance fell straight to Mascara who had an easy finish, the only blemish being a yellow card for over-celebration.
Genoa were still creating desperately little, and wasted a good chance from a set-piece in the 70th minute as substitute Davide Di Gennaro blazed over the bar from 25 yards out.
Paolucci went close to adding a second nine minutes from time as a turn of pace took him past Biava, but Rubinho made a good save to keep out his diagonal shot across goal.
Genoa tried to push forward late but left themselves open to counter-attacks, and Catania did enough to hold on for the win.
