Serie A: Catania 1 Roma 1 (aban)

The only match in Serie A on Saturday was abandoned after 65 minutes due to torrential rain, with Catania and Roma level at 1-1.

Catania’s Nicola Legrottaglie and Roma man Daniele De Rossi both rose highest at set pieces within four minutes of each other to send the tie into the interval deadlocked at a goal apiece.

However, with the weather worsening during the second half, referee Paolo Tagliavento made the decision to stop the match midway through the period as play had become impossible.

Earlier, the home side made a positive start as they looked to take the game to their opponents, with Gonzalo Bergessio’s poor control costing his team’s two half-chances.

The Argentine thought he had made amends in the 24th minute when a scramble in the box left him with an open goal, but Simon Kjaer did just enough to clear the ball off the line.

The respite proved to be momentary, and Catania deservedly took the lead only a minute later, as a free-kick by Francesco Lodi was glanced into the far corner by the head of Legrottaglie.

Roma were not fazed by the setback however, and drew level four minutes later through a set-piece of their own.

Francesco Totti’s corner was met by De Rossi, who got enough direction on his header to take it past Catania goalkeeper Andrea Campagnolo.

Alejandro Gomez fashioned himself a great chance to restore Catania’s advantage just before half-time, shimmying past two players in the box, but then somehow failed to find the target from eight yards out.

The downpour continued after the interval, and both sides were finding it difficult to string more than a handful of passes together, as the ball became bogged down in one of the many puddles that had formed on the pitch.

Consequently, chances were proving hard to come by, but Pablo Alvarez did go close in the 55th minute, letting fly from the edge of the area that flew just over the bar.

However, play would not continue for much longer as the waterlogged state of the pitch had seen the match descend into something of a farce.

Referee Tagliavento consulted with his officials and sent both teams back to the dressing rooms in the 65th minute.

With the match suspended, the remaining 25 minutes will be played out at a later stage, the date of which is yet to be confirmed.