Parma - who are still without Socceroo Vince Grella - and Catania both inched another point closer to safety as they shared the spoils from a 1-1 draw on Sunday.

The result maintained Parma's four-game unbeaten run which has given them every chance of avoiding the drop, while Catania at least managed to end a four-game losing streak.

The visitors had led in the 20th minute when Gionatha Spinesi found the net, but Parma equalised 12 minutes later with Fernando Couto scoring the goal which ultimately earned them a draw.

Parma had taken seven points from a possible nine coming into the game, and that momentum was evident as they hit the ground running.

Matteo Contini fired wide early on before Catania goalkeeper Armando Pantanelli was forced into a save when Igor Budan headed Luca Cigarini's cross goalwards.

However, there was a warning sign for the hosts in the 17th minute when Spinesi fired over and three minutes later the Catania striker put his team ahead with a right-footed shot into the top corner of the net.

Parma sought an immediate response but Budan was guilty of missing two chances in quick succession, first shooting over from the edge of tbe box before heading wide from Zlatan Muslimovic's cross.

The equaliser was not far away however, and just 12 minutes after Catania had taken the lead, Couto levelled the scores, heading in from close range from Cigarini's cross.

Parma continued to push for a second with Muslimovic trying his luck from long range but Pantanelli was able to make the save.

Six minutes before the break Catania's Fabio Caserta shot from 25 yards but Luca Bucci make a good save to keep the ball out in front of the right-hand post.

Parma began the second half as the brighter of the two teams as Muslimovic forced another good save from Pantanelli before Cigarini fired narrowly wide from the edge of the area after space had opened up for him.

Bucci was back in action at the other end when Juan Manuel Vargas hit a left-footed shot from just outside the area, but it was still Parma who were having the clearer of the chances.

Perhaps the best of them came just before the hour mark when young striker Giuseppe Rossi - on loan from Manchester United - hit a shot from just inside the penalty area which flew narrowly wide of the top left-hand corner with Pantanelli beaten.

Rossi was the guilty party again with 20 minutes left when Cigarini - the outstanding player on the day - set him up for a 20-yard shot which Pantanelli blocked.

Moments later, Daniele Paponi whipped in a corner and Belarus striker Vitaly Kutuzov missed a great chance from close range.

The hosts continued to push forward in hope of a winner, but Pantanelli continued to frustrate Parma has he saved Francesco Parravicini's effort.

Muslimovic had one final effort but his close-range header in the final minute was off-target.