Maxi Lopez's first-half penalty settled a scrappy Serie A encounter as Catania beat Cesena 1-0 at Stadio Angelo Massimino.
In a game of few clear-cut chances, the hosts had the measure of their opponents and just about deserved a win that preserves their unbeaten start to the campaign.
After opening with a goalless draw against Siena, Vincenzo Montella's troops are now comfortably inside the top 10 following their first win and will bid to maintain their promising start when they travel to Genoa on Wednesday.
Cesena remain winless after two games - having lost 3-1 to Napoli on the opening weekend - and face a tricky trip to the capital to face Lazio in midweek.
The visitors looked nervous in the opening exchanges and very nearly conceded an own goal just three minutes in, Steve Von Bergen instead relieved to see his misplaced back header drop just wide of the post.
Cesena carved out a chance at the right end of the pitch on 14 minutes but when Adrian Mutu had a sight of goal he could only fire wastefully wide.
Midway through the half Lopez played in Alejandro Gomez to take aim from the edge of the area but his effort was off target.
Gomez again fired wide on 32 minutes as the hosts continued to apply the pressure, while four minutes later Nicolas Spolli headed over from a corner as Cesena remained on the back foot.
Two minutes before the break Lopez fired over from close range after a one-two with Pablo Alvarez, but the Argentinian finally got it right moments later.
Marco Parolo was the guilty party, his foul on Gennaro Delvecchio prompting the referee to point to the spot, and Lopez kept his cool from the spot with a low finish into the right corner.
Catania had a raft of openings to double their lead after the break, with Delvecchio guilty of squandering a trio of presentable chances in a 15-minute spell.
Yet for all their dominance the Catania lead remained a slender one, and they were grateful to goalkeeper Mariano Andujar for securing all the points when he saved well from Citadin Eder's clever lofted attempt.
