Rome  - Promoted Bari drew 0-0 at home to lowly Catania Saturday to move to the safety of mid-table.

Bari now have eight points from seven games in their first season the top flight after an eight-year absence.

Although they only won a single game, Bari sit in ninth and boast two draws from their visits to champions Inter Milan and struggling giants AC Milan.

Bari's best chance of the first half fell to Vitalii Kutuzov on 29 minutes when the Belarus striker dispossessed Catania's Argentine defender Nicolas Spolli, but his effort came back off the post.

There was less entertainment for the crowd at the San Nicola stadium after the break as both sides tired on a pitch which deteriorated due to a rainstorm the day before.

Bari again came close with 10 minutes to go as substitute Riccardo Meggiorini fired into the area before Honduran Edgar Alvarez nodded the rebound above the bar.

In later Saturday action, Inter, who lie third two points adrift of leaders Sampdoria, play at home against Udinese.

Samp, on 15 points, play at home to promoted Parma on Sunday, when second-place Juventus are away at Sicily side Palermo.  dpa