Kwadwo Asamoah vies for the ball with Catania defender Alexis Rolin.

Kwadwo Asamoah played full throttle for Juventus in their controversial 1-0 win at Catania on Sunday and extended its unbeaten streak to 48 games in the seria A.

The Ghanaian international enjoyed a decent game for the Old ladies of Italian football but was shown the yellow card in the 23^rd minute.

Catania thought it had taken a first-half lead when Gonzalo Bergessio fired in but the strike was ruled out. The reason for the disallowed goal was not immediately clear — either offside or a handling offence.

In the aftermath of the decision, Catania President Antonino Pulvirenti was banished from the bench and in the ensuing five minutes five of its players were booked as tension between the sides rose.

To add insult to injury, Nicklas Bendtner was in an offside position in the buildup to Arturo Vidal’s second-half goal.

Giovanni Marchese was sent off after receiving his second booking to cap a miserable day for Catania.

Juventus goalkeeper Gianlugi Buffon kept another clean sheet on his 500th Serie A appearance.

The stadium rocked with chants of “thieves, thieves” from the disgruntled Catania fans at the end of the match.

With Claudio Marchiso and Lucio injured, Paul Pogba and Bendtner made their first Serie A starts.

Juventus should have taken the lead in the 14th minute when Andrea Pirlo’s  free kick was cleared but only as far as Kwadwo Asamoah, who unleashed a firce shot from 30 yards, which flew just over the bar.

Catania goalkeeper Mariano Andujar did well shortly afterwards to keep out a Bendtner header.

Catania hadn’t won this fixture since 1964 but was putting pressure on Juventus. It thought it had broken the deadlock in the 25th minute.

Nicolas Spollis’  header clipped Frncesco Lodi  and came off the post, and Bergessio was on hand to smash in the rebound. Catania players were still celebrating when the referee decided to disallow the goal after consulting with his assistant.

It was not clear whether it was ruled out for offside or for a handling offence by Lodi, however replays showed it had come off the Catania player’s knee.

Juventus then came close to taking the lead several times towards the end of the half.

Pogba sent a 30-yard strike just over before a scramble in the area saw Catania gift the ball to Mirko Vucinic but Nicolas Legrottaglie  recovered in time to block his effort.

Vucinic had another chance when Bendtner knocked down a cross but Andujar pulled off a save to deny the Montenegro striker from point-blank range.

Juventus took the lead in the 57th minute when Bendtner, who appeared to be offside, had his effort parried by Andujar but Vidal was on hand to follow up.

Vidal could have doubled his tally shortly afterwards but he fired wide of the right upright.

Marchese received his second booking and was dismissed when he handled in the 67th minute.

Andujar pulled off another stunning save 10 minutes from time to deny substitute Sebastian Giovinco.

Giovinco then went on a mazy run in stoppage time but a woeful finish saw his effort fly well over the crossbar.