Inter Milan lost 1-0 at Genoa for its third defeat in five league matches.
In the earlier kickoff, 10-man Lazio fought back after twice trailing to win 3-2 at Udinese. Elsewhere, it was: Chievo Verona 1, Parma 2; Atalanta 1, Cagliari 0; and Sassuolo 0, Torino 2.
With Giuseppe Rossi and Mario Gomez injured, Matri was handed his Fiorentina debut days after joining on loan from Milan, and it did not take the former Juventus striker long to have an impact as he set up Fernandez for the opening goal in the 25th minute.
Matri got on the scoresheet three minutes later, getting the better of his marker to slide home Manuel Pasqual's pass. He doubled his tally four minutes from halftime when Catania goalkeeper Alberto Frison did brilliantly to deny Fernandez but Matri tapped home the rebound.
Matri was substituted at the start of the second half as a precaution after picking up a knock.
Fernandez almost scored his second of the match on the hour mark but hit the crossbar.
It was a disappointing return to the Catania bench for coach Rolando Maran, who had been sacked and replaced by Luigi De Canio in October.
Relegation-threatened Bologna had held Lazio to a draw last week and was looking to continue its unbeaten run under new coach Davide Ballardini.
It took a surprise lead eight minutes from halftime when Bianchi got in front of Raul Albiol to head in Alessandro Diamanti's cross.
Napoli strove for the equalizer and its hard work paid off shortly after the hour mark when Higuain smashed home a penalty after Panagiotis Kone bundled over Blerim Dzemaili.
Callejon fired Higuain's cross into the far corner 10 minutes from time and Napoli looked set to take all three points when Kone was sent off for a second booking four minutes later.
However, Bianchi drove home Diamanti's corner to snatch a draw.
Inter is eight points behind the top four as its miserable run continued.
Luca Antonelli was left unmarked to head home a corner seven minutes from time. Inter has won just one of its past eight league matches.
Verona is doing well in its first season back in the top flight and is level on points with Inter. Milan is struggling and replaced Massimiliano Allegri with former player Seedorf after last week's 4-3 loss to Sassuolo.
After beating Milan on the opening day, Verona appeared to be heading for a draw at San Siro before Alejandro Gonzalez's needless tackle on Kaka. Balotelli stepped up and fired powerfully into the right side of goal.
"It is a victory that we dedicate to Seedorf, the first game is the most difficult," Balotelli said.
Udinese is just three points off the drop zone after a third straight defeat. Bologna, Sassuolo and Chievo are all level on 17 points, four more than bottom two clubs Livorno and Catania.
Updated on: January 20, 2014 6:36 IST
