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0-0: Stalemate on the road

RCD Espanyol play out a goalless draw away to Racing Club Ferrol in a return to league action

RCD Espanyol were held to a 0-0 draw away to Racing Club Ferrol on Saturday night.

The second half of the LALIGA Hypermotion season got underway at the Estadio Municipal A Malata in Galicia, with Luis Miguel Ramis’ side knowing a win would move them into the automatic promotion spots. But the opening stages were uneventful for both teams, who were looking to settle down in a vital match for the promotion fight.

Javi Puado had the first clear chance of the evening, when he weaved through the Ferrol defence but sent his shot wide of the target. Pere Milla then came even closer just before the break, rounding the goalkeeper and getting in on goal, only to hit the post and leave it goalless at half-time.

Though they needed the win as much as Ramis’ men, Racing Ferrol were not threatening their visitors on home soil. Jon García connected well with a header from the corner, but it proved to be a comfortable save for Fernando Pacheco in goal.

At the other end, Pol Lozano picked up a loose ball and fired it goalbound, where it may well have ended up if Ferrol defender Julián Delmás did not block it and deflect the effort wide of the target.

A game of few chances and little quality in front of goal saw it end honours even at full-time, a first goalless draw of the season for Espanyol. They head back to Barcelona with a point, as attention turns to the visit of Villarreal B to the Stage Front Stadium in a week’s time.