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Sportinglife - Espanyol and Osasuna could not
muster a goal between them in a disappointing encounter at Estadio Olimpico
Montjuic on Sunday.
In a game of few clear-cut chances, both sides will doubtless be less than
satisfied with the result, with a point doing little to enhance either's
situation.
Both progressed in the UEFA Cup last Thursday - Espanyol getting past
Artmedia Bratislava and Osasuna seeing off Trabzonspor - but have failed to
set the world alight on the domestic front.
Espanyol headed into the clash hovering dangerously just above the bottom
three, while Osasuna, who have managed two Primera Liga wins, were
mid-table.
The hosts pushed forward in the first half in search of the breakthrough,
Juan Velasco's cross cleared by Miguel Flano and Walter Pandiani's
long-range effort flying wide.
Pandiani was in the thick of the early action, caught offside to end another
Espanyol attack, and heading goalwards on the half-hour to no avail.
At the other end, home keeper Carlos Kameni was called into action to parry
Gomez Juanlu's left-footed strike before seeing Javad Nekounam fire
his right-footed follow-up effort over the crossbar.
Nekounam tried to atone as Osasuna attacked again, but Ferran Coro
cleared his cross.
Osasuna keeper Ricardo had to remain alert to deny Pablo Zabaleta on the
stroke of half-time
Both sides made changes as the second half got underway in an attempt to add
a much-needed spark to proceedings.
For Espanyol, Domingos Jonatas and Ferran Coro were replaced by Hurtado
Moises and Raul Tamudo, while Pierre Webo and Raul Garcia came on for
Soldado and Savo Milosevic for Osasuna.
An Espanyol attack came to a premature end when Luis Garcia was flagged
offside, which typified the afternoon for both sides.
Espanyol's El Yaagoubi Moha was cautioned for a nasty foul on substitute
Webo in the 66th minute.
Webo was determined to make his mark on the game, and had a chance to seal
the points in the 73rd minute, but shot wide.
Uruguay striker Pandiani was the second player to find his name in Luis
Medina Cantalejo's notebook 12 minutes from time.
Striker Francisco Rufete then came on for Luis Garcia in a final throw of
the dice by Espanyol coach Ernesto Valverde, while Juan Juanfran replaced
Gomez Juanlu for the visitors.
The changes made little difference, though.
Osasuna forced three corners in quick succession, the first from Javad
Nekounam causing no danger, the second from Francisco Punal cleared by
Tamudo, and the third from Miguel Flano punched away to safety by Kameni.
Osasuna pair Nekounam and Juanfran were booked in injury time for
unsporting behaviour as the game petered out into a disappointing stalemate.
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