Primera Division: Match report from Granada v Villarreal

Granada and Villarreal played out a dour 0-0 draw in the Primera Division on Sunday evening.

The best that can be said about the clash at Estadio Nuevo Los Carmenes is that it keeps Granada's unbeaten start to the season going, although that is as good as it gets.

Villarreal will view it as a handy point on the road - especially in the first game back after the international break - but both sides will need to develop a more clinical edge if they are to be involved in fewer games like this.

Villarreal were the more threatening of the two, looking to get things going after eight minutes when Mario Gaspar hit wide.

The Yellow Submarine remained on the front foot - in the loosest sense - and as half-time approached had two more efforts, with Luciano Vietto shooting wide and Bruno Soriano having a shot blocked by Manuel Iturra.

After the break the chances remained with the visitors as Gabriel Paulista drew a save from Roberto Fernandez with a bullet header from a Javier Espinosa corner.

That was the first time either keeper had to seriously earn his money, and Fernandez remained the busier after that, fielding efforts from Vietto and Denis Cheryshev as Villarreal at least had a go.

Finally, as the clock ticked down, Granada offered something in attack, Jhon Cordoba working Sergio Asenjo at his near post with a low drive, and then Jeison Murillo forcing the stopper to produce a fine late save with a header.

It would get no better than that, though.