Duo fight out stalemate

Relegation rivals Osasuna and Real Valladolid had to settle for a point apiece in a low-quality encounter in Pamplona on Friday night.

Alvaro Cejudo's long-range effort which hit the crossbar early on for Osasuna was as close as either side went to breaking the deadlock, but the draw did little to help either side's battle against the drop.

The visitors moved one point clear of the bottom three ahead of the weekend's games, with their opponents just one place and two points better off.

Cejudo almost gave the hosts the lead in stunning fashion in the ninth minute, crashing a right-footed shot against the bar from way out.

The hosts were on top, albeit without creating any clear-cut chances, and Cejudo miscued a shot wide before Oriol Riera fired over from inside the area.

Cejudo fired another side wide before Valladolid finally threatened, Carlos Pena drilling over the top just before the break.

Osasuna continued to hold the upper hand after the break, Roberto Torres Morales bringing a parry out of Jaime with a free-kick.

Riera failed to test the goalkeeper with a weak header from a Morales cross which flew harmlessly high.

Instead Valladolid almost snatched the lead seven minutes from time, Javi Guerra's drilled shot from inside the area bringing a brilliant stop out of Andres Fernandez.

At the other end Morales shot wide, while Javi Guerra headed wide for the visitors at the death as both sides had to make do with a point.