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29 March 2024

Barca fire blanks at Osasuna, miss out on record

Cristiano Ronaldo (centre) of Real Madrid CF celebrates with Alvaro Morata after scoring Real's second goal from the penalty spot during the La Liga match against Malaga CF at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium on October 19, 2013 in Madrid, Spain. (GETTY)

Published
By Reuters

Champions Barcelona dropped their first points of the season when they were held to a 0-0 draw at Osasuna on Saturday and missed the chance to equal the 45-year-old record for the best ever La Liga start.

Lionel Messi, who had not played since the end of last month due to a thigh strain, came off the bench for the final 25 minutes but not even the Argentine World Player of the Year could breach the home defence in Pamplona.

It was the first time Barca had failed to score in a domestic league game in 65 matches since a 0-0 draw at Villarreal in January 2012.

Barcelona and Atletico Madrid won their opening eight games and the latter can open a two-point lead at the top and equal Real Madrid's record of nine wins from nine matches from the 1968-69 season with a win at Espanyol later on Saturday.

Barcelona, who play at AC Milan in the Champions League on Tuesday and host Real in the 'Clasico' next Saturday, have 25 points, with Atletico second on 24.

Real are two points further back in third after their 2-0 win at home to Malaga in the earlier kickoff with second-half goals from Angel Di Maria and a Cristiano Ronaldo penalty, won by record signing Gareth Bale who was a late substitute.

"We knew it was going to be tough," Barca captain Carles Puyol, making his first appearance in almost eight months after knee surgery, said in an interview with Spanish television broadcaster Canal Plus.

"It's always difficult playing at this stadium," added the 35-year-old.

"We were missing some effectiveness in the final pass but it's one more point. Now we have to recover from this and prepare well for Tuesday."

DOMINANT BARCA

Barca dominated Osasuna, who sat back looking to catch the visitors on the break, and came closest to scoring midway through the second half when Neymar just failed to get on the end of a low Martin Montoya centre.

Cesc Fabregas had two golden chances but fluffed an attempted chip before sending a wild shot sailing over the crossbar.

Real warmed up for Wednesday's Champions League game against Juventus with a domestic success when Ronaldo's stoppage-time penalty set the seal on their victory against Malaga.

It was hardly the sparkling display coach Carlo Ancelotti wanted to dispel doubts about some unconvincing performances so far this term but the Italian was pleased to note a general improvement from his expensively-assembled squad.

"Today I am pleased," Ancelotti told a news conference. "Everyone was focused on defending, we pressed well and recovered possession quickly.

"That was the difference compared to other matches - we did not give them chances and we were well positioned on the field.

"We have to keep it going and do things better but today the team performed well. We started the week on a positive note."

Ronaldo was comfortably Real's most dangerous player at the Bernabeu and the Portuguese forward curled a shot against the crossbar in the eighth minute versus defensive-minded Malaga.

SUBSTITUTE BALE

The visitors did well to keep Real at bay until halftime but fell behind in the first minute after the break when Di Maria's whipped cross from the right evaded goalkeeper Willy Caballero's despairing dive before nestling in the back of the net.

Caballero was in inspired form and pulled off a brilliant stop to deny Ronaldo eight minutes from time and made another stunning save to palm away a low shot from substitute Jese two minutes later.

Real's world record signing Bale, who has been out for several weeks with a thigh strain, came on for Alvaro Morata with 15 minutes left, suggesting he could play a part against the Italian champions on Wednesday.

Bale won a penalty when the referee ruled he was fouled by Weligton in the area and Ronaldo dispatched the spot kick low to Caballero's right for his eighth La Liga goal of the season.

Real Sociedad, who are looking for their first win after two Champions League outings and play at Group A rivals Manchester United on Wednesday, recorded their first La Liga victory since the opening day of the season when they won 2-1 at Valencia.

Antoine Griezmann volleyed the San Sebastian-based club ahead in the 41st minute and Ruben Pardo netted a long-range effort almost on the hour before Dorlan Pabon pulled a late goal back for Valencia as Sociedad climbed to ninth on 10 points.

Valencia, who host St Gallen in the Europa League on Thursday, are seventh with 13 points.