Osasuna 0-0 Getafe: Azulones weather second-half storm to leave with draw

A game of poor finishing and much excitement ends goalless...
... The visitors started well but were clearly second-best in the closing 45

Getafe may have enjoyed some fine first half chances but in the end were grateful to leave Pamplona with a point after Osasuna dominated the second half of an entertaining fixtre in La Liga.

The hosts struggled early on but came out for the second period looking mobile and ambitious, and only poor finishing on their part saw this game end without a name on the scoresheet.

Despite the lack of definition from the strikers this was a fine match for the spectator with plenty of talking points, and from a Getafe supporter's perspective even the damp second half showing was an improvement on Thursday's debacle against Real Betis.

Osasuna lined up in their usual 4-2-3-1 with goal-shy Carlos Aranda starting alone up front, while versatile youngster Oier moved into midfield with Damia dropping back to full-back.

Getafe opted to use Javier Arizmendi as the lone striker in the continued absence of Adrián Colunga, while Manu del Moral skippered the team from the number 10 position with the rest of the side lining up as expected.

Kristztian Vadócz almost set up Aranda for the opener after just six minutes, but the forward, who got the best of Rafa, failed to take advantage of his chance.

Ten minutes later Jaime Gavilán teed up Arizmendi for a chance of similar quality but again the forward was found wanting when it mattered.

Gavilán was looking best for Getafe an was always active

Stats Osasuna - Getafe 56% Possession 44% 4 Shots on goal 7 7 Corners 10 105 Balls Lost 109 87 Balls Recovered 85 4 Yellow Cards 1 0 Red Cards 0 14 Fouls Committed 10

on the counter in a first half in which the Azulones more than held their own.

Dani Parejo, meanwhile, took a while to get going but when he did it was worth the wait, as five minutes before the break he brought out a tremendous save from home 'keeper Ricardo after a stunning solo effort.

After the interval, though, Getafe met an Osasuna side clearly all the better for their fifteen-minute break, and the hosts began to control the match in earnest.

After the interval Osasuna enjoyed fifteen minutes of near-uninterrupted pressure, much to the delight of the famously vocal home fans. A series of efforts from outside the area threatened Geta's security, with Juanfran's swerving low effort coming the closest.

Osasuna claimed for a penalty for handball against Derek Boateng after the hour mark, but this was a sign of desperation as there was really no contact: for all Osasuna's dominance in possession it seemed as though a spot kick was the only way they'd be able to truly test Jordi Codina.

Home coach José Antonio Camacho made two changes heading into the final twenty minutes, bringing on Dejan Lekic in midfield and Walter Pandiani up front, but in fact this disrupted the flow of the Navarre side's attacks somewhat.

Still, Osasuna were the better side in the closing stages and Getafe struggled to make headway. Interestingly visiting coach Míchel did not make his substitutions until just five minutes from time, with Víctor Sánchez coming on for Gavilán and Juan Ángel Albín replacing Arizmendi to run down the clock until full time.

Osasuna will thus finish the weekend six points clear of the dropzone, while Getafe miss the chance to threaten the top six. Next up for the Azulones is a home match with Real Sociedad to close off the first half of the season, while Osasuna travel to on-form Villarreal.

Osasuna: Ricardo; Damiá, Sergio, Miguel Flaño, Nelson; Lolo (Lekic 66'), Puñal; Juanfran, Vadócz, Camuñas (Calleja 84'); Aranda (Pandiani 66'). Getafe: Codina; Torres, Rafa, Cata Díaz, Mané; Boateng, Parejo; Pedro Ríos (Albín 47'), Gavilán (Mosquera 76'), Manu del Moral (Casquero 66'); Miku.