It was honours even between Real Sociedad and Villarreal with their clash ending in a 0-0 draw at the Anoeta on Saturday.
Joel Campbell, Jaume Costa, Tomas Pina and Gerard Moreno all came close in the first period but ultimately couldn’t find the opener. It was a similar affair in the second period when; Carlos Martinez, David Zurutuza, Esteban Granero and Fran Sol all had attempts but the deadlock remained.
Both of these sides were looking to get back to form ahead of this game with the home side who sat in 12th position in La Liga on a run of eight games without a win while Villarreal who were ninth, on a run of four games without victory.
It was the away side that started brightest with Arsenal loanee, Campbell coming close on two minutes. He received the ball from Costa before hitting a shot but it seemed easy for keeper Geronimo Rulli. Next it was Costa who came close in the 14th minute. He aimed for the left corner of the goal after he received the ball from Jonathan Dos Santos but it was just wide of the mark.
Villarreal continued to dominate proceedings and Pina came very close to opening the scoring in the 21st minute. Dos Santos whipped a cross into the area which found the head of the midfielder but the attempt was too high. Costa had another chance six minutes later with his effort going just wide of the right hand side of the goal.
Rulli was forced to pull off a decent save five minutes before the break when Manu Trigueros’ effort looked destined for the top corner but the keeper managed to pull off a good save to keep it out.
Real Sociedad had their first real opportunity of the match three minutes after the restart when Martinez had an attempt but it was just too high. Zurutuza had another good opportunity for David Moyes’ side when he got his head to Carlos Vela’s cross but it was high and wide of the mark.
Just before the hour mark Granero had a free kick in a dangerous position but the set piece went just wide. Minutes later Inigo Martinez made Sergio Asenjo make his first real save of the night when he headed the ball towards goal but it proved easy for the goalkeeper.
Both teams continued to battle to take the lead going into the final 10 minutes and both sides had an excellent opportunities a minute apart. The first came from Sol in the 82nd minute when he had an attempt from very close range but somehow missed the target. One minute later Gonzalo Castro had a chance but his effort was stopped well by Asenjo.
The final opportunity of the match came from Mario and he almost snatched all three points for the away side. In time added on he got his head to Dos Santos’ cross into the area but Rulli was equal to it to earn a point for the hosts.
This result doesn’t really affect the two sides but both will be disappointed that they couldn’t register a victory and end the bad run of form that they have been on.