Drab clash ends goalless

The game involved little in the way of goalmouth action

Cagliari and Catania took a point apiece in a goalless Serie A game which included only three attempts, all for the home side.

Marco Sau had two of them at the end of the first half before missing another chance in the opening minute of the second period.

The rest of the game was bereft of chances with neither side, in truth, even deserving a point for their efforts - or lack thereof.

The teams were greeted on to the field by 13,000 spectators as the Is Arenas stadium was opened, with a restricted capacity, for the first time this season.

The opening of the ground to more than just a handful of season ticket holders was probably the biggest thing to celebrate, though, with the action on the field giving little cheer.

Apart from a speculative Giuseppe Marchese effort and a dangerous low cross from Sau that Nene was unable to reach with the goal gaping, there was nothing to write home about in the first 44 minutes.

All of the first-half danger was then condensed inside its final 60 seconds.

Sau found a way through the Catania defence and around Mariano Andujar, but the Catania goalkeeper managed to recover his balance to block the shot.

The second half was the opposite way round with the biggest threat coming inside the first 60 seconds.

Radja Nainggolan's shot was deflected off a defender and looped up for Sau, who was placed unmarked seven yards in front of goal, but he completely missed the ball with his attempted volley.

After that miss, the game went back to being the lifeless affair it had been for the first 44 minutes with neither side crafting any chances.

Cagliari at least tried to attack, but Catania appeared to have a gameplan which would enable them to get a 0-0 draw, and that is exactly what they got at the end of a game in which they did not muster even one shot on Michael Agazzi's goal.

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