Barcelona: Atletico Madrid was held to a 0-0 draw by Osasuna on Sunday in both teams' Spanish league opener.
Atletico created more chances throughout but missed the scoring touch of Diego Forlan and new signing Radamel Falcao as Osasuna held firm to split the points at Vicente Calderon stadium.
Uruguay striker Forlan was left out of the squad amid expectation he will soon sign with Inter Milan, while Falcao was unavailable due to a delay in his transfer from FC Porto.
"The important thing is that, with or without Falcao, the team created chances," Atletico's new coach Gregorio Manzano said. "What happened today is that none of them went in. Logically, with Falcao's scoring and quality, he will be the biggest beneficiary if we continue to play this way."
Atletico's new attacking midfielder Eduardo Salvio grazed the post with a bouncing long-range shot two minutes before halftime, and teammate Jose Antonio Reyes rattled the woodwork in the 59th.
Both sides also had opportunities to snatch a late victory.
Osasuna forward Juan "Nino" Martinez fired wide from inside the area in the 90th, and Atletico striker Adrian Alvarez forced a diving save from substitute goalkeeper Andres Fernandez in injury time.
"I was prepared for anything and today I made the best of it," said Fernandez, who replaced injured starting goalkeeper Asier Riesgo near the end of the first half. "We worked hard today and even had a chance at winning."
The midday local time start inaugurated the Spanish league's scheduling change this season.
Elsewhere, Athletic Bilbao drew 1-1 with promoted Rayo Vallecano, showing the Basques still need time to assimilate coach Marcelo Bielsa's new possession-based attacking style.
In a glimpse of what the Argentine manager has in mind, Ander Iturraspe finished off an impressive team build up in the 56th. Iturraspe received a final pass from Iker Muniain, shook off his marker and slotted into the left corner.
But six minutes later Javi Movilla equalized for the visitors when substitute Lass Bangoura made a chest pass to leave the 36-year-old midfielder alone to rifle the ball into the net.
Bielsa described his team as "confused."
"If we had finished the game creating more occasions, my opinion would be better, but the end of the game lowered the grade," Bielsa said.
Also, Mallorca beat Espanyol 1-0 with a second-half goal by Jonathan de Guzman, while Levante drew 1-1 at Getafe.
Three-time defending champion Barcelona hosts Villarreal on Monday.
The games originally scheduled for the first round will be played from Jan. 20-22.
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