With Barca and third-placed Real Madrid winning, the pressure was on Juande Ramos' men to keep pace, which they failed to do on a miserable night in Pamplona.

The point was hard-fought against occasionally dangerous opposition, but it was not what the doctor ordered as the title race enters the home stretch.

Sevilla were missing goalkeeper Andres Palop, Daniel Alves, Adriano and Renato Dirnei, while 19-goal top scorer Fredi Kanoute was on the bench after injury.

Osasuna's Pierre Webo headed an early Juanfran corner past the post, while at the other end Ernesto Chevanton screwed a shot wide.

It kick-started a period of prolonged pressure from the visitors and some Antonio Puerta trickery on the left saw him jink into the area before he shot into the side-netting.

A clever flick from Chevanton found its way to Jesus Navas on the right-hand side of the area and his near-post drive forced Lopez Ricardo to tip the ball round the post.

Chevanton was centimetres from getting a decisive touch to a superb drilled cross from the left by Puerta.

Webo's spin and shot from close range was straight at stand-in goalkeeper David Cobeno, but it reminded Sevilla of the dangers posed by a home side also looking for UEFA Cup glory this season.

The lightweight but skilful Navas drove a cross-shot wide, while Juanfran skipped through to draw a smothering save from Cobeno.

Then, after more good work from Navas, Luis Fabiano saw a goal chalked off after being adjudged to have handled in the build-up as Sevilla ended the half in charge.

The second half initially began in the same vein as tormentor-in-chief Navas escaped the defence only to shoot wide.

Sevilla were unable to fashion any half-chances thereafter as Osasuna came back into the game without looking overly threatening themselves.

The second half was nowhere near as free-flowing as the first, although the deteriorating weather played a part.

A free-kick swung over from the right by Navas could have been headed home by at least three Sevilla players but for Webo's brilliant clearance, before Chevanton curled a shot over the bar from 12 yards.

Inaki Munoz laid the ball off to Raul Garcia on the edge of the box, but he shot straight at Cobeno's fists.

Shortly after, a flying Juanfran almost made contact at the far post from an Enrique Corrales corner.

Kanoute was introduced with 12 minutes to go as Sevilla became increasingly desperate for a goal.

But he could not provide the spark missing from a second half in which Sevilla's legs looked heavy at the start of a hectic period of fixtures which will determine whether they end a season of much promise with some silverware.