Real Zaragoza and Racing Santander battled out a goalless draw on Sunday afternoon with the result doing little for either team's European aspirations.
The hosts remain fifth and comfortably in a UEFA Cup spot but failed to make up any ground in their pursuit of a Champions League berth.
Racing, meanwhile, slip a position to ninth in the standings, with only five games remaining in which to climb into a top-six spot in order to play in next season's UEFA Cup.
The first chance of the match fell to Racing in the fifth minute, but Gonzalo Colsa was unable to keep his close-range header down sufficiently.
Lionel Scaloni's left-footed corner then found Ezequiel Garay, who fired a right-footed shot wide from 20 yards as Racing continued their hunt for the opener.
Nikola Zigic was next to try his luck, but his 20-yarder flew wide. Scaloni's effort just before the half-hour mark had a similar outcome.
Carlos Diogo fashioned Zaragoza's first sight at goal in the 34th minute, only to fire his right-footed shot from the right side of the penalty area over the crossbar.
Back at the other end, the final chance of the half fell to the visitors, but Pedro Munitis' close-range shot went wide of its target.
The second half continued in much the same vein as the first, with both sides struggling to find a cutting edge up front.
Victor Fernandez's side did have a renewed sense of purpose, however, and were clearly intent on not just maintaining their unbeaten run in 2007 at La Romareda but collecting all three points.
Sergio Garcia drilled a right-footed effort narrowly over the crossbar just after the hour mark as the hosts looked to assert themselves.
Diego Milito then saw his header caught by Racing keeper Antonio Tono, and Pablo Aimar blasted wide from distance.
Aimar latched onto Diogo's cross in the 76th minute but could only drill his effort over the bar from the edge of the area.
Racing keeper Tono was finally called into serious action in the 82nd minute, and responded in style, producing a brilliant parry to keep out Milito's header.
Milito again had the opportunity to turn one point into three four minutes from time when he was picked out by a Garcia Juanfran cross, but he could only nod wide of Tono's left-hand upright.
That proved to be the last chance of the match as the sides had to settle for a point apiece.
Zaragoza have been consistently inconsistent of late, winning every other game over the previous 12 matches, but could not continue that run by emerging victorious on Sunday.
Fernandez's team have the chance to strike a direct blow to fourth-placed Valencia at the Mestalla next weekend.
Racing, meanwhile, slip a position to ninth in the standings, with only five games remaining in which to climb into a top-six spot in order to play in next season's UEFA Cup.
The first chance of the match fell to Racing in the fifth minute, but Gonzalo Colsa was unable to keep his close-range header down sufficiently.
Lionel Scaloni's left-footed corner then found Ezequiel Garay, who fired a right-footed shot wide from 20 yards as Racing continued their hunt for the opener.
Nikola Zigic was next to try his luck, but his 20-yarder flew wide. Scaloni's effort just before the half-hour mark had a similar outcome.
Carlos Diogo fashioned Zaragoza's first sight at goal in the 34th minute, only to fire his right-footed shot from the right side of the penalty area over the crossbar.
Back at the other end, the final chance of the half fell to the visitors, but Pedro Munitis' close-range shot went wide of its target.
The second half continued in much the same vein as the first, with both sides struggling to find a cutting edge up front.
Victor Fernandez's side did have a renewed sense of purpose, however, and were clearly intent on not just maintaining their unbeaten run in 2007 at La Romareda but collecting all three points.
Sergio Garcia drilled a right-footed effort narrowly over the crossbar just after the hour mark as the hosts looked to assert themselves.
Diego Milito then saw his header caught by Racing keeper Antonio Tono, and Pablo Aimar blasted wide from distance.
Aimar latched onto Diogo's cross in the 76th minute but could only drill his effort over the bar from the edge of the area.
Racing keeper Tono was finally called into serious action in the 82nd minute, and responded in style, producing a brilliant parry to keep out Milito's header.
Milito again had the opportunity to turn one point into three four minutes from time when he was picked out by a Garcia Juanfran cross, but he could only nod wide of Tono's left-hand upright.
That proved to be the last chance of the match as the sides had to settle for a point apiece.
Zaragoza have been consistently inconsistent of late, winning every other game over the previous 12 matches, but could not continue that run by emerging victorious on Sunday.
Fernandez's team have the chance to strike a direct blow to fourth-placed Valencia at the Mestalla next weekend.
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