Parma were held to a 0-0 draw against Cagliari in their Serie A afternoon kick off at the Stadio Ennio Tardini.
Neither side could find the back of the net in what was a poor game, with both sides engaged in a relegation battle come the end of the calender year.
The first chance of the game came the way of the home side. Fabiano Santacroce was found in Cagliari’s box unmarked following a corner, but couldn’t direct his acrobatic effort on target, however Raffaele Palladino did equally as badly when he completely missed the ball in behind Santacroce.
Parma continued to threaten the Cagliari goal with Francesco Lodi the next to come close from a free kick, but the ball drifted wide of the bottom corner.
Andrea Rispoli was heavily involved before the half hour mark as the full-back dashed into the area and had a crack at goal, but Danilo Avelar blocked the shot.
At the other end, Samuele Longo was brought down by Rispoli having been through on goal, but Cagliari played on and Diego Farias nearly beat a stranded Antonio Mirante, but Jose Mauri blocked his shot on the line.
Antonio Cassano very nearly found Palladino in the centre but for a vital interception from Luca Rossettini.
Rispoli found himself in a dangerous area, but he skied his shot over the bar as the Gialloblu finished the half strong with a free kick whipped in by Cassano, but Palladino’s header fizzed over.
The tide changed in the second half for Parma as Cagliari went on the attack, when Andrea Cossu came close to finding the top corner but instead sent his shot over the bar.
Cagliari were still vulnerable at the back as has become a feature of Zdenek Zeman’s team this year when Luca Ceppitelli gave the ball away to Cassano on the edge of the area but the defender recovered to great effect.
Mirante became the busier of the two goalkeepers as the game reached it’s conclusion. Ekdal came very close to beating the Italian international from a tight angle but Mirante stood his ground.
Jose Mauri lead the late charge for Parma but to no avail and the home side were condemned to their first draw of the season, while Cagliari collected their sixth of the campaign.
Follow Louis Gibberd-Thomas on Twitter: @mercutio156
