Madrid, Spain (SportsNetwork.com) - The top of the La Liga table remained the same on Saturday after league-leaders Barcelona and Atletico Madrid played to a 0-0 at the Vicente Calderon.
The two teams entered Saturday's contest level on 49 points, with Barca holding a slight edge in goal difference. And after 90 scoreless minutes there was nothing to separate the sides, leaving both clubs six points clear of third-place Real Madrid, which travels to Espanyol on Sunday.
Barca manager Gerardo Martino started the match with both Lionel Messi and Neymar on the bench as Messi was just returning from injury while Neymar was battling an illness for much of the week.
But even after both were introduced in the second half, they were unable to inspire much attacking flare for their side, which appears to have a serious title challenger to contend with in Atletico.
The best chance in the first half came from an Atletico corner kick when Miranda's flicked header picked out Diego Costa at the back post, but he was unable to make a solid connection to turn the ball over the goal line.
Messi had a look at goal following a cross from Jordi Alba that he headed wide from a decent position and he had an even better opportunity 10 minutes from time when he eluded a defender but saw his low shot turned away by goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.
Fourth-place Athletic Bilbao had no such trouble in front of goal on Saturday as the team rolled to a 6-1 win over Almeria after scoring three times in the opening 30 minutes.
Celta Vigo moved three points clear of the relegation places with a 2-1 comeback win over Valencia as Charles scored twice in the second half to cancel out a first-half tally from Valencia's Daniel Parejo.
The other match on Saturday saw Cristian Herrera score in the 81st minute to put Elche in front, only for Sevilla's Daniel Carrico to equalize eight minutes later in a 1-1 draw.
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