0-0: A goalless draw marked by resolute dominance

The first 0-0 draw of the season for UD Almería came in a match where they pushed relentlessly for a goal but ultimately lacked the sharpness needed to find the back of the net. Despite their attacking intent, the Rojiblancos were frustrated by a resilient SD Huesca defence that neutralised their every effort.

It is hard to believe, but it is true: UD Almería have recorded their first 0-0 draw of the campaign. The last time the Rojiblancos failed to score at home was almost a year ago. Ironically, against SD Huesca. 

On this occasion, however, the magic was nowhere to be found. SD Huesca’s defence stood firm, achieving what no team had managed to do until now...finishing the match without conceding a goal. UD Almería’s dominance was undeniable, but it was as resolute as it was ineffective, with the defensive strength of the opposition contrasting sharply with the hosts’ lack of attacking inspiration.

Despite challenging conditions, with the game’s tempo slowed by dampened spirits, Álex Centelles kept delivering cross after cross into the box. But SD Huesca’s defenders dealt with every one of them, ensuring that not a single ball found its target. The opposition were building an impenetrable wall, and as the match wore on, it became increasingly clear that breaking it down would take something special.

In the 32nd minute, Embarba tried to spark some life into the attack. Positioned on the left wing, Rubi’s tactical plan was to exploit his right-footed winger’s ability to cut inside. He got into a dangerous position at the edge of the penalty area and fired a shot towards goal, but once again, it was goalkeeper Dani Jiménez who stood in the way. Time and time again, it was Jiménez, thwarting any attempt on goal. The match was beginning to feel like Groundhog Day.

The next chance came right after the break, with the match starting to take on a stagnant air. On 49 minutes, Álex Centelles attempted an overhead kick following a lofted ball into the box. But the strike went just wide, hitting the side netting. By now, UD Almería's streak of consecutive games scoring was under serious threat.

A moment of hope arrived when the Rojiblancos thought they had found the breakthrough. Centelles found the net with a precise shot after a lovely low cross from the opposite flank. He celebrated wildly, only for the referee’s whistle to signal the dreaded offside. It was a beautiful moment, but it was denied, leaving the match still goalless as the hour mark approached.

By this stage, it was clear that UD Almería’s attack had run out of ideas. Despite an endless barrage of balls launched into the box, none were clean enough for a proper shot at goal. The Indálicos camped in the Oscenses' half, knocking on the door, but the wall was unyielding. With every defender playing a part in the almost Spartan defensive effort, SD Huesca managed to hold on for a well-earned point at the UDA Stadium.

The Rojiblancos were persistent, constantly shaking the tree, but in the end, they could not harvest the fruit of victory. It was not a stale draw; they simply lacked that moment of individual brilliance that can turn tight matches in your favour. Without it, all the dominance in the world could not produce a goal.

There was, however, a moment of sheer beauty early in the game, a play that showed what UD Almería were capable of when everything clicked. A masterpiece. Just 15 minutes in, a stunning piece of play from Thalys and Arribas unlocked Huesca’s defence. The Brazilian delivered a perfectly weighted ball to Arnau Puigmal, who then sent in a pinpoint cross that Embarba met with his right foot. It was a stunning strike, but Dani Jiménez, with a spectacular left-hand save as solid as a board, denied UD Almería their first real chance of the match. The crowd sighed in unison: so close!. A taste of what could have been.

Minutes later, in the 22nd minute, the visitors had their one and only opportunity. Kortajarena failed to make the most of a promising cross, misjudging his header and sending it wide. It was the only time he got near Andrés Fernández’s goal, and the last time the UD Almería goalkeeper appeared in the match, as the opposition’s attack was largely nonexistent.

UD Almería were solid at the back. Their centre-backs neutralised every threat that came their way, with Dzódic providing essential cover in midfield, allowing Lopy to operate with more freedom. With the opposition contained, all that remained was for their attacking force to find the spark to break the deadlock. But despite the domination, they were unable to get that elusive goal.

In the end, SD Huesca held firm, denying UD Almería the chance to build on their attacking pressure.