Chievo fails to find net in stalemate

Chievo's goal drought continued as they were held to a scoreless draw by Cagliari.

The men from Verona failed to find the net for the fourth consecutive game and had to settle for a point at the Nereo Rocco stadium.

Cagliari are playing their home games in Trieste rather than Sardinia because of a dispute with the local council related to the renovations of the Sant' Elia stadium.

The result suited both sides as they remained on course to preserve their top-flight statuses.

Chievo climbed to 10th place, three places and two points clear of Cagliari.

The hosts went into the game on the back of a 3-0 triumph in midweek over Catania.

But Chievo carved out the first chance in the seventh minute as Alberto Paloschi shot from 10 yards, but it was kept out by Cagliari goalkeeper Michael Agazzi.

At the other end, Andrea Cossu got on the end of Alessandro Agostini's cross and his goal-bound attempt from the heart of the area was saved by Chievo keeper Stefano Sorrentino.

Cagliari could have taken a 34th-minute lead, but Thiago Ribeiro's right-footed effort from eight yards was kept out by Sorrentino.

The visitors pressed forward and might also have gone ahead before half-time but Paloschi fired wide from a good position.

Cagliari wasted a good chance early in the second half when Mauricio Pinilla's header from Lorenzo Ariaudo's cross went over the bar.

The Sardinian outfit squandered another opportunity to break the deadlock with 15 minutes remaining.

Albin Ekdal got past his marker before setting up substitute Segundo Ibarbo in the area and his attempt was off target with only Sorrentino to beat.

The visitors defended deeply as they were happy to settle for a point in the last stages of the game.

Ibarbo could have clinched three points with five minutes to go, but his left-footed volley from Alessandro Agostini's cross went into the stands.