Athletic Blibao and Malaga record stalemate at San Mames

Malaga and Athletic Blibao shared the points after a tense goalless draw at San Mames, which saw the hosts play the majority of the game with 10 men following a red card to Mikel San Jose.The midfielder was dismissed after just 20 minutes for shoving Malaga striker Charles off the ball, but the Basques coped well in his absence and had more chances to take all three points than the visitors.Athletic move up to seventh place thanks to the point while Malaga move out of the relegation zone and into 17th, but are level on points with 18th placed Granada.Coach Javi Gracia is likely to feel even more pressure after his side failed to take advantage of their numerical superiority, while they still have not managed to find the net in any of their seven away games this season.The game had seen few clear openings before the main flashpoint, which came when Charles tried to rob the ball from San Jose, who then pushed the Brazilian striker over after he had passed it on.After consulting with the fourth official, referee Alfonso Alvarez Izquierdo produced a red card, to the consternation of the home supporters.Malaga goalkeeper Carlos Kameni made a couple of vital saves either side of half-time to deny Markel Susaeta and Oscar de Marcos respectively, while Inaki Williams was somewhat fortunate to not receive a second yellow card after the break for diving.Athletic stopper Gorka Iraizoz made a good save to keep out a goal-bound shot from Malaga midfielder Recio towards the end of the first half, but was barely troubled in the second.