Sevilla were left frustrated by a stubborn Espanyol outfit in the Primera Liga on Saturday.
The Andalusian side dominated from the outset and Espanyol had goalkeeper Carlos Kameni to thank for a number of key saves which kept the visitors on level terms at the break.
And Espanyol continued to stifle their hosts after the interval, but it looked as if they would pay the price when defender Nico Pareja was sent off on the hour.
However, Sevilla remained unable! to find a way through in the closing stages, despite enjoying the best chances, and passed up the opportunity to close in on Real Madrid, who could only draw at Sporting Gijon earlier this evening, and Barcelona.
Sevilla saw their impressive five-match winning streak in the league come to an end last weekend following a surprise 1-0 defeat at Deportivo La Coruna.
Espanyol, meanwhile, continued their record of being unbeaten since the second round of matches.
Mauricio Pochettino's side lost their first two league games this term, but came into this clash in eighth place following three wins and two draws since then.
The Catalans therefore headed into this match with their confidence high and they created the first chance after just two minutes, when Luis Garcia controlled well and tested Javi Varas with a smart shot which the Sevilla goalkeeper did well to save with his feet.
Three minutes later, Sevilla threatened for the first time, when! Jesus Navas tried to beat Kameni with an audacious lob, but t! he Camer oon stopper reacted superbly.
A minute later, the home side could have had a penalty as Pareja handled, but the referee waved play on.
The game continued at a frenetic pace and, after Jose Callejon had shot wide for Espanyol, Kameni denied Diego Perotti with a brilliant save halfway through the first period.
Sevilla were creating the best opportunities and the lively Perotti tested Kameni once again before the break, with the African eventually gathering at the second attempt.
After the restart, Sevilla continued to dominate, but Espanyol were defending well.
However, the Catalans looked to have it all to do after Pareja saw red on the hour for a second yellow card after scything down the recently-introduced Diego Capel.
The next chance fell to Espanyol, though, and it was a good one. Ivan De La Pena, who had replaced Shunsuke Nakamura 10 minutes earlier, whipped in a lovely free-kick and Ivan Alonso, unmarked, wastefully headed wide! from six yards.
Luis Garcia then blasted over as Espanyol made light of their numerical disadvantage, but the Catalans had plenty of defending to do after that.
Kameni did well to keep out Sebastien Squillaci's header and also saved from Renato late on.
Capel, Julien Escude and Arouna Kone all came close as Sevilla piled on the pressure in the closing stages, but Espanyol held out to extend their unbeaten run to six games.
The visitors could even have won it at the death, when Callejon shot wide with only Javi Varas to beat from close range.
The Catalans remain provisionally in eighth, while Sevilla stay third but will drop a place if Deportivo beat Valladolid tomorrow.
