Club Brugge and Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk have everything still to play for in their Europa League quarter-final tie after the first leg finished goalless in Belgium.
The visitors started on the front foot and should have taken an early lead when Valerii Luchkevich danced into the area and laid the ball on a platter for Ruslan Rotan in front of goal, but the striker directed his effort too high.
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Brugge threatened moments later following a dazzling run by Jose Izquierdo, who found his way around three defenders before his deflected strike ended up behind for a corner.
Dnipro had goalkeeper Denys Boyko to thank for maintaining the deadlock in the 27th minute as Izquierdo raced clean through on goal, only to be foiled by the Ukraine international in a one-on-one situation.
The visitors missed a golden opportunity to take the lead moments before the break, Nikola Kalinic putting a free header over the bar after Brugge goalkeeper Maty Ryan fumbled a cross, leaving things tied at 0-0 come the referee's whistle.
A Brugge opener was inches away from materialising early in the second period as Davy De Fauw came up for a corner and put a glancing header just wide of the far post with Boyko clearly beaten.
Dnipro had the chance to win it in the final 10 minutes as Yevhen Konoplyanka picked out Rotan for a free header in front of goal, only to watch the striker nod the ball into the arms of a grateful Ryan.
There was time for one more chance for the visitors in stoppage time, Konoplyanka beating his marker inside the box and letting fly, only to be denied by the legs of Ryan.
Mark Langshaw
