Espanyol have been held to a goalless draw by 10-man Levante in Barcelona in La Liga.

The hosts started much the better of two sides and were unfortunate not to go ahead on 26 minutes after Sergio Garcia saw his goal-bound effort well saved.

However, Javier Aguirre's men could have gone into the interval trailing Les Granotes after Hector Rodas fired narrowly wide of the post from a good position.

The visitors began the second half in the same fashion as they had finished the first and could have gone ahead again, only for goalkeeper Francisco Casilla to deny David Barral from close range.

Simao and Jhon Cordoba both spurned good opportunities for the Catalan outfit, before they were given fresh impetus in their quest to snatch a winner after Victor Casadesus was sent off on 88 minutes.

However, Aguirre's troops could not make the most of their numerical advantage with little time remaining.