Atletico Madrid remain fourth in La Liga as they had to settle for a 0-0 draw at Espanyol after having defender Miranda sent-off in the first-half.

A third consecutive draw in the league means the champions now trail third-placed Valencia by a point and could be nine points off the top by the end of the day if Barcelona beat Eibar later on Saturday.

Diego Simeone’s protégés were reduced to 10 men in stoppage time at the end of an uneventful first period when Miranda led with his elbow in an aerial challenge with Abraham.

Despite being a man light, Atletico still created the better chances after the break and were desperately unlucky when referee Inaki Vicandi Garrido ruled out Antoine Griezmann’s sweetly struck volley from Diego Godin’s knock-down for an apparent push by the Uruguayan.

Raul Garcia then had the best chance of the match 12 minutes from time when he was played in by Griezmann, but Kiko Casilla made a brilliant save low to his right to deny the Spanish international.

Atletico’s attention now turns to overcoming a 1-0 first leg deficit when they host Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League on Tuesday.