Sevilla and Valencia shared the spoils following an entertaining goalless draw at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan in the 12th round of the Primera Liga to remain fifth and fourth respectively.
The Andalusians played most of the football, but were frustrated by a solid Valencia side.
Both teams missed good chances to win the match and Sevilla in particular will rue a missed opportunity to move into the top four.
The two teams began the season brightly, but have both suffered recent blips and came into this game on 23 points apiece.
Sevilla sat behind Valencia on goal difference at the start of play, but in the knowledge that a win would take them into the much-coveted top four.
The Andalusians started brightly and came close to taking the lead after eight minutes, when Aldo Duscher's powerful strike from the edge of the area sailed just wide of the target.
Sevilla played most of the football early on, but Valencia looked dangerous on the break and Juan Manuel Mata fired just wide after 21 minutes after cleverly turning Aquivaldo Mosquera.
The game began to open up after that and Luis Fabiano crashed a long-range effort wide after 25 minutes.
And a minute later, Mata almost put Valencia ahead, but his shot from the edge of the box was well saved by Andres Palop.
But Sevilla continued to look the better side and Luis Fabiano saw his shot deflected behind for a corner nine minutes before the break.
Two minutes later, a moment of sheer brilliance from Frederic Kanoute forced Valencia keeper Renan Brito into action.
The former Tottenham striker controlled the ball on his chest before unleashing a stinging scissor kick from the edge of the box, but Renan was equal to it and Valencia remained on level terms.
Sevilla poured forward again and Luis Fabiano almost broke the deadlock five minutes before half-time, but Renan saved the day once more.
After the break, Sevilla continued to probe.
Luis Fabiano glanced a header wide after 57 minutes and Adriano blasted a shot over the bar shortly afterward.
But the Andalusians began to run out of ideas against a Valencia side who continued to defend with discipline.
Unai Emery's side grew in confidence as the game wore on and had the better chances to win the game in the last 20 minutes.
Mata was involved in all of Valencia's best play and the young forward saw his shot saved by Palop after turning neatly in the area after 71 minutes.
And Mata was denied once again by the Sevilla keeper five minutes later, when he was ready to pounce on Miguel's right-wing cross.
Both teams then had great chances to win the match in the very last minute.
The first one went to Sevilla, when Luis Fabiano's header fell to Jesus Navas, who blasted just wide.
And at the other end, David Villa drilled his shot off target for Valencia.
The game therefore ended in a goalless draw, which was probably just about fair.
