Real Madrid had an underwhelming return to La Liga as they could only draw 0-0 away to Real Sociedad on Sunday in the first game of their title defence, reports Reuters.
The champions looked rusty and particularly toothless up front, barely creating any chances of note in either half as Karim Benzema found little support in Brazilian teenage forwards Vinicius Jr. and Rodrygo.
Sociedad looked more likely to score in either half, with Sweden forward Alexander Isak forcing Real keeper Thibaut Courtois to save with his feet before flashing a shot narrowly over the bar before halftime.
Lively winger Ander Barrenetxea was inches away from breaking the deadlock early in the second period but fired just wide of the far post.
Benzema missed Real's best chance of the first half when he lost his footing as he rounded goalkeeper Alex Remiro and later saw a goal-bound shot blocked by a dive from Sociedad defender Aritz Elustondo.
Madrid keeper Courtois said he was pleased with his side's performance all in all.
"We're happy with how organised we were and how we didn't allow them many chances but the problem was that we couldn't score, we struggled to complete our final passes," he said.
"We were looking strong even though it was our first game, we played with a high level of intensity although we found it more difficult in the second half but in general we can be happy with how our first game has gone."
