Deportivo held by streetwise Olympiakos

Deportivo Coruna continued their disappointing start to the season, held to a 0-0 draw by a streetwise Olympiakos in their opening Champions League Group A match on Wednesday.

Last season's semi-finalists, who were dealt a shock 3-1 defeat by Osasuna in the Spanish league on Sunday, turned in a nerve-riddled performance and were fortunate not to have gone into the break at least a goal down.

For Greece's Olympiakos, who do not begin their domestic season until this weekend, the draw broke a run of eight successive away defeats and enabled them to start their campaign with a valuable point.

There was little in the way of flowing football at the Riazor as both sides concentrated on winning control of the midfield and rarely ventured into attack.

Olympiakos were first to settle and came within a whisker of taking the lead when former Deportivo player Rivaldo sent a spectacular overhead kick on to the roof of the net after fellow Brazilian Giovanni had nodded on a lofted pass from the back.

Minutes later Giovanni beat the Depor defence in the air once again, but this time striker Ioannis Okkas was unable to get his foot to the ball as it spun across the face of the goal.

The Greek side looked certain to cash in on their dominance when Jose Molina spilled a rasping free kick from Rivaldo in the 26th minute, but the Depor keeper atoned for his error by smothering Gabriel Schurrer's powerful follow-up shot.

Depor, missing the stabilising influence of the experienced Mauro Silva in central midfield, looked nervous throughout the first half and only managed to threaten from two isolated set-pieces.

Defender Cesar sent a diving header wide of the far post on 20 minutes after Sergio swept a free kick across the area and Uruguayan striker Walter Pandiani skimmed the bar with a dipping shot shortly before the break.

Deportivo eventually found their rhythm after the break, but although they dominated possession they lacked the spark needed to break down the rugged Olympiakos defence.

Pandiani should have done better at the start of the second half when an Albert Luque cross found its way to him on the edge of the area, but his first touch let him down and Olympiakos were able to clear the danger.

The game petered out in the final quarter of an hour as Olympiakos settled for the point and Deportivo simply ran out of ideas.

Liverpool overcame Monaco 2-0 in Group A's other game on Wednesday.