Getafe and Athletic Bilbao shared the points in an entertaining 0-0 match at the Coliseum Alfonso Perez.
Most of the clear-cut chances came in the second period, as Markel Susaeta hit the bar for the visitors and Miku did likewise for Getafe.
But in the end it was the goalkeepers who came out on top as Gorka Iraizoz and Miguel Angel Moya both made crucial saves in the final 10 minutes to maintain the deadlock.
Getafe had won their final two league games of 2011 and nearly made the perfect start to 2012 as Iraizoz was called into action to divert Miku's header behind just three minutes in.
Athletic captain Andoni Iraola had the best chance of the first half nine minutes later but he pulled his shot wide after a good ball through from Iker Muniain had set him clear.
The game came to life in the second period though as both sides, clearly not satisfied with settling for the point, pushed forward.
Marcelo Bielsa showed his intent by sending on Spain striker Fernando Llorente on his return from a knee injury and the change almost paid immediate dividends as Athletic had the ball in the net from a well-worked free-kick, but Javi Martinez was in an offside position.
Susaeta was extremely unfortunate not to open the scoring with 15 minutes remaining as his shot from a narrow angle rebounded back off both the bar and the post.
Minutes later, though, it was the hosts that rattled the woodwork as Miku powered a header off the crossbar.
Jon Aurtenetxe and Jaime Gavilan also had decent efforts saved in the final 10 minutes but the goal failed to arrive.
