Title: Deusto Cling to First Point Amid Scoreless Stalemate with Zarautz as Early Struggles Continue

As dusk fell over the tight confines of Campo de Fútbol de Etxezuri, there was a tangible sense of urgency on the Deusto touchline. For a side stranded at the foot of Tercera División RFEF Group 4—winless after five rounds and searching for lifelines—every challenge, every loose ball, seemed to carry extra weight. Yet, when the final whistle echoed across the chilly Bilbao air, Deusto and Zarautz had only frustration, not goals, to show for ninety tense minutes: a 0-0 draw that spoke volumes about both sides’ early-season trajectories.

From the opening whistle, the encounter bore the hallmarks of a must-not-lose fixture for Deusto, whose solitary point keeps them anchored in 18th place. The hosts, still haunted by a dismal run of four consecutive defeats, entered with the burden of a stagnant attack—just one goal to their name thus far—and the scars of conceding late in narrow losses. Zarautz, meanwhile, arrived with cautious optimism. Their campaign had been a patchwork of gritty wins and humbling setbacks, highlighted most recently by a commanding 1-0 victory over Añorga and a sobering 0-6 collapse at Portugalete.

The proceedings rarely rose above a feverish chess match, as nerves and tactical caution reigned. Deusto, cheered on by a loyal if anxious crowd, carved out the first half’s best opening in the 27th minute. A bustling run down the right unlocked space for their forward, but a scuffed finish rolled tamely into the arms of Zarautz keeper Iker Odriozola, who scarcely broke a sweat.

Zarautz, operating with the patience that has become their hallmark, nearly snatched a lead just before halftime when a clever set-piece routine sprung their captain, Unai Mendizabal, free at the back post. His downward header forced a sharp stop from Deusto’s embattled keeper Jon Ander López—the only moment the home crowd truly exhaled in relief.

For Deusto manager Aitor Etxebarria, these were the moments that have eluded his side all autumn: fleeting glimpses of composure and resolve, repeatedly undone by imprecision in the final third. The second half offered little respite. Both sides pushed higher, but the ball spent most of its time in midfield purgatory, with fouls and misplaced passes snuffing out any hint of rhythm.

The game’s decisive episode—if there was one—arrived in the 73rd minute. Zarautz’s pacy winger Oier Aramendi broke in behind, nudging the ball past López before being upended on the edge of the box. The Zarautz bench erupted in protest, pleading for a red card, but the referee brandished only yellow, ruling the infringement did not deny an obvious goalscoring opportunity. Deusto’s wall repelled the ensuing free kick, preserving hopes of a precious first clean sheet.

By the final whistle, both teams looked more relieved than disappointed. For Deusto, the goalless draw halted a hemorrhaging of defeats but did little to mask deeper concerns—primarily an attack that hasn’t scored at home since the opening month and a defense that has shipped eight goals in five matches. Yet, in the context of recent heartbreak (back-to-back 0-1 losses to Portugalete and San Ignacio, and a bruising 0-3 home defeat to Touring), the result offered a sliver of hope—a first building block in a campaign desperate for traction.

Zarautz, having steadied themselves after their Portugalete disaster, consolidated mid-table respectability. Their seven points place them in 12th, still within touching distance of the upper half but in need of greater consistency if a promotion push is to materialize. For all their discipline and compactness, the Basque visitors have found goals hard to come by—just two in their last five outings—raising familiar questions about firepower that will need answers as autumn deepens.

The head-to-head between these two sides, sparse in recent years, offered little in the way of pre-match narrative, but today’s stalemate will be remembered less for its drama and more for its implications.

For Deusto, the task is as tall as ever. They remain rooted at the bottom, five matches in without a victory, and facing a long campaign unless a spark emerges up front. The point brings fleeting respite and perhaps a measure of resolve that has been lacking in September. But survival, at this stage, looks a distant prospect without urgently rediscovered attacking verve.

Zarautz depart with a single point that steadies their recovery but leaves them pondering missed opportunities against the league’s most out-of-sorts side. With winnable fixtures ahead, the onus shifts to converting stalemates into statements—and, crucially, into victories.

Tonight, neither team claimed the spoils. But in a season where every point will matter, both may look back on this chilly October stalemate as a turning point—for better or worse.