Atalanta were held to a 0-0 draw by second-from-bottom Venezia on Saturday, missing the chance to provisionally move level on points with Serie A leaders Inter.

Atalanta widemen Davide Zappacosta and Juan Cuadrado both hit the woodwork from tight angles before the break, with La Dea dominating the first half but failing to break through.

Mateo Retegui, the league's leading scorer, also missed two good opportunities before the interval and would later misfire in the second half.

He blasted over the crossbar from close range in the 50th minute, in what represented Atalanta's best chance for a winner.

Following the frustrating stalemate, Gian Piero Gasperini's side remain third in the table with 55 points, one behind second-placed Napoli and two off Inter, who meet at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona later on Saturday. 

Venezia are 19th with 18 points, five adrift of Parma in 17th.

Data Debrief: Woodwork frustrates Atalanta again

Atalanta came closest to scoring in the first half, with both Zappacosta and Cuadrado striking the frame of the goal.

They have now hit the woodwork 16 times in Serie A this season, more than any other team.

Having also been held by Cagliari at the Gewiss Stadium two weeks ago, La Dea have now played out back-to-back 0-0 draws at home in Serie A for the first time since 2004.