Aston Villa 0 Parma 0
Aston Villa captain Ron Vlaar returned for a competitive pre-season friendly stalemate at home to Italian side Parma.
The Holland international was making his first appearance since the World Cup, having been linked with a move away from Villa Park ever since.
And defence certainly reigned as both sides were restricted to half chances in the first period, Andreas Weimann and Fabian Delph trying to break the deadlock for Villa.
The claret and blues stepped it up after the break, with Weimann was foiled by goalkeeper Antonio Mirante and Kieran Richardson had an effort land on the roof of the net.
Teenager Jack Grealish, 18, nearly made all of the difference with 15 minutes left, squaring for fellow substitute Leandro Bacuna only for a heavy first touch to waste the opening.
Villa could still have won it as late as the final minute, but the crossbar kept out another replacement, Darren Bent.
