FC Porto and Malaga struggled to break each other down in a cagey first half in Portugal.

Neither side was able to settle in the early stages of the contest, resulting in a cagey midfield battle for much of the first half.

Porto had a great opportunity to break the deadlock in the 22nd minute when Joao Moutinho's corner found Silvestre Varela, who headed the ball inches wide of the post.

The hosts looked most likely to open the scoring through a set-piece situation but Malaga held firm in defence and refused to gift their opponents a sloppy goal.

Porto were rarely threatened in defence but were unable to create any more chances in a fairly timid first period.