Uruguay striker Forlan was left off the squad amid expectations he will soon sign with Inter Milan, while Falcao was unavailable due to a delay in his transfer from FC Porto.
“The important thing is that, with or without Falcao, the team created chances,” Atletico’s new coach Gregorio Manzano said. “What happened today is that none of them went in. Logically, with Falcao’s scoring and quality, he will be the biggest beneficiary if we continue to play this way.”
Atletico’s new attacking midfielder Eduardo Salvio grazed the post with a bouncing long-range shot two minutes before halftime, and teammate Jose Antonio Reyes rattled the woodwork in the 59th.
Both sides also had opportunities to snatch a late victory.
Osasuna forward Juan “Nino” Martinez fired wide from inside the area in the 90th, and Atletico striker Adrian Alvarez forced a diving save from substitute goalkeeper Andres Fernandez in injury time.
“I was prepared for anything and today I made the best of it,” said Fernandez, who replaced injured starting goalkeeper Asier Riesgo near the end of the first half. “We worked hard today and even had a chance at winning.”
The midday local time start inaugurated the Spanish league’s scheduling change this season.
Elsewhere, Athletic Bilbao drew 1-1 with promoted Rayo Vallecano, showing the Basques still need time to assimilate coach Marcelo Bielsa’s new possession-based attacking style.
In a glimpse of what the Argentine manager has in mind, Ander Iturraspe finished off an impressive team buildup in the 56th. Iturraspe received a final pass from Iker Muniain, shook off his marker and slotted into the left corner.
But six minutes later Javi Movilla equalized for the visitors when substitute Lass Bangoura made a chest pass to leave the 36-year-old midfielder alone to rifle the ball into the net.
Three-time defending champion Barcelona hosts Villarreal on Monday.
On Saturday, Roberto Soldado scored a hat trick to rally Valencia to a 4-3 comeback win over Racing Santander. Real Sociedad beat Sporting Gijon 2-1 with two goals from Imanol Agirretxe, and Betis edged Granada 1-0.
The first players’ strike in 27 years delayed the start of the Spanish league by a week. The players’ union and league struck a deal on Thursday that satisfied demands for the payment of ¢50 million ($72 million) owed in back wages to over 200 players.
The games originally scheduled for the first round will be played from Jan. 20-22.
