Serie A strugglers Atalanta and Udinese remain in trouble after a drab goalless draw.
The hosts' need for points was the greater as they went into the clash in the bottom three and six points adrift of their rivals.
But neither side could break the deadlock, with Simone Pepe going closest for the visitors, while Atalanta had Paolo Bianco sent off late on after picking up two bookings.
Udinese were looking for their first away win of the season having taken only four points on their travels.
And they were on the back foot in the early stages, with Tiberio Guarente, back in the side after injury, crossing for the stretching Simone Tiribocchi, who was inches away from converting.
Atalanta had another chance in the 18th minute when Gyorgy Garics got away down the right and crossed to the far post where Valdes' acrobatic volley whistled just past the other upright.
Three minutes later Ferreira Pinto beat the offside trap and found himself one-on-one with Samir Handanovic but the Udinese keeper reacted well to steal the ball off the midfielder's toes.
Udinese had offered next to nothing in attack but they finally created a decent opening in the 25th minute when Kwadwo Asamoah found Antonio Di Natale for a left-footed shot that just went the wrong side of the post.
The visitors had another chance in the 28th minute, Juan Cuadrado crossing for Antonio Floro Flores, whose bicycle kick was well kept out by Andrea Consigli.
Di Natale has been in superb form this season, netting 19 goals in 23 games, and he threatened again with a volley that flew just over the bar.
The momentum had swung firmly to the visitors now and they came closest to an opener in the 35th minute when Paolo Sammarco played in Pepe with a neat backheel.
His shot looked destined for the far corner but Consigli got down well to push the ball behind for a corner.
Half-time was welcome for Atalanta and they came out after the break with renewed purpose. Defender Bianco got his head to Guarente's free-kick but just failed to direct it on target.
At the other end, Pepe's effort was deflected past the post while the striker looked favourite to get on the end of Giovanni Pasquale's cross only for Consigli to snatch it just in time.
Chances were few and far between but Di Natale threatened again with a 25-yard free-kick that just curled past the post.
The striker then got on the end of a cross from substitute Alexis Sanchez but this time his header was poor and Consigli easily kept it out.
The home side were reduced to 10 men four minutes from time when Bianco picked up a second yellow card for a foul on Sanchez but it came too late for Udinese to take advantage.
They did have the final chance of the game in injury time but Asamoah arrived just too late to tap in Di Natale's neat lob.
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