Partizan and Asteras depart with draw

• Partizan fail to score second goal of group stage despite dominating
• Nikola Ninković comes closest to getting winner, hitting the post
• Kostas Theodoropoulos saves well from Ninković, Saša Marković and Vladimir Volkov
• Asteras finish third in Group C, four points above Serbian champions
• Round of 32 draw takes place in Nyon at 13.00CET on 15 December

FK Partizan failed to get a first win of Group C as they were kept out by a resolute Asteras Tripolis FC side in a goalless draw for the section stragglers in Serbia.

With Partizan guaranteed to finish bottom before kick-off – and Asteras without the prospect of advancing – pride was the only prize on offer for both teams. They began at an electric pace, though, and within the first two minutes Tasos Bakasetas had turned wide Jerónimo Barrales's cross with only home goalkeeper Milan Lukač to beat, before Nikola Ninković's wicked volley forced Kostas Theodoropoulos into a smart save.

The Serbian champions were the competition's joint lowest scorers coming into matchday six – having registered just once – and their woes in front of goal continued as they dominated the first period. Ninković jinked sharply inside two defenders before a tame shot dribbled straight at the visiting keeper, who then did well to repel fine efforts from Saša Marković and Vladimir Volkov, along with Nikola Drinčić's dipping free-kick.

Ninković resumed his personal battle with Theodoropoulos after the restart, prodding against the post after the Asteras custodian had spilled a cross, before the No11's drive from outside the area was tipped away. Petar Škuletić picked up the mantle for Partizan, blazing over from an angle on the right after a bulldozing run, and then sending an effort slipping wide of the far post as he shot low across goal.

It was not to be for the home side, who at least picked up a second Group C point if not a second goal, and could have lost that had Lukač not kept out Pablo Mazza's late low effort.