Lucas features in Brazil draw
Lucas Leiva played the full 90 minutes as Brazil laboured to a goalless draw with Venezuela in their Copa America Group B opener on Sunday night.
The Reds midfielder produced a tidy display at the heart of the midfield in what ultimately proved to be a hugely frustrating start to the campaign for Mano Menezes's men.
The defending champions struggled to convert heavy spells of possession into meaningful attacks as the Venezuelans fought valiantly to keep their more illustrious opponents at bay.
Pato did come close to breaking the deadlock when he hit the bar with a snap shot on 28 minutes while Robinho saw his goalbound effort miraculously cleared off the line just prior to the interval.
However, La Vinotinto continued to thwart the Brazilians following the restart and as the Canarinhos ran out of ideas it was no surprise that the minnows held on for a famous point.
The spotlight now turns to Luis Suarez's Uruguay on Monday night as the side that finished fourth at the 2010 World Cup take on Peru in their Group C opener.