Luke Tisdale's Under-23s were held to a goalless draw at the Alan Higgs Centre in Professional Development League action.
First shot of the game fell to the way of midfielder Jordan Shipley, but he couldn’t keep his effort down, as it sailed over the bar.
At the other end, the Tykes had their first opportunity through Kareem Smith, after some good work down the right hand side, he was slid the ball through, but from a tight angle, he hit the outside of the post.
Barnsley threatened again midway through the half, when Aiden Marsh rode a challenge from Josh Reid and forced Cian Tyler into a smart stop and then on the follow-up, Cameron Thompson fired wide.
Both sides were looking to break the deadlock and the closet City had come came in the 28th minute, when Fabio Tavares saw his shot inside of the area well saved by Daniel Jinadu.
Jinadu’s opposition number, Cian Tyler, was called into action moments later and he made a splendid save to deny Keegan Hartley from around six yards out.
HALF-TIME: Sky Blues 0-0 Barnsley
After the break, both sides battled for possession and the first chance of the half eventually fell to City and it came after some good work down the right by Ricardo Dinanga.
The winger beat his man and then put the ball across the box, which Tavares left for Bapaga, but he was denied by a good block from the Barnsley centre-back.
City continued to push for the opening goal and it was Ryan Howley who had the next chance, but he was unable to steer his header on target after getting on the end of Ngandu’s corner.
The visitors had a golden chance to make the breakthrough with just over ten minutes remaining, but Jasper Moon’s header from a few yards out went wide.
The longer the game went on, it became stretched with both sides pushing for that elusive goal and Bapaga was next to go close, firing inches over the bar from the edge of the box.
Bapaga looked lively down the left and he was on the end of a through ball from Josh Reid which he cut inside onto his right foot, but Jinadu denied the winger.
With three minutes left on the clock, a surging run forward from Ngandu saw the captain release Tavares, but his shot was deflected into the hands of the Barnsley shot stopper.
Sky Blues Xl: Cian Tyler (GK), Fankaty Dabo, George Burroughs, Jay McGrath, Josh Reid, Jonny Ngandu (C), Ryan Howley, Jordan Shipley, Ricardo Dinanga, Will Bapaga, Fabio Tavares.
Subs: Luke Bell (GK), Marco Rus, Aidan Finnegan, Aaron Evans-Harriott, Harrison Nee.