Villarreal 0 - Sevilla 0

Villarreal: Viera; Josemi, Fuentes (Quique Alvarez 65'), Cygan, José Enrique; Marcos Senna, Josico; Cani, Matias Fernández (Jonathan Pereira 84'), Marcos (Bruno 91'); Diego Forlán. 4-2-3-1.
Sevilla: Palop; Hinkel, Escudé, Javi Navarro, Antonio Puerta; Daniel Alves, Poulsen, Renato (Kerzhakov 77'), Adriano (Duda 26'); Kanouté, Chevantón (Maresca 62'). 4-4-2.

Team changes: Villarreal: No change / Sevilla: Hinkel, Antonio Puerta for Dragutinovic, Jesús Navas.

Goals: None.

Sevilla extended their lead at the top of the table to three points pending Sunday's games after drawing 0-0 at Villarreal, although they have only picked up one point in three games since the turn of the year and could miss out on the honorary title of winter champions if Barcelona win either of their two remaining fixtures.

It was a dull and at times physical match, with chances few and far between. Palop kept out a tricky low shot from Diego Forlán early on and Renato tested Viera at the other end, but that was about it for the first half.

And more of the same after the restart, with Kanouté firing a long shot wide and substitute Duda putting another effort way over the bar for the visitors, and Mati Fernández curling a free kick wide and Forlán bringing a good save out of Palop with another free kick for the home side. Riquelme looked on from the stands with resignation again, his side once more unable to score without him, and Pellegrini needs to sort things out quickly if they are to save the season.