Villarreal frustrate Real

With both teams languishing outside the qualification places for the Champions League, a win was paramount. But neither side were able to unlock well marshalled defences and the match was to end in a stalemate.

With Jonathan Woodgate back from injury, the usually leaky Real Madrid defence was able to keep a rare clean sheet that capital fans will be hoping bodes well for the rest of the season.

No mean feat considering the best efforts of Riquelme and Forlan are usually good enough to break the best of defensive barriers.

At the other end of the pitch, the Real attack was largely impotent with Ronaldo picking up an early injury and his countrymen Robinho and Julio Cesar Baptista being totally anonymous throughout the game.

The only danger for the Yellow Submarine defence came from the periodic brilliance of French veteran Zidane. However, even he was struggling to test Sebastian Viera in the hosts' goal with Iker Cassilas being much the busier of the stoppers on show.

Riquelme was a constant thorn in the sides if the Madrid rearguard, and only a number of well timed challenges and some quality goalkeeping was able to prevent him from inspiring his team to another victory.

He came close to scoring himself with a number of set-pieces while setting up Forlan on a series of occasions. But the diminutive Uruguayan was unable to beat Casillas when given his chances and perhaps the Spanish keeper should be demanding his team-mates buy him a drink after the game after his series of solid saves.

The main worry for Real fans after the game will be the early withdrawal of Ronaldo with a recurrence of a calf injury that has already disrupted his season. Added to his already comprehensive catalogue of injuries this term this would be the last thing that his fans would want to hear while the rest of his team struggles to find the net.

Following this draw, both teams remain just outside the qualification places for the Champions League with Villarreal in fifth and Real Madrid just behind in sixth place.

However, with half the season still to go, both sets of fans will be optimistic of improvement although, surely, any dreams of the title will have to wait until next year.