Atletico Madrid battle Villarreal to goalless draw

All the pressure was on Diego Simeone’s squad on Sunday, since they desperately needed a win to keep pace with Barcelona. But they were unable to break through fourth-place Villarreal’s iron-clad defence, reports EFE. 

“We’ve got to keep working, game after game,” Atletico midfielder Koke Resurreccion said. “We’re still in second place, we’ll continue fighting until the end.” 

The rivals played a very tactically measured game in the first half, neither gaining nor giving up much, both being unable to crack the opposing defence, and it proved to be more of the same after the break. In the 25th week of first division Spanish football action, both Madrid clubs -- Atletico and Real Madrid -- have 13 more games to go.