Third met fourth in La Liga on Sunday evening as Atletico Madrid welcomed Villarreal to the Vicente Calderon.
Victory for Atletico would have seen them regain second position from Real Madrid, but they could not break down a stern Villarreal defence in the opening 45 minutes.
It remained just as close in the second period and neither attack could find a goal as the points were shared in Madrid.
Read how it all unfolded in Sports Mole's minute-by-minute live commentary of the action below.
Evening all! Sports Mole's live La Liga coverage continues from the Vicente Calderon as third-place Atletico Madrid welcome fourth-place Villarreal. On paper, it is the game of the weekend in Spain's top flight and it has all the makings of an excellent match-up. Atletico need to win to keep up their title challenge and retain second spot from Real Madrid, but Villarreal are enjoying a fine campaign.
In terms of the recent meetings between the two sides, both have recorded two wins in the last five matches. Villarreal triumphed 1-0 when the pair met at El Madrigal in the league earlier this season and they also posted the same scoreline when they travelled to the Calderon last term. Ironically, it was now Atletico striker Luciano Vietto that struck to give Marcelino's side all three points.
Those expecting a goal-fest in this match, however, might well be disappointed. Each of the last four fixtures between the two teams have finished 1-0 (two wins for Atletico, two for Villarreal), while their clash in November 2013 finished 1-1. Atletico are also excellent at the back and slightly goal-shy going forward and the same can also be said for Villarreal! Anyone fancy the 0-0 tonight?!
Right, without further ado, let me bring you up-to-speed with the all-important team news from the Vicente Calderon. Who have Diego Simeone and Marcelino placed their faith in? Let's find out...
TEAMS:
ATLETI: Oblak; Juanfran, Godin, Savic, Luis; Gabi, Saul, Koke; Correa, Torres, Griezmann
VIL: Areola; Mario, Bonera, Ruiz, Bailly, Rukavina; Bruno, Pina, Castillejo; Soldado, Bakambu
Atletico are without suspended centre-back Jose Gimenez tonight, while Tiago, Augusto Fernandez and Yannick Ferreira Carrasco remain on the sidelines for the capital side. Simeone's main call has come at centre-forward where he has chosen the experienced Fernando Torres ahead of former Villarreal striker Luciano Vietto. Argentine Angel Correa is also given a surprise place in the home side's attack.
As for Villarreal, Ivorian centre-back Eric Bailly has passed a late fitness test to form part of a five-man defence. Samu Castillejo is also in the XI for the Yellow Submarine, while Cedric Bakambu returns to take his position in the final third alongside Roberto Soldado. Jonathan dos Santos, however, is not risked after picking up an injury in the 1-0 win over Napoli in the Europa League on Thursday.
So there we have it. The two teams are in and we are now little under 40 minutes from kickoff on this mild evening in the Spanish capital. Atletico are always confident in this stadium, but Villarreal have only lost four of their 24 league games this season and a win for the visitors would put them just three points behind Atletico, which would be some achievement at this stage of the campaign.
I touched on the potential lack of goals tonight and that is not just a shot in the dark – the numbers are there for all to see. Atletico have only scored 35 times in their 24 league games this season, which is some 36 fewer than rivals Real Madrid. Down the other end, however, they have only conceded 11 times, which as expected, is the best record in the division by some distance.
Villarreal, meanwhile, have only shipped 18 goals, which is the second-best defensive record in the league. They have only scored 30 times, but 14 wins from 24 matches represents a wonderful campaign for the Yellow Submarine, who know what it takes to triumph in this stadium.
Atletico's record from 24 league games this season reads – won 17, drawn three and lost four. They will enter this match off the back of successive wins over Eibar and Getafe, which ensured that they remained second ahead of Real Madrid in Spain's top flight. As mentioned, Simeone's side have since dropped to third, but would jump above their rivals once again if they can avoid defeat tonight.
Atletico have actually only won two of their last six games in all competitions, however, and will have one eye on their Champions League last-16 trip to PSV Eindhoven next week. The capital outfit also have the small matter of a home league game against Real Madrid next Saturday afternoon.
In the last 22 league games at the Vicente Calderon, only Barcelona (twice) have been able to beat the home team. Simeone's side have also only conceded four times in their last nine league matches in this stadium, which is an indication of the task facing Marcelino's Villarreal team tonight.
The visitors, however, will enter this match on the back of an 11-game unbeaten run in La Liga. Never before have Villarreal taken 48 points from their opening 24 matches of a La Liga season and as mentioned, victory this afternoon would move them just three points behind third-place Atletico.
The Yellow Submarine are also seven points clear of fifth-place Sevilla in the race for fourth and they are the clear favourites to secure a return to the Champions League. They have drawn three of their last five in the league, but a vital 1-0 victory over Malaga last weekend consolidated their top-four position.
Marcelino's side were last beaten in the league at Getafe on November 11 and they followed that defeat with a six-game winning run, which included a 1-0 success over Real Madrid on December 13. Only Real Madrid and Barcelona have lost fewer league games than Villarreal this season!
Villarreal's next two home league games are against struggling duo Levante and Las Palmas, while they will visit Celta Vigo and Sevilla in their next two on the road. A positive result tonight and a strong return from their next four could well see the yellows launch an unlikely challenge for third spot.
PREDICTION! Tonight will see the two best defences in the division go head-to-head and it would be foolish to predict a game with lots of goals. Atletico are the favourites on home soil, but I look at the two teams and I believe that Villarreal will get something from the match. I am backing a 1-1 draw.
A reminder of the two teams for tonight's match...
ATLETI: Oblak; Juanfran, Godin, Savic, Luis; Gabi, Saul, Koke; Correa, Torres, Griezmann
VIL: Areola; Mario, Bonera, Ruiz, Bailly, Rukavina; Bruno, Pina, Castillejo; Soldado, Bakambu
KICKOFF! The pre-match handshakes have been undertaken and the flags have been exchanged - time for the football then! It is the away side that get the first 45 minutes of action underway here...
... you just get the feeling that the first goal tonight - if there indeed is one - could be vital. As expected, neither team has given too much away in the opening couple of minutes. Villarreal will want to get hold of the ball and attempt to dictate the play, certainly from the middle of the park.
It does appear that Villarreal are playing 4-4-2 tonight rather than 5-3-2, at least to start with. Rukavina is matching-up to Luis on the right of the away side's midfield. Not too much to report in terms of the attacking pressure in the opening four minutes as both battle for possession of the ball.
Decent spell of pressure from Atletico as they force two corners in quick succession, but Villarreal have the second best defence in the league for a reason and manage to clear their lines here.
Atletico, as expected, are the team on the front foot in these early moments, but neither goalkeeper has been tested in the opening eight minutes of this contest. Both defences have been nice and solid thus far, with has left the likes of Torres, Soldado and Bakambu chasing scraps in Madrid.
Saul shifts the ball from left to right inside the Villarreal box before striking towards goal, but his effort was always rising over the crossbar. We are still waiting for the first real chance here.
Villarreal are defending very deep at the moment, which is a direct result of Griezmann's pace, which has the potential to kill the visitors on the counter-attack. Torres is also no slouch when he gets going despite his advancing years! Possession football from Villarreal at the moment in Madrid.
The home side are in fine voice at the moment, but their team has struggled to break through this stern Villarreal defence in the opening 15 minutes. That said, there has been even less action down the other end. No real surprises that the two best defences in the league are on top as things stand.
The best way to describe the opening 17 minutes in Madrid would be safe. It has been safe.
We have not seen too much from either Soldado or Bakambu in the final third for Villarreal, but that is mainly down to Atletico's strength at the back rather than the away side's own misgivings. You just get the feeling that this game could be decided by a mistake or a moment of pure brilliance.
Just a few signs that Atletico are taking control of this match as they quicken the pace in the final third, but we are still waiting for the first serious opportunity with 22 minutes on the clock here.
The game's first shot on target comes from Saul, but his tame effort is straight at Areola.
Half-chance for Villarreal this time as Rukavina decides to have a go from a wide position, but his effort was never troubling Oblak. That has been the story of the opening 25 minutes here!
Griezmann mis-controls the ball behind for a Villarreal goal kick, which sums up the opening 28 minutes in terms of attacking football. Recent history suggested that this game would be tight and that has been the case. Neither defence has offered those in the final third anything at all!
Atletico frantically praises Savic for a hard challenge, which prevents Villarreal from breaking and potentially causing problems in the final third. That is about as good as it has been though.
Soldado takes exception to a late challenge from Juanfran, while the striker also crashed into Saul for good measure. It is Marcelino's turn to wave his arms around, but the resulting free kick comes to nothing as Atletico get players behind the ball. Thirty-two minutes played, still all square here.
Half-chance for Villarreal as Bonera hooks the ball towards goal from a corner, but the centre-back's effort was always too high. Probably the closest either side has come though!
Juanfran delivers a dangerous cross into Torres and the number nine manages to make contract, but it was always moving away from goal and Bonera is on hand to pump the ball down-field.
Still just the one shot on target in this match and it was a daisy-cutter from Saul!
Saul curls into the arms of Areola for another attempt on goal!
Mario is in need of some treatment here after a late challenge with Koke.
Mario is off the pitch, but the defender does not look at all comfortable and a change might well need to be made. Rukavina would switch to right-back and Denis Suarez seems to be sub warming up!
Super Mario is back on the field for Villarreal after the magic sponge!
I would love to be able to say that there have been a number of clear chances in this first period, or at least one, but that has not been the case. The two defences have been well on top here.
Koke hits one harmlessly wide from distance as Atletico break forward once again.
CHANCE! Finally a chance of real note! Juanfran delivers a super cross onto the head of Griezmann, who makes contact, but not quite enough and it drifts away for a goal kick!
Mario fires one over the Atletico crossbar and that should be that for the first period.
HALF-TIME: Atletico 0-0 Villarreal
So there we have it. The referee brings the first period to a close with the two teams level at 0-0. In truth, there has only really been one serious chance - it came for Griezmann, but the Atletico attacker headed wide from close range. Aside from that, it has been very tight indeed tonight!
STATS! Atletico have just shaded the possession with 54%, while they have had five attempts, but just two of those were on target and neither troubled Areola. Villarreal, meanwhile, have had three attempts, but not yet managed to test Oblak. No bookings to report either in Madrid.
BENCH WATCH! Atletico are missing a number of key players tonight, but they do have a certain Luciano Vietto on the bench. The Argentine joined Simeone's side from Villarreal in the summer and would surely be fired-up to make an impression. As for the visitors, head coach Marcelino has attacking options in the shape of Leo Baptistao, Adrian, Denis Suarez and Manu Trigueros.
MATCH PIC!
RESTART! Here we go then - both sets of players re-join us on the pitch for the second period. Will we have a breakthrough in Madrid? Stay tuned! It is the hosts that resume the action...
... no changes from either side at the break, which is not too much of a surprise. However, I suspect that both managers will have alterations in mind as the second period develops in the capital.
Not an awful lot to report since the restart here, but Atletico are the team pushing forward and attempting to force the issue. This is going to finish 0-0 isn't it? Both defences are so good.
For a long time, Villarreal were known as a team that played free-flowing football. Well, they are still capable of that, but this has been a really impressive defensive performance from Marcelino's side.
Spanish fans do not like away games!
Torres is not best pleased with Bonera after seemingly taking an elbow from the Villarreal defender, but the referee is not too concerned and we still wait for the first yellow card of this match.
SAVE! Correa's cross takes a deflection and seems to be heading for the back of the Villarreal net, but Areola is on hand to make a wonderful save! Super goalkeeping there!
Villarreal have possession outside the Atletico box and indeed have the chance to test Oblak as Soldado feeds Castillejo, but the midfielder loses control and then fouls Godin for a free kick.
Both sides are preparing to make much-needed changes here.
A Villarreal free kick causes problems inside the Atletico box. It is a bit of a scramble, but the home side manage to clear their lines. There looked to be a couple of fouls in there for me!
BOOKING! Castillejo (Villarreal) is booked for a late challenge on Correa.
ATLETICO SUB! Oliver Torres replaces Griezmann for the home team.
CHANCE! Wonderful chance for Villarreal - their best of the match - as Bakambu breaks into the Atletico box, but his effort is wide of the post. What a chance to register there!
VILLARREAL SUB! Adrian replaces Soldado for the visitors.
VILLARREAL SUB! Castillejo is replaced by Suarez for Villarreal.
Little over 20 minutes of football remaining and in truth, nothing is happening!
BOOKING! Gabi (Atletico) is booked for dissent.
ATLETICO SUB! Vietto replaces Correa for Atletico.
Little under 20 minutes of football remaining and we are still level at 0-0. You sense that one goal would be enough to win this match, but neither defence is breaking as we approach full-time here.
BOOKING! Luis (Atletico) is booked for a late challenge on Rukavina.
Atletico have just upped the tempo in the last few minutes and they have been able to force a couple of defensive mistakes from Villarreal. Chances have been so hard to find in this match, however, and there is nothing to suggest that will change in the final 15 minutes or so in Madrid.
BOOKING! Bailly (Villarreal) is booked for a late challenge on Vietto.
Atletico continue to pass and probe outside the Villarreal box. The visitors are so very deep and Koke is able to deliver into Fernando Torres, but Areola in on hand to collect for the away team.
Atletico threaten with a couple of corners in quick succession and the second brings a half-chance for Godin, but the centre-back can only clear the crossbar with his effort.
ATLETICO SUB! Kranevitter replaces Saul for the home team.
VILLARREAL SUB! Leo Baptistao, who is an Atletico player, replaces Bakambu.
Oliver Torres attempts to find a difficult pass into Koke, but the angle is so tight and it drifts behind for a goal kick. It does appear that the points are going to be shared in the capital tonight.
Fernando Torres turns and fires at the Villarreal goal, but Areola makes a comfortable stop.
Bailly looks to be in trouble here and Villarreal have made all three changes!
Villarreal manage to deal with another long ball into their own box and Atletico's frustration continues. Godin goes up with Ruiz and seems to throw an elbow, which leaves Ruiz on the deck.
Areola comes out to collect a Koke corner as we enter three additional minutes here.
CHANCE! Vietto breaks into the Villarreal box and his eyes light up, but Bailly just does enough to put the striker under pressure and the referee points for a dead-ball.
In truth, neither team has done enough to win this match. Villarreal came for a draw and that is what they are going to leave with unless there is some very, very late drama at the Calderon.
Savic comes across to challenge Adrian and Villarreal will finish with a corner here.
FULL-TIME: Atletico 0-0 Villarreal
So there we have it. The referee brings the second period to a close with the points being shared in a 0-0 draw. Atletico have returned to second above Real Madrid, while Villarreal remain fourth and now eight points clear of fifth-place Sevilla. Thanks for joining Sports Mole for the action. Until next time!
