Villarreal missed a great chance to move back into the top four as they were held to a goalless draw by ten-man Real Valladolid in the Primera Division.
Manuel Pellegrini's side had an extra man for the last half an hour after Inaki Bea was sent off for the locals, but they were unable to make their numerical advantage count in the final stages.
Bea's dismissal also resulted in a penalty for the visitors, but Giuseppe Rossi missed the spot-kick and Valladolid held on after that to secure a point, which means they are now all but safe, having reached the magic forty points with seven rounds of the championship remaining.