Soccer-Real held at Villarreal with LaLiga lead down to four points

Soccer Football - LaLiga - Villarreal v Real Madrid - Estadio de la Ceramica, Villarreal, Spain - February 12, 2022 Villarreal's Pau Torres in action with Real Madrid's Marco Asensio REUTERS/Pablo Morano

LaLiga leaders Real Madrid were held to a 0-0 draw away at Villarreal on Saturday, as their lead at the top of the table was reduced to just four points.

Real came into the game without injured talisman Karim Benzema and it told as they struggled to gel in an uncharacteristically sluggish first half, before looking more like their old selves after the break.