Barça tie leaves it seven points adrift

Barcelona saw Real Madrid's lead at the top of La Liga stretch to a worrying seven points as the Catalan team could only manage a 0-0 tie away against struggler Villarreal on Saturday night. Earlier the Madrid club had pocketed a 3-1 win at home to bottom-of-the-table Zaragoza.

The reigning Liga champion seemed to be showing signs of exhaustion following its midweek efforts to hold off a rampaging Real and secure its place in the King's Cup semi-final. With a growing injury list, coach Pep Guardiola's slightly makeshift side lacked its usual spark against a Villarreal regaining some of its old form under new coach José Francisco Molina. The best of the chances fell to Lionel Messi, but the Argentinean failed to convert: in the first half, his delicate lob bounced just wide; in the closing minutes of the second, he wiggled his way through clear on goal, but was denied by keeper Diego López.

The result makes it one defeat and five ties away from home for Barça in La Liga this season and gives it a hill to climb to catch up with Real. "It's an important gap, but I have seen more difficult things," said Barça's Dani Alves after the game. "We're not giving up anything here."

Zaragoza got off to a dream start against Real Madrid, surprisingly finding itself 0-1 up after 10 minutes thanks to a goal from Ángel Lafita. But Manolo Jiménez's men were soon awakened from their reverie as Kaká slotted home a low strike on 31 minutes to draw level and Cristiano Ronaldo connected with a sweet cross from Mesut Özil to tap in his 24th of the season just after half time. Looking back to his inspired best, Özil himself rocketed in a left-footed drive to make it three on the 55th minute. The result leaves the lackluster Zaragoza six points adrift at the foot of the table.

Other results: Espanyol 1-0 Mallorca; Rayo 2-3 Athletic; Betis 1-2 Granada; Real Sociedad 5-1 Sporting; Levante 1-2 Getafe; Racing 2-2 Valencia; Málaga 2-1 Seville.