Staff Reporter.
Leaders Real Madrid and mid-table Villarreal continued their unbeaten starts to the La Liga season with a goalless draw at the Bernabeu.
Carlo Ancelotti’s Real had scored 21 goals in their opening six La Liga games but rarely looked like scoring.
Karim Benzema’s shot and Isco’s deflected header were their only efforts Geronimo Rulli had to save.
Villarreal had fewer but better chances and Arnaut Danjuma twice forced Thibaut Courtois into a save.
Real are three points clear at the top – above Sevilla, who beat Espanyol 2-0.
“It’s a bittersweet point because it’s at home against a direct rival and you want to take the three points in these games; just one isn’t what we wanted,” Madrid goalkeeper Thibault Courtois said.
“Keeping a clean sheet is good given we’ve conceded in our last few games, though.
“We wanted to press them high but they dealt with us well in the first half and it was tough to get the ball off them. We misplaced too many passes when we had it, but these things happen.”
This was Real’s first goalless draw in La Liga under Ancelotti, in 83 games over two spells.
Unai Emery’s Villarreal are 10th despite being unbeaten having drawn five of their six matches.
The result means Carlo Ancelotti’s side move onto 17 points, three above city rivals Atletico Madrid, who lost 1-0 away to Alaves earlier in the day.