Honours even between Villarreal, Athletic Club
Athletic Club maintained the six-point gap to fifth-placed Villarreal in LaLiga after playing out a 0-0 draw at the Estadio de la Ceramica.
Villarreal had to navigate the final stages with 10 men after Pape Gueye was sent off for a poor challenge on Maroan Sannadi.
Ayoze Perez was presented with the first opportunity, as he fired a volley straight at Unai Simon after being found by Santi Comesana.
Villarreal continued to enjoy the better of the chances in the contest. Tajon Buchanan was the next to test Simon, but his stinging effort was repelled by the Spanish number one.
Thierno Barry should have put the host side ahead in the 68th minute, but the forward was unable to turn Gerard Moreno's teasing cross into an empty net.
Barry made no mistake for what he thought would be the opener soon after, but the goal was ruled out for handball in the build-up after a VAR review.
Athletic had rarely threatened but was handed a chance to snatch all three points late on when Villarreal substitute Gueye received his marching orders just 20 minutes after being introduced into the action.
But Ernesto Valverde's team was unable to make its advantage count, mustering just one effort on target in the closing stages, which Luiz Junior was able to comfortably gather.
