Madrid, Mar 1 (EFE, with additional context by The Costa Rica Star).- Real Madrid could not take control on Sunday and had to settle for a 1-1 draw against Villarreal, foregoing two important points in the fight for Spain’s La Liga soccer title in a tough, but non-innovative, home match.

Although Villarreal was missing a number of starters, Marcelino’s boys started out nicely, but the European champions on their home turf soon began to fire a number of good-looking – but non-connecting – shots on goal and the first half ended scoreless.

Starting for Villarreal on this match was talented striker Joel Campbell from Costa Rica, who is currently on loan to the Spanish club by the Arsenal Football Club of the Barclays Premier League. Campbell had a solid game; he was on the pitch for 90 minutes and worked hard to keep the Real Madrid at bay. Although Campbell has yet to score his first goal with Villarreal, analysts are seeing some of the brilliance displayed by this striker with the National Football Team of Costa Rica during the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.

It wasn’t until the 52nd minute that Cristiano Ronaldo finally found the twine on a penalty shot, and it looked for a while like Real might take the match, thereby moving up four points on No. 2-ranked Barcelona.

However, Gerard Moreno answered back with a great shot for the visitors 12 minutes later and neither team could get on the board again before the final whistle at Santiago Bernabeu stadium.

At the close of the 25th week of the La Liga BBVA tourney, Real Madrid remains out in front with 60 points, closely followed by Barcelona with 59 and Atletico Madrid with 54, after its scoreless tie on Sunday against Sevilla.

Valencia is one point behind Atletico Madrid, and Sevilla and Villarreal are in fifth and sixth place with 46 points and 44 points, respectively. EFE