Real Madrid missed the chance to move four points clear of Barcelona at the top of La Liga after being held to a 1-1 draw by Villarreal on Sunday.

Cristiano Ronaldo’s early second-half penalty looked to have Madrid on course for a fourth consecutive win, but Gerard Moreno’s thunderous equaliser 26 minutes from time earned the visitors a deserved point.

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However, the visitors started the brighter and should have been in front on 12 minutes when Iker Casillas made a fine save from Moreno and then Dani Carvajal headed Moi Gomez’s follow-up effort off the line.

The European champions began to bombard the Villarreal defence with crosses as the half developed and Gareth Bale came close to an opener when his header from Toni Kroos’s corner flashed wide.

The World Player of the Year opened the scoring from the spot after he had been pulled down inside the area by Eric Bailly.

Ronaldo should have doubled his tally moments later when he latched onto a wonderful through ball by Bale, but Asenjo rushed from his goal-line to make a brave block.

That miss was to prove costly when Villarreal levelled thanks to a wonderful low finish by Moreno.

 Ronaldo had the chance to restore Madrid’s lead four minutes later as he showed Bailly a clean pair of heels, but was once again denied by Asenjo.

Casillas then had to make another great save of his own at the other end to prevent Luciano Vietto heading home a winner for Villarreal before Ronaldo nodded over one last chance in a frantic finale.

Earlier, Sevilla and Atletico seemed to suffer a hangover from their European encounters in midweek at the Sanchez Pizjuan in a tense game short on clear-cut chances.

Sevilla had the better of the first period as Vicente Iborra struck the post and Miguel Angel Moya in the Atletico goal made a couple of smart stops.

However, the introduction of Koke and Fernando Torres from the bench gave the visitors a boost after the break.

Torres had the best chance to win the game when he broke clear seven minutes from time, but the former Liverpool and Chelsea striker saw his shot slide across goal and beyond the far post.