And that will do us. Those closing 20 minutes were draining and brilliant to watch. I hope you enjoyed what we brought you and please join us for more European football action tomorrow as we run a live text on Roma v Juventus.

We will go live at around 19:15 GMT so bring your best tweets and Italian phrase book.

If it's half as good as that last match, I'll take it.

I'll leave you with this. Eric Bailly sporting a bandage but Cristiano Ronaldo frustrated. Sums up spirited Villarreal and Madrid's frustration at breathing life into the title race...

Image source, Getty Images

Goodnight.

Spanish football journalist Graham Hunter tweets:, external Well, that's put the Gato amongst the Palomas.

Gato - Spanish for cat

Palomas - Spanish for pigeons

Always learning on a BBC Sport live text...

As many as 34 shots in this one as Real are frustrated. A reminder Atletico Madrid drew 0-0 earlier at Sevilla in an ill-tempered game which saw 11 bookings.

Image source, Getty Images

All over at Stade Louis II where Paris St-Germain have missed the chance to take top spot in France. They have created more chances than Monaco tonight but with Zlatan Ibrahimovic suspended, did not have the firepower to get the job done. Lyon will stay top by a single point.

In Italy, Torino have beaten third-placed Napoli 1-0 to move up to eighth with Kamil Glik (pictured) scoring. Good news for Lazio who won earlier and in fourth are now just two points behind Rafael Benitez's side.

Many column inches will be written about Real Madrid 'dropping' points but Villarreal should not be a footnote here.

They were superbly well organised, their goalkeeper turned up big time and though Eric Bailly conceded a penalty, he was athletic and robust at the heart of defence. You can fully see why they are sixth in La Liga and still in the Europa League.

This could well be happening several hundred miles east of Madrid right now.

Image source, Getty Images

Roll on 22 March when Real Madrid go to Barcelona. Lionel Messi and co. are now just two points behind their rivals and so need rely on no favours. Win all their games and they will be champions.

Real Madrid corner at the death. This is it. The game in the balance. Marcelo, left-footed to deliver from a short corner...no. Headed away. It's like a yellow wall. Enthralling stuff.

That's it...the whistle goes.

Image source, Getty Images

The super-athlete - Cristiano Ronaldo - leaps like salmon at the back post. Head it across goal, they are lining up...he doesn't and it's over the bar. Barcelona fans, you have 60 seconds left. Pray.

Toni Kroos is in the box, he teases his man, creates a yard, crosses, deflected and again superbly saved. Asenjo palms it around the post.

Dear me. This is edge of the seat stuff.

The home fans appeal everything. Moi Gomez chests down near the area for this brave Villarreal side..."handball" is the shout (albeit in Spanish). Not a chance.

Three minutes added.

Javier Hernandez is in, he's got behind Eric Bailly and is there a pull on the shoulder? No.

The on loan Manchester United striker was travelling at pace and it wouldn't have taken much of a touch. A huge call. Huge. I think he got it right but at the death in the Bernabeu, strong refereeing to say the least.

What would defeat do to Real Madrid's confidence? They are on thin ice suddenly as Luciano Vietto gets a glancing header on goal forcing Iker Casillas to fling himself to his left and save. This is intense.

Real Madrid press. Neat passing but then some variation as Marcelo goes long. Out comes Asenjo in the away goal to collect but he flaps...open goal...Jese can win it...he puts a tame effort wide.

Eric Bailly was covering to clear off the line but was not needed as from an angle, the substitute could not find the target. What a chance.

Asier Illarramendi on for Isco. Javier Hernandez on for Karim Benzema.

Every sub used by both managers. Real Madrid have 10 minutes or their La Liga lead will be down to two points. Remember, they must go to Barcelona on 22 March so if the gap is down to a couple of points, a Barca win would put them in charge.

If you make a trip to Madrid to see the Bernabeu, Vicente Calderon and maybe even some other lesser cultural entities, you will inevitably need some fuel for your exertions.

Image source, Getty Images

In most Madrid bars, you can order a Bocadillo de Calamares, which is not quite the exact Spanish for 'squid bap' ('squid barm' if you are from the north of England) but close enough.

They turn these things out on almost a factory-line basis. Worth the trip alone...

barbuwa kalla, external: CR7 is in love with the net and that goal make it 30 goal in 3 consecutive season a sort of record. Unbelievable.

Sulaimon Adeleka, external: I said it last week that Real Madrid will win the La Liga and retain the Champions League and I still stand by it.

Kofi Tawiah Quansah, external™: I can see the players dressed in black and blue or it yellow and white?

We all know 'that' dress is white and gold Kofi.

Villarreal top scorer Luciano Vietto is clear...he closes in on Madrid's goal but slips at the crucial moment.

What a chance. He profited from a long ball and gets wrong side of Pepe but the Bernabeu turf brings him down. I did say it was glistening. Longer studs needed.

Joel Campbell has a swing with his left foot but Iker Casillas is already running to get the ball from a ball boy while it's in mid-air.

Real Madrid look desperate to get three points here and Dani Carvajal is too keen to win possession, tackling his man from behind. Booking.

Image source, AP

A run of just two defeats in 14 matches has helped Villarreal into sixth position where a push for a Champions League qualification spot is a realistic prospect.

Argentine forward Luciano Vietto is the man underpinning some of that fine form with 11 league goals this season.

The 21-year-old joined the Yellow Submarine from his Racing Club in his homeland at the start of the season.

He is now on the field. Beware.

Image source, Getty Images

"What a save. Spectacular," says a colleague and boy is he right.

No guesses needed for the pair involved. Ronaldo and Asenjo. A glancing header as Ronaldo attacks the near post is in but for a stunning one-handed stop. Asenjo takes flight to get to that. Superb. His left arm was strong to even take the power of the header.