Real Madrid's basketball team have won a trophy and they are parading it before kick-off. "Campeone, campeone..." rings out around the Bernabeu and these giant basketball players are loving it.

Nearly time for the off...

Carlo Ancelotti goes with an unchanged Real Madrid side for the third game running.

Luciano Vietto, Villarreal's top scorer is only named on the bench as they make changes from the Europa League win over Borussia Munchengladbach on Thursday.

Real Madrid XI: Casillas, Carvajal, Pepe, Varane, Marcelo, Bale, Kroos, Silva, Isco, Benzema, Ronaldo

Villarreal XI: Asenjo, Mario, Bailly, Dorado, Costa, Pina, Sergio Marcos, Moi Gomez, Campbell, Gerard, Gio.

And so to the Bernabeu.

Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti was quizzed on whether he would rotate his side for the visit of Villarreal in his weekly news conference.

Image source, European photopress agency

"Coaches who don't rotate, like me, are criticised as are those who do. I don't know what I can do to avoid being criticised," he said.

"We have reached the most important stage of the season with the squad in good physical and mental shape,"

The former AC Milan boss played down the need to rotate players and warned Villarreal are a team with "a lot of quality", adding they are "a top La Liga side".

Los Blancos have a full week to rest after this encounter with a trip to Athletic Bilbao scheduled for next Saturday.

And with that whistle, Sevilla surely end the title hopes of Atletico Madrid.

Ill-disciplined throughout. Few chances but ultimately significant in the title race.

Valencia will be happy. This draw means they have a seven point cushion on Sevilla. Fourth place looks comfortable for them.

In keeping with the game. We have another yellow card. Ever Banega has probably been the best player on the pitch but he cannot escape the card.

Just 60 seconds remain.

There will be three minutes of added time.

Atletico Madrid - the champions - will be six points behind Real Madrid with this draw and their rivals will have a game in hand which we will cover next.

Surely curtains for Atletico this season? Focus on the Champions League.

Mario Suarez, with the weaving run of Luis Suarez, he finds room 20 yards out to shoot but it's low and too central, an easy save for Sergio Rico.

The big midfielder was like a slalom skier there.

The referee has given his arm a workout tonight. In and out of his pocket he goes. This time Atletico defender Miranda is carded for an elbow. Pass me the abacus...how many bookings is that?

Image source, AP

Closing in on 11...

Image source, Getty Images

Fernando Torres pounces on a slip by Grzegorz Krychowiak and he is away, running clear from halfway. The substitute does not have the pace so holds the ball up and then takes the defender on again...shooting chance...great chance...narrowing angle...pulled wide.

His name was in lights there.

Stephane M'Bia in the book. The list grows. Too feisty in his aerial challenge with Mario Mandzukic.

In truth, from an offensive perspective this has been tame from Diego Simeone's side. With their fading title hopes on the line, surely they have to offer more?

Mandzukic is under a cross but the Seville goalkeeper will collect that before the striker can even jump.

This image, clearly not taken on a smart phone, is that of Christopher Columbus.

Image source, Google

The explorer is buried at Seville's main cathedral. That may sound straight forward but less than 10 years ago, a group of academics contested whether he actually was, external and performed DNA tests on his son's remains, which are also at rest in the city.

It turns out it is Columbus buried there after all. He had close ties with the city and its port.

And off comes Carlos Bacca. Surely not bad news for Atletico fans? Kevin Gameiro comes on. He was Sevilla's top scorer last season.

Image source, Getty Images

There is menace in both of these sides. And when I say menace, I don't mean the type which rips an opponent open with dazzling flair. I mean the type of menace which loves a tackle, loves a scrap and lives for a battle.

The midfield area is awash with bodies but as Sevilla get the better of exchanges, Carlos Bacca finds the chance to run at the away defence. He is thwarted by goalkeeper Moya at feet and it's a corner.

No way was Bacca going to get there before the keeper as his touch was heavy but that's the first we've seen of Sevilla's top scorer in this half.

Image source, Google

Mario Mandzukic has been banging them in for Atletico this season and his record stands at better than a goal every two games in each of the competitions in which he has played...

Reyes with a reverse pass and Vitolo is in, great chance for a pull back but across comes Mario Suarez to thump the ball for a corner. I think Mario Mandzukic is coming on.

Three up top for Atletico or is Griezmann making way? He is.

Raul Garcia nips into a 50-50, wins it back for Atletico. Ball tossed forward, lost. Cross into the box from Sevilla, hacked away. Throw in.

Jose Antonio Reyes shoots on the swivel...wide.

This is bitty, disjointed and where the moment of telling magic will come from is hard to guess. Possession turns over fast in this one.

Torres to Griezmann, back to Torres...this break has momentum, he shoots and it is held low down by Sergio Rico. He had much to do from 20 yards but more intent from the away side now.

Torres has looked vibrant since coming on and Griezmann looks better with and out-and-out striker alongside him.

Fernando Navarro dribbles a shot at goal for Sevilla from 25 yards. That is practically a pass back.

This game needs some more quality in the final third. Jose Antonio Reyes is about to enter the fray.