Barcelona again failed to close the gap on Liga leaders Real Madrid after being held to a goalless draw by Getafe at the Nou Camp.

The result leaves Los Cules in third, behind Villarreal on the head-to-head rule after they lost at Seville, and they have now failed to win in five of their last six matches.

They remain seven points adrift of Real after the reigning champions suffered a poor result - a 1-1 draw with Mallorca - although the Catalans will feel their luck was out after they were denied by the goal-frame on three occasions.

The hosts controlled possession from the start but, as has so often been the case this season, looked unable or unwilling to make the killer pass or even take the decision to shoot at the right time.

The best opportunity of the opening 45 minutes fell to Samuel Eto'o a third of the way in when the Cameroon man rifled a shot off the post following good work by Thierry Henry and Xavi.

Barca had other good chances. Visiting keeper Roberto Abbondanzieri made an excellent save from Gabriel Milito after his side failed to clear a corner, and Henry missed the target from good positions on two occasions.

Getafe, meanwhile, sat deep and looked to hit Barca on the break. Their best opportunity fell to Manu Del Moral, who forced a diving one-handed save from Victor Valdes with an effort from the edge of the box after Gianluca Zambrotta had given the ball away.

Frank Rijkaard brought on young Mexican forward Giovani dos Santos for the ineffectual Eto'o, and the Manchester City target almost made an immediate impact when he sent a rasping drive off the post.

The home fans became restless as their side laboured to create anything meaningful, although the introduction of Eidur Gudjohnsen drew appreciative cheers.

The Iceland forward almost had an immediate effect with his first touch, a header across goal from a Sylvinho free-kick that Xavi turned against the post - the third time Barca were denied by the woodwork.

Manu went close for the visitors, Giovani again caused problems when he cut onto his favoured left foot from the right wing, and Gudjohnsen forced a superb reflex-stop from Abbondanzieri with a fierce downward header.

But Getafe held on for a point and white handkerchiefs and jeers accompanied the Barcelona players down the tunnel.

The result casts further doubt on the future of boss Rijkaard after he had already received a dreaded vote of confidence from the club's board.

In the other top-of-table clash, Sevilla beat Villarreal 2-0 at home thanks to a first-half strike by Liga top scorer Luis Fabiano and a late penalty from Fredi Kanoute.

Brazil striker Luis Fabiano bagged his 23rd Liga goal of the season with a low drive from the edge of the area after hesitant defending from Los Submarinos Amarillos, who stay second but could slip to third if Barca win later on.

Sevilla had the best of the match, Renato, Keita and Luis Fabiano all spurning good opportunities, although Villarreal had their moments, most notably when Santi Cazorla was put in by Joan Capdevilla but unable to beat Andres Palop.

Aside from the goal, the best chance fell to Sevilla midfielder Seydou Keita, who rounded visiting keeper Diego Lopez following a mistake from Gonzalo Rodriguez, only to lose his footing and go to ground.

And Sevilla made the points safe when, on 86 minutes, Lopez brought down Jesus Navas in the area and substitute Kanoute stroked the spot-kick into the bottom left.

Capdevilla was sent off for Villarreal in injury-time after picking up two bookings, the first for an incorrectly-called handball and the second for his subsequent protests.

Sevilla stay sixth, two points off Racing in fifth but five behind Atletico Madrid, who beat nine-man Almeria 6-3 to strengthen their grip on fourth place.

The home side were cruising inside six minutes after a free kick from Antonio Lopez, a penalty from Uruguay's Diego Forlan, and a red card for visiting defender Ruben Pulido for the foul that led to Forlan's spot-kick. But Almeria stormed back to level by the 17th minute.

Portugal winger Simao Sabrosa restored Atletico's lead with a free kick which the keeper fumbled into his own net, but again Almeria equalised.

Unai Emery's side were reduced to nine men in the 40th minute, and Simao's breakaway goal just before the break effectively ended their brave resistance.

Argentine striker Sergio Aguero wrapped up the scoring for Atletico with two in the second half.

Javier Aguirre's Atletico are fourth with 53 points, 13 short of leaders Real Madrid.

Racing Santander stumbled to a 3-1 home defeat to Deportivo La Coruna and are fifth on 50 points.

At the foot of the standings, Real Zaragoza's 3-0 home defeat to Real Betis left them deep in relegation trouble in 18th with 33 points, three adrift of 17th-placed Recreativo Huelva.

Real Murcia, who beat Copa del Rey finalists Valencia 1-0, are 19th with 29 and bottom club Levante, who lost 3-0 against Valladolid, have 19.

Reda Maher / Eurosport / Reuters