Primera Division: Atletico Madrid's title defence all but over after goalless draw in Sevilla

Atletico Madrid all but bade farewell to their hopes of retaining the Primera Division title after drawing 0-0 at Sevilla.

Diego Simeone's side were pinned back for much of the game and were fortunate to go into the break on level terms, although they improved in the second half and had a couple of chances to snatch a late winner.

The result sees Atletico drift five points behind second-placed Barcelona and sven behind Real Madrid, their emphatic 4-0 victory over their local rivals three weeks ago now a distant memory.

Sevilla's hopes of catching Valencia in the final Champions League spot were also dented by the draw, and they fall seven points behind fourth spot.

With both sides involved in European matches in midweek, Simeone and Unai Emery made four changes from their last league games.

Simeone employed a 4-3-3 formation and left Mario Mandzukic on the bench, with Raul Garcia partnering Antoine Griezmann in attack.

A three-man midfield experiment backfired badly a fortnight ago at Celta Vigo and Atletico also struggled in the first half here, with Sevilla pressing high up the pitch, boxing the visitors into the final third.

Carlos Bacca tested Miguel Angel Moya with a couple of speculative efforts from the edge of the area but his shots lacked the power to beat the goalkeeper.

The best chance arrived midway through the first half when Ever Banega came down the right and sent a sweeping ball to the near post which Vicente Iborra connected with, but the ball bounced off the near post.

Banega and Iborra also combined for Sevilla's best attempt of the second half, with the hulking midfielder connecting with the Argentinian's free-kick at the far post, but his header was saved on the line by Moya.

With his side struggling, Simeone looked to his bench and introduced pivotal midfielder Koke, who made a comeback after missing three matches with a hamstring injury, as well as forwards Mandzukic and Fernando Torres.

Torres gave Sevilla a fair few problems down the left wing but could not conjure up a winner.

First he raced towards goal but opted to square to Griezmann rather than go for goal and the Frenchman scuffed the chance.

The Spaniard then squandered two chances of his own, first failing to get enough power to beat Sergio Rico. Then late on he dispossessed Grzegorz Krychowiak on the halfway line and hurtled towards goal, but skewed his shot wide of the far post.