Real Sociedad remain bottom of Spain's Primera Liga despite holding their own in a draw with 10-man Villarreal.

The San Sebastian club are nine points off the fourth-bottom spot that would mean safety at the end of the season.

It looked good for them when Savio Bortolini gave them the lead five minutes before the break but after the interval Josico Moreno snatched a point which did little for Villarreal's hopes of challenging for European football next season.

Villarreal ended the match with 10 men after a late red card for Ruben Cani.

The opening stages were cagey with neither side looking particularly likely to score.

The first chance was created after 23 minutes by Real Sociedad and Darko Kovacevic was unlucky with a well-struck shot from distance which was well fielded by Villarreal goalkeeper Sebastian Viera.

On the half hour mark, Diego Forlan threatened for the hosts when he tried his luck from the edge of the area but Asier Riesgo made the save.

But Viera was the busier of the goalkeepers and Savio's shot from the edge of the area forced him into another save.

Forlan had an attempt on goal with Riesgo again equal to the task but when the deadlock was broken it came at the other end.

Savio was perfectly placed to execute a left-footed volley which was too good for Viera.

There was no more significant action until the end of the first half but when the teams re-emerged for the second period it was Villarreal who were making most of the running.

Forlan shot wide from the edge of the area after 57 minutes but the "yellow submarines" did not have to wait much longer for their equaliser.

Matias Fernandez curled in a dangerous corner and Josico's leap enabled him to beat Riesgo with a header and level the scores.

Real tried to reassert control of the game and Mikel Alonso forced a save out of Viera.

The visitors from San Sebastian continued to press forward and next German Gerrera's shot brought Viera into action again.

Villarreal had a chance after 76 minutes but Fabricio Fuentes missed the target to the right.

The hosts were depleted by the dismissal of Ruben Cani who earned a straight red card 10 minutes from time for a foul on Javier Garrido.

Despite the sending-off, the hosts finished strongly, Guillermo Franco firing wide and it was the same player whose header from a Marcos Senna corner was wide of the mark.

Real Sociedad coach Miguel Angel Lotina will be dismayed that his men could not build on last week's 3-1 win over Real Mallorca with wins not draws essential to his side's hopes of staying in the division.

The game was also notable for Robert Pires making his first appearance for Villarreal as a second-half substitute after several months out injured since his move from Arsenal.