LUCIANO VIETTO’S FIRST goal for Atletico Madrid secured a 1-1 derby draw seven minutes from time and stopped Real Madrid from moving to the top of La Liga.
Karim Benzema headed his seventh goal in eight appearances this season in the ninth minute and looked to have settled a typically feisty tussle at the Vicente Calderon, where his France international team-mate Antoine Griezmann had a first-half penalty saved for the hosts.
Griezmann partly atoned for that error by having a hand in the equaliser – making enough of a nuisance of himself at the near post for Jackson Martinez’s low cross to squirm beyond goalkeeper Keylor Navas for his fellow substitute Vietto to convert from close range.
Vietto’s former club Villarreal lost 1-0 to Levante earlier on Sunday, presenting the opportunity for Real to take top spot.
But Rafael Benitez’s team could not get over the line and lie a point off the pace in second after extending their winless run at the home of their near neighbours to six matches.
