Real Madrid maintained their lead atop the Spanish La Liga standings following a 1-1 draw with city rivals Atletico Madrid in their derby clash at the Santiago Bernabeu on Saturday night.
In a game with high stakes for both teams as a win would have seen either side claim of La Liga, they had to settle for a solitary point.
Prior to kickoff, Real striker Kylian Mbappe received his Player of the Month Award for January while former captain and Brazilian international Marcelo received a glowing tribute at the Bernabeu, after announcing his retirement from professional football earlier in the week.
When proceedings began, the visitors kept Los Blancos quiet with their smart marking and defensive play.
Atleti soon got the opener in the 35th minute through Julian Alvarez. Aurelio Tchouameni was adjudged by the VAR to have fouled Samuel Lino in the area which prompted referee Cesar Soto Grado to award a spot-kick.
Alvarez stepped up and beat keeper Thibaut Courtois from twelve yards with a panenka-styled penalty as the visitors held the advantage going into the interval.
Upon resumption of the second period, Los Blancos poured forward in search of the leveller which arrived in the 50th minute courtesy of Kylian Mbappe.
Rodrygo’s cross into the box was smartly turned towards goal by Jude Bellingham which drew a save from Jan Oblak, but Mbappe turned home the rebound to register his first goal in the derby fixture.
Madrid who had the greater share of the possession, sought for the winner but were kept at bay by the impressive Jan Oblak, though he was flatly beaten when Bellingham’s header came off the upright.
In the end, the spoils were shared at the Bernabeu and the result sees Real Madrid maintain their one-point lead over Atletico at the top of the table.