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First Division - Day 19

Almería 1 - Real Madrid 1

Almería: Diego Alves; Michel Macedo, Carlos García, Marcelo Silva, Juanma Ortíz; Mbami, Bernardello; Piatti, Kalu Uche (Vargas 63'), Crusat (Jakobsen 75'); Ulloa (Goitom 88'). 4-2-3-1.
Madrid: Casillas; Arbeloa, Sergio Ramos, Raúl Albiol (Carvalho 63'), Marcelo (Granero 63'); Xabi Alonso, Khedira; Di María, Özil, Kaká (Benzema 55'); Cristiano Ronaldo. 4-2-3-1.

Goals:
1-0. 59. Ulloa. Struck low shot past Casillas after Piatti tackled in the area.
1-1. 77. Granero. Picked up Benzema pass and fired shot wide of keeper.

Yellow cards: Raúl Albiol 16', Uche 55', Mbami 87', Carlos García 88', Özil 89'.

Real Madrid are now four points behind leaders Barcelona after they were held to a 1-1 draw by bottom club Almería on Sunday evening. The midweek cup tie against Atlético seemed to have taken its toll, and their only chances in the first half were a couple of efforts by Cristiano Ronaldo which Diego Alves had no problem keeping out. Sergio Ramos headed wide early in the second half, but the home side went ahead on the hour mark after Piatti was blocked by Ramos in the area, the ball falling to Ulloa who turned a shot wide of Casillas. Ronaldo felt he should have had a penalty soon afterwards, but with a quarter of an hour left substitute Granero picked up a pass from Benzema to equalise. With the game coming to an end Ronaldo saw his free kick hit Mbami on the arm, and although the wall was standing inside the area, referee Pérez Lasa awarded another free kick just outside of the box. This time though Ronaldo's kick came back off the crossbar, and the game ended seconds later. The draw meant that Madrid had set their new points record for the first half of the season, but nobody was celebrating.