Atlético: Courtois; Juanfran, Miranda, Godín, Filipe Luis; Mario Suárez, Gabi; Koke, Raúl García, Arda Turan (Cristian Rodríguez 83‘); Diego Costa. 4-2-3-1.
Madrid: Diego López; Arbeloa (Dani Carvajal 70’), Pepe, Varane, Coentrao (Marcelo 58‘); Modric, Xabi Alonso, Di María (Isco 71’); Bale, Benzema, Ronaldo. 4-3-3.
Goals:
0-1. 03. Benzema. Got on the end of Di María cross to turn ball in on far post.
1-1. 27. Koke. Collected Turan pass and struck angled shot past Diego López.
2-1. 45. Gabi. Picked up short free kick outside area and fired shot past keeper.
2-2. 82. Ronaldo. Turned shot past Courtois after Bale played on Carvajal pass.
Yellow cards: Arda Turan 10’, Godín 38’, Pepe 38’, Diego Costa 63’, Arbeloa 66’.
Real Madrid stay in top spot after they held Atlético Madrid to a 2-2 draw on Sunday afternoon! A win for Simeone’s side and it would have been back to the three way tie at the top, but with only three minutes gone Benzema got on the end of a Di María cross to put the visitors ahead. Courtois had to be at his best to prevent Benzema and Ronaldo from increasing the lead, but Diego Costa caused a few problems for Diego López and his defence, and with just under half an hour on the clock Koke made it all square with an angled shot after picking up an assist from Turan. Before the half time whistle Atlético went in front, Gabi’s shot beating the visiting keeper following a short free kick, and Costa came close to a third when his header bounced down and over the bar soon after the restart. Nerves were fraying, and Atleti’s assistant coach Mono Burgos had to be dragged from the pitch after threatening the referee when Costa got booked for diving in the area. Benzema and Ronaldo could have levelled the scores however, and with eight minutes to go Ronaldo saved a point for Ancelotti’s side after Carvajal and Bale combined to set him up. Atlético still have the head-to-head in their favour, but their city rivals remain three points above them in the table.