The title aspirations of Real Madrid faced a massive blow as they were held by 10-man city rivals Atlético De Madrid at their home turf.
Diego Simon’s side went ahead via a goal from Jose Giminez not too long after Angel Correa had been red carded for elbowing German defender Antonio Rudiger.
However, a teenager came up clutch for Real Madrid helping his side draw level and earning a point at the Santiago Bernabeu.
The White Angels are seven massive points behind league leaders Barcelona who battle on Sunday against Almeria.
Real Madrid were in cruise control of the game but they couldn’t get dangerous chances to finish Atlético Madrid.
Real Madrid were in control of the first half, directing it to where they wanted it to sway but goal mouth chances were few.
Marco Asensio fired a shot that was a rash to the palms of the Atlético Madrid’s goalie Jan Oblak before Yannick Carrasco who has scored one goal all season long fired Atlético Madrid’s salvo at Thibaut Courtois.
Both side continued to push in order to draw the first blood in the game but the first half ended in a stalemate, the encounter grew hotter when half-time substitute Angel Correa got a straight red card after catching Antonio Rudiger in the chest with a flailing arm.
How the second half of action went
Carlo Ancelotti’s side continued to mount the pressure on Atlético Madrid but they found it hard to make their one man advantage pay.
Jose Giminez who was another half-time substitute scored for Atlético Madrid in the second half of hostilities as his header off Antoine Griezmann free-kick took Los Colchoneros one goal up and ahead of Real Madrid.
Los Colchoneros were in sight of victory for the first time at the Santiago Bernabeu since 2016 until the young teenager stepped up and brought the game to parity.
Alvaro Rodriguez rose the highest to nod home Luka Modric’s corner past Jan Oblak on the 85th minute.
Due to that goal, Rodriguez became the youngest player to score in a Madrid derby in the 21st century.
The youngster is currently eighteen (18) years of age and he would clock nineteen (19) on the fourteenth (14th) of June later this year.
Eduardo Camavinga also tried his efforts on Jan Oblak in the dying embers of the clash but Atlético Madrid were resilient to go two points ahead of Mauricio Pellegrini’s Real Betis who sit sixth (6th).
Barcelona would move ten points ahead of Real Madrid if they defeat Almeria on Sunday
Barcelona can move further clear away from Real Madrid if they get a victory today and they would widen their gap on their fiercest rival to ten (10) points at the summit of La Liga.
Saturday’s derby was Argentine Diego Simone’s 612th match as Atlético manager in all competitions going level with the late Luis Aragones record for the club.
Los Colchoneros confirmed that Mozambican defender Reinildo after the game suffered an anterior cruciate ligament rupture after he collided in the first-half with Federico Valverde.
That injury picked up by the left-back would likely rule him out of action for the remainder of the season.
