<!--Article Start--> <h3 style="text-align: justify"><strong>Luciano Vietto's first goal for Atletico Madrid seven minutes from time earned the hosts a deserved share of the spoils against Real Madrid in a 1-1 draw on Sunday.</strong></h3> <p style="text-align: justify">Real looked on course to move top of La Liga thanks to Karim Benzema's fine early header in an otherwise insipid display from Rafael Benitez's men.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">Keylor Navas produced a fine save from Antoine Griezmann's first-half penalty, but the Costa Rican international was beaten for just the second time this season when Vietto bundled the ball home from close range.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">And only a spectacular save from Navas prevented Jackson Martinez snatching all three points for Atletico in stoppage time.</p> . <p style="text-align: justify">Real maintain their two point lead over Atletico and move into second above Barcelona and Celta Vigo on goal difference, but remain a point behind leaders Villarreal.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">"We have lost two points. We were in front and we made mistakes for the penalty and the goal," said Benitez.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">"We lacked precision on the counter-attack. We had eight chances to counter but weren't accurate with the final or penultimate pass."</p> <p style="text-align: justify">However, Atletico boss Diego Simeone believed his side would have been deserving winners.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">"In the second-half we had a lot more chances. We equalised and then their keeper made a great save at the end," said the Argentine.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">"The feeling is that we have lost two points and that we were very close to winning a game that on chances we deserved to win."</p> <p style="text-align: justify">Gareth Bale was left on the bench by Benitez as he made his return from a calf injury.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">However, Real started the brighter and Jan Oblak had to scurry from his line to smother an effort from Benzema after just seven minutes.</p> <h3 style="text-align: justify"><strong>Benzema scored to lead the La Liga goal-scoring charts</strong></h3> <p style="text-align: justify">There was nothing the Slovenian could do, though, to prevent the Frenchman moving out on his own as La Liga's top scorer with six goals as he powered home a header from Dani Carvajal's inch-perfect cross from the right.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">Angel Correa was the one bright spark for Atletico in the first 45 minutes and he nearly pulled the hosts level with an angled drive that flew just wide after a neat one-two with Oliver Torres.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">Simeone's men had a great chance to level on 21 minutes when Madrid captain Sergio Ramos chopped down Tiago inside the area.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">Ramos was lucky to escape with just a yellow card but Navas pulled off his second penalty save of the season from Griezmann with a brilliant low stop to his left to maintain Madrid's lead.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">Simeone threw on Vietto, Martinez and Yannick Ferreira Carrasco in the search for an equaliser after the break as Atletico went on to dominate the second period.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">Fernando Torres had the first opening of the half, but dragged his shot horribly wide from Correa's fine through ball.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">Bale was also introduced for the final 25 minutes but made little impact as Real sat back in the hope of holding onto their lead.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">However, Benitez's men were undone when Martinez got to the by-line and, despite Navas's best efforts from Griezmann's initial effort, the ball fell kindly for Vietto to prod home.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">Martinez then had the chance to seal a famous comeback, but his fiercely struck effort from the edge of the area was brilliantly turned behind by Navas.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">Earlier, Villarreal missed the chance to extend their lead at the top of the table as they were beaten 1-0 at Levante.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">Villarreal were reduced to 10 men on 35 minutes when Bojan Jokic saw a straight red card for a high challenge on Ivan Lopez.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">The visitors held out until seven minutes from time when Brazilian striker Deyverson converted Nabil El Ghilas's cross to take Levante off the foot of the table.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">The pressure on Valencia boss Nuno Espirito Santo was increased as his side blew a 1-0 lead to lose 3-1 at Athletic Bilbao.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">And Real Betis moved up to eighth as goals in either half from Heiko Westermann and Ruben Castro handed them a 2-0 win at Rayo Vallecano.</p> <p style="text-align: justify"><strong>By AFP</strong></p> <!--Article End-->