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Ronaldo rescues Real in Madrid derby
3/2/2014 7:23:06 PM
- Real Madrid salvage 2-2 draw against Atletico in Madrid derby
- Los Blancos stay top of La Liga
- Cristiano Ronaldo scores late equalizer
- Barcelona can close in late game against Almeria
(CNN) -- Cristiano Ronaldo salvaged a point for Real Madrid in a pulsating and controversial Madrid derby Sunday to keep his side top of the three-way title race in La Liga.
Real were trailing Atletico 2-1 with eight minutes remaining when he equalized after an assist from Gareth Bale, firing home from the edge of the area.
The draw left Real three points clear of Atletico, but defending champions Barcelona could close to within a point with a win over Almeria later Sunday.
Read: Emotional Ronaldo collects Ballon d'Or
Atletico were looking to complete the league double over their capital rivals but were beaten 5-0 on aggregate by Real in the Copa del Rey semifinals last month.
When Karim Benzema put the league leaders in front after just three minutes from an Angel di Maria cross it looked as Los Rojiblancos would be left with red faces again, but it proved the opposite.
Sergio Ramos appeared fortunate not to concede a penalty when he tripped star Atletico striker Diego Costa but the home side were in front by half time as Koke and Gabi struck with spectacular long range efforts.
A further penalty appeal involving Costa in the second half was also turned away and home assistant coach Mono Burgos was sent to the stands for protesting.
Read: Record Champions League win for Real
Real pushed for the equalizer and Thibaut Courtois had to be alert again to push away Bale's flicked header.
Ronaldo might have leveled when he headed wide from a good position but he made no mistake when presented with a second opportunity in the 82nd minute.
The Portuguese star was playing his first La Liga match after serving a three-game ban for being sent off last month.
It was the 28th game unbeaten for Carlo Ancelotti's team since a 2-1 reverse to Barcelona last year and they came into the match on a high after a record 6-1 thrashing of Schalke in the Champions League.
But the draw did end a run of eight straight wins in all competitions at the Vicente Calderon stadium for Real.
"I think we can leave here reinforced, we have drawn a game in which we were losing," said Ancelotti.
"The reaction of the players was good, in general we can be satisfied because Atletico Madrid are a very good team, especially at home," he added.
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