Karim Benzema scored a late equaliser to snatch a point for Real Madrid in a 1-1 derby draw against Atletico Madrid at the Wanda Metropolitano.
Diego Simeone’s side still hold a five point lead over their closest rivals, and a three-point lead over Barcelona, at the top of the table, but the difference would have been eight points had it not been for Benzema’s late goal.
Kieran Trippier made an immediate return to the Atleti starting lineup after serving a 10-match ban for breaching betting rules with Karim Benzema also returning for Real Madrid following some recent injury troubles.
Atletico Madrid started the better of the two teams and needed just 15 minutes to open the scoring through Luis Suarez as the Uruguayan ended his worst run of form since joining Atletico Madrid in the summer.
After having gone five matches without scoring a goal for Diego Simeone’s charges, Suarez latched onto a fine Marcos Llorente pass, expertly sliding the ball past Thibaut Courtois with the outside of his right boot.
It’s fitting that the player who has been the most decisive for Atleti this season actually ended his poor run in the most important of matches, the visit of fierce rivals Real Madrid.
His latest strike took his tally against Los Blancos to 12, with this the first since he joined Los Colchoneros and the other 11 coming during his career with Barcelona.
Zinedine Zidane introduced Vinicius Junior and Fede Valverde after 60 minutes in an attempt to change the match and the equaliser came in the 88th minute when Casemiro and Benzema combined to find the back of the net.