MADRID: Atletico Madrid squandered the chance to inflict a heavy blow on Real Madrid’s La Liga title hopes on Sunday as Karim Benzema’s late equaliser earned the champions a 1-1 draw and kept them in the race at the top.
Luis Suarez’s flicked finish early in the first half looked to be enough to give Atletico a crucial win that would have put them eight points clear of their opponents, with a game in hand.
But they failed to make their authority count and Benzema punished them in the 88th minute, his goal earning Real Madrid a draw that ensures the gap between the two city rivals stays at five points.
The title race remains very much in Atletico’s favour but still up for grabs, especially for Barcelona, who were perhaps the biggest beneficiaries of this result.
Barca, whose members were voting in the club’s new president on Sunday, now sit three points behind Atletico, having played a game more. They also face Simeone’s side at Camp Nou in May.
Kieran Trippier played his first game since January after serving his 10-week han for breaking betting rules while Benzema proved his worth again, after being deemed fit enough to start following time out with a groin strain.-AFP