Cristiano Ronaldo FLOPS as Real Madrid pay the price for Benitez's conservatism
It could have been better and it looked like it would be as Karim Benzema rose to head home a Dani Carvajal cross after nine minutes. Madrid had started stronger and were well worth their lead. So far, so good.
Real really struggle in this fixture when Atletico score first and close up shop. This time though, Madrid had the advantage themselves - and they should have built on it.
Instead, they allowed Atleti back into the game. Sergio Ramos gave away a penalty as he lost the ball and then fouled Tiago in the area, the Madrid captain lucky to escape a red card and even more fortunate to see Keylor Navas save the spot-kick from Antoine Griezmann.
That should have been a warning for Los Blancos, but Benitez seemed content with his side ahead and Casemiro keeping Atleti at bay as Madrid's midfield enforcer.
It was a risky strategy, however, and one which ultimately backfired as substitute Alvaro Arbeloa made a dreadful mistake on the wing as he allowed Jackson Martinez to race free and set up Griezmann, who squared for Luciano Vietto to poke home a late leveller.
There were only six minutes left on the clock, but those turned out to be the most entertaining of the entire match as both teams went for the victory. And Ronaldo was particularly lively, shooting from all angles as he attempted to claim the three points for Madrid.
The Portuguese should have passed to Gareth Bale instead of going for goal from miles out on one breakaway attack and also appealed for a penalty in the final minutes. Overall, though, it was another big game in which he had failed to leave his mark. Too little, too late.
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