Ramos off as Real draw with Atletico

Real Madrid hung on for a 1-1 draw at home to neighbours Atletico Madrid in a tense city derby in the Primera Liga on Sunday.

Atletico have not won in the Bernabeu since 1999 but went ahead through striker Mista in the sixth minute as they took the game to Real.

Raul, who was dropped from the Spain squad on Friday, levelled the scores in the 37th minute, but despite Real losing Sergio Ramos to a red card midway through the second half, Atletico were unable to find a winner.

"After playing half an hour with a man less I am pleased with a point," Real coach Fabio Capello said.

"But Fernando Torres fooled the referee for the sending off. People who cheat like this should be punished."

Champions Barcelona are top with 13 points after coming from behind to beat 10-man Athletic Bilbao 3-1 away on Saturday.

Separated only by goal difference, in-form Valencia are second after they thumped promoted Gimnastic Tarragona 4-0 in the Mestalla later on Sunday.

Spain striker David Villa set up Fernando Morientes for the opener early on, and in the second half Villa struck two more before Miguel Angel Angulo wrapped up the win with a poacher's goal near the end.

Luis Fabiano's strike put UEFA Cup holders Sevilla third on 12 points, as they beat Getafe 1-0 at home.

Real are fourth with 11 points, one ahead of Atletico, Deportivo Coruna and promoted Recreativo Huelva.

MISTA GOAL

Atletico got off to a great start in the Bernabeu when former Valencia striker Mista put them in front early on with his first goal for the club.

Fernando Torres picked out Maxi Rodriguez with a diagonal cross, and the Argentine's knock down left Mista with a simple tap in from close range.

The tackles flew in thick and fast from a fired up Atletico, disrupting Real's rhythm, and they had chances to extend their lead through Bulgaria's Martin Petrov and Portugal's Maniche.

But Real hauled themselves back into the game when Guti's deep cross found Raul arriving unmarked at the back post, from where he sidefooted the equaliser.

Real goalkeeper Iker Casillas and his counterpart Leo Franco both pulled off impressive saves to deny Maniche and Ruud van Nistelrooy before the break, as the game ebbed and flowed.

In the 62nd minute the game swung Atletico's way again when Ramos collected his second yellow card after Torres went down easily clutching his face in a challenge.

Soon after Casillas made a fingertip save from substitute Sergio Aguero at his near post.

Atletico's young Argentine striker had the game in his grasp in the dying moments when Torres played him through one-on-one with Casillas but Aguero's extravagant attempt at a lob flew wastefully over the bar.