Kylian Mbappe scores as a weakened Real Madrid shares the spoils with Atletico Madrid in the derby clash.

In a gripping encounter, Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid finished level at 1-1, marking the seventh stalemate in their last eight meetings, allowing Los Blancos to maintain their narrow one-point advantage at the top of LaLiga.

The 238th Madrid derby held particular weight as both teams vie for supremacy in the La Liga title chase.

The stakes undoubtedly led to a cautious opening phase, with Samuel Lino and Vinicius Junior both having attempts that veered off target, as neither side could seize early control.

The game lit up shortly after the half-hour mark amid some controversy, as referee Cesar Soto Grado reviewed the incident on the pitchside monitor and deemed that Aurelien Tchouameni had stepped on Lino’s toes in the box. Many felt the decision was harsh, including Carlo Ancelotti, yet Julian Alvarez kept his cool to slot home a Panenka penalty.

Even after scoring, Atletico Madrid pressed forward, primarily on the counter-attack, keeping Real Madrid on the back foot. Only a remarkable last-ditch intervention from Tchouameni stopped Lino from extending Atletico’s lead.

However, that missed chance proved costly as Real Madrid responded swiftly within five minutes of the restart. Jude Bellingham, operating in a more advanced position, made a timely run into the box, and after his initial shot was thwarted by Jan Oblak, Kylian Mbappé was quick to tap in the rebound.

With momentum swinging in their favour, Madrid nearly went ahead with a second goal as Bellingham’s header from Vinicius’ cross struck the crossbar.

Real Madrid piled on the pressure with relentless attacks, but Jan Oblak in goal remained an immovable force, making a spectacular one-handed save to deny Vinicius a derby-winning moment.

As the match drew to a close, Los Blancos pushed hard for a late winner. Rodrygo came close with a strike from the edge of the area, only for his effort to graze past the post after Oblak was beaten.

In the final moments, Oblak was once again called into action, diving low to thwart Mbappé just a minute from the end. While Atletico missed the chance to claim the top spot in LaLiga, earning a point at the Santiago Bernabeu is always a commendable feat for any visiting side.