Real Madrid maintain slim title hopes with last-gasp draw vs. 10-man Atletico

Real Madrid maintained whatever slim hopes they have of retaining the La Liga title with a 1-1 draw against 10-man Atletico Madrid on Saturday.

Madrid fell behind in the 78th minute when Jose Maria Gimenez headed home from close range. The goal threatened to give Atletico - down a man after Joaquin Correa was sent off for elbowing Antonio Rudiger - their first win at the Santiago Bernabeu since 2016.

However, an 18-year-old helped Carlo Ancelotti's side avoid further embarrassment. Alvaro Rodriguez, making just his third appearance for Madrid's senior team, restored parity by heading Luka Modric's corner kick off the far post in the 85th minute.

Madrid are now seven points behind first-placed Barcelona, who failed to extend their lead to 10 after losing to relegation-threatened Almeria on Sunday.

Rodriguez's profile in the first team has grown considerably over the last week. Playing in La Liga for the first time last weekend, the Spanish-born Uruguayan international set up the second of Madrid's two goals in the 2-0 win over Osasuna. Ancelotti then included Rodriguez in the squad that came back to beat Liverpool in the Champions League on Tuesday.

He again came on as a substitute Saturday, replacing Nacho Fernandez just before Gimenez gave Atletico the lead. Though Rodriguez's goal handed Madrid a necessary lifeline, it may not be enough to keep Los Blancos in the hunt for a third domestic title in four seasons.

Gimenez also came on as a substitute, having replaced injured defender Reinildo midway through the first half. Reinildo required a stretcher after appearing to injure his knee in a battle with Madrid counterpart Federico Valverde.

The game seemed to tip in Madrid's favor when Correa elbowed Rudiger in an incident off the ball in the 64th minute. Atletico also had a player sent off in a 2-1 loss to Madrid in September, but Los Blancos couldn't take as much of an advantage Saturday.