MADRID SHARE DERBY SPOILSGonzalo Higuain netted his first goal for the club as 10-man Real Madrid escaped from Saturday's local derby against Atletico with a point.
Atletico had taken a deserved early lead when captain Fernando Torres scored his first-ever competitive goal against Real.
However, it was not enough to guide hosts Atletico to victory, as winter signing Higuain slotted home his maiden Real goal just after the hour to earn his side a draw.
Visitors Real had to play the final eight minutes with a man less following the dismissal of Fabio Cannavaro, but Atletico could still not fashion a winner.
Javier Arizmendi scored the only goal as Deportivo La Coruna jumped three places to ninth in the Primera Liga with a narrow 1-0 victory at Real Sociedad.
The Spain international latched on to Gonzalez Sergio's cross shortly before the half-hour to maintain Depor's 2007 run that has seen them go unbeaten with six wins and five draws from their 11 league and cup games since the turn of the year.
The result is a major blow for Miguel Angel Lotina's Sociedad, who remain 11 points adrift of safety after a 14th defeat of the season.