Real Madrid 1-1 Atletico Madrid: 5 talking points

Goals: Cristiano Ronaldo 53', Antoine Griezmann 57'

The Madrid derby returns as Santiago Bernabeu welcomes Diego Simeone's' side for one of the biggest games of the season.

Atletico Madrid needs a win to keep their title hopes alive while a win for Real Madrid will take them just one point behind Atletico.

Both teams have important Europen fixtures midweek and it was reflected in their lineups. Luka Modric and Casemiro are both rested while Gareth Bale returned to Real Madrid's starting XI. Karim Benzema started on the bench.

On the other hand, Diego Simeone made a couple of changes to the side that played midweek against Sporting CP.

Thomas and Vitolo returned to the side in the place of Correa and Gabi. Griezmann cancelled out Ronaldo opener to end the game 1-1.

Without much ado, let's have a look at the key talking points from the game.

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#5 Real Madrid struck the woodwork twice in the first half

Real Madrid played some sublime football in the first half. They created two chances within the first 10 minutes, first one falling to Marcelo and the second to Ronaldo.

A lot of drama happened in the 12th minute. Real Madrid's shout for a penalty was waived off by the referee and Marco Asensio struck the woodwork.

Ronaldo tested Jon Oblak from distance in the 20th minute while Varane came close to open the scoring in the 28th minute.

Real Madrid players appealed for a penalty in the 39th minute as the ball seem to have struck Savic on his arm, but the referee ignored it again.

Marcelo came very close to put Real Madrid ahead in the 42nd minute, but his effort struck the crossbar and the follow-up effort from Carvajal was saved by Oblak.

#4 Ronaldo continues his scoring run

Ronaldo simply can't stop scoring at the moment

Ronaldo scored his 23 La Liga goal of the season as Real Madrid made the breakthrough in the 53rd minute of the game.

Bale ran down the left flank and delivered a wonderful cross towards Ronaldo at the far post. Ronaldo volleyed the ball past Oblak into the bottom corner of the net.

It was a fine finish from the Real Madrid star.

He threatened Atletico Madrid throughout the first half and forced a couple of good saves from Oblak in the 10 and 20th minute of the game.

Zinedine Zidane replaced him in the 67th minute to keep him fresh for the all-important midweek UEFA Champions League quarter-finals game against Juventus.

#3 Navas brilliant; Oblak outstanding

Oblak had a fine game at the Bernabeu

It was a game of fine saves at either end. Keylor Navas had a brilliant game between the sticks while Jon Oblak had an even better one.

Jon Oblak denied Ronaldo's efforts in the 10th minute and 20th minute of the game, and then denied Varane during the half-hour mark.

He then saved Sergio Ramos' free-kick in the dying minutes of the second-half to keep it 1-1. Undisputed Man of the Match performance from him.

Navas matched him with some fine saves of his own. He saved a Diego Costa effort in the first half and then made a brilliant reaction save to deny Koke in the 60th minute. It was an incredible effort from the Real Madrid shot-stopper.

#2 Diego Costa could not influence the game; Griezmann took his chance with aplomb

Griezmann made it 1-1 in the 58th minute

Costa had a quiet evening at the Bernabeu, except for a couple of good goalscoring chances.

He put the ball in the back of the net in the first half, but the Atletico Madrid forward was penalised for a foul on Ramos in the buildup to the goal.

Later in the first half, Navas made a stunning save to deny Costa once again. His effort towards the near post was well saved by the Madrid shot-stopper.

On the other hand, Antoine Griezmann took his chance in the second half with great confidence.

He combined well with Vitolo and thwarted Navas' efforts to make it 1-1 in the 57th minute. He was Atletico Madrid's best attacking threat on the night.

#1 A fair result in the end

It was a close game in the end

Ronaldo's opened the scoring in the 53rd minute, but Antoine Griezmann made in 1-1 within four minutes of the restart. Atletico Madrid could have made it 2-1 in the 59th minute, but Keylor Navas dived to his right to make a stunning save to deny Koke.

It was a close game at the Santiago Bernabeu as both teams created good chances. It was all Real Madrid during the first half but Atletico Madrid played a lot better in the second half and created chances of their own.

The Costa Rican goalkeeper denied Diego Costa and Saul Niguez with some fine saves, either side of the break.

Both teams could have won the game in the end, but a 1-1 draw seemed a fair result on the night