Ten-man Real beat Atletico to keep Barca in sight

Ten-man Real Madrid CF resisted considerable late pressure to take the derby spoils in the Spanish capital, prevailing 3-2 at Club Atlético de Madrid to stay within a point of FC Barcelona, who beat RCD Mallorca 4-2.

Los Merengues had not lost at the home of their neighbours for ten years and they continued that proud record thanks to a bright start. Kaká put Manuel Pellegrini’s men ahead courtesy of a superb fifth-minute effort and Marcelo doubled their lead from a tight angle 20 minutes later, before Gonzalo Higuaín looked to have put Madrid beyond reach halfway through the second period. Sergio Ramos saw red for a foul on Sergio Agüero just two minutes after, however, and Atlético profited to score through Diego Forlán (79) and his Argentinian strike partner (81). Agüero seemed certain to equalise in added time, in fact, only for Iker Casillas to make a fantastic save and keep Los Rojiblancos in the bottom three.

Tags: aguero, atletico, atletico madrid, barcelona, casillas, fc barcelona, fcb, forlan, Gonzalo Higuaín, Higuaín, iker casillas, kaka, los merengues, Los Rojiblancos, madrid, Manuel Pellegrini, marcelo, pellegrini, ramos, real madrid, sergio, sergio aguero, sergio ramos