The Spanish giants also ended the game with 10 men after international defender Sergio Ramos was controversially sent off midway through the second half.

"We made errors in the first half but the second half started off well but after that there was the referee's error," said Real coach Fabio Capello.

"I would have been upset losing two points if we had 11 men for the full 90 minutes but, having played nearly 30 minutes with just 10, I'm satisfied with a point."

Real went behind after seven minutes when Mista Ferrer, ironically a product of their youth system, put Atletico ahead.

The summer signing from Valencia got his first goal for his new club by stabbing the ball home after Fernando Torres had chested the ball down to his feet.

The hosts levelled when captain Raul Gonzalez got an equaliser after 33 minutes, giving the best possible response to Spanish team coach Luis Aragones who had dropped him from the national team on Friday.

"Raul has recovered his nose for goal. He's as good as he always was. I don't think he's running out of steam after 10 years at the top. I think he's got lots of good years ahead of him," said Capello.

Real were reduced to 10 men when Ramos' flailing arm appeared to hit Torres in the face after 63 minutes but the incident brought a furious response from Capello.

"He (Torres) invented a foul in front of the referee.... the way he threw his hands up to his face, he was just trying to trick the referee," said Capello.

With their advantage, Atletico looked likely to pick up a memorable win but Real keeper Iker Casillas once again came to the rescue as they maintained their unbeaten record although they slipped to fourth.

Real's big rivals Barcelona, Spanish champions for the last two years, continue to make the pace in La Liga after a 3-1 win at struggling Athletic Bilbao, who drop to second from bottom, on Saturday.

Goals came from Eidar Gudjohnson and Javier Saviola after Athletic defender Ustaritz Aldekoatalora had put the ball in his own net although Francisco Yeste had put the Basques ahead after 11 minutes.

Valencia moved up to second, and preserved their own unbeaten run, with a 4-0 thrashing of newly-promoted Gimnastic Tarragona late on Sunday.

David Villa's pass set up Fernando Morientes to score after 13 minutes before getting two second half goals himself.

Miguel Angel Angulo then celebrated his return to the Spanish squad with Valencia's fourth, six minuets before time.

Luis Fabiano put Sevilla ahead after 30 minutes and last season's UEFA Cup winners ran out 1-0 winners over Getafe to move up to third.

"The big problem for us is the state of our pitch. It's very difficult to play the way we want. But Getafe played well and we are going to face many teams like them this season so three points is acceptable," said Sevilla coach Juande Ramos.

At the other end of the table, Racing Santander are still without a win after drawing 1-1 Celta Vigo.

Giant Serbian striker Nicola Zigic put Racing ahead with a header from a corner after 22 minutes but Celta equalised 10 minutes after the break when their Brazilian midfielder Iriney hammered home a stunning shot form 20 yards.

Racing then threw away a chance of victory five minutes into injury time when Christan Alvarez put his penalty against the post.

Real Sociedad slump to the foot of the table after conceding two late goals at Deportivo La Coruna, who won 2-0 after two strikes of individual brilliance.

Former Liverpool player Antonio Barragan curled the ball into the net from the left hand edge of the penalty box after 78 minutes and then Riki Sanchez showed he had the same skills by spinning the ball home from the touchline two minutes before the whistle.