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Depleted Real Madrid ended a disappointing week with a 0-0 draw at Sporting Gijon in La Liga, after city rivals Atletico conceded a farcical last-minute equaliser to draw 1-1 with nine-man Real Mallorca.

In the evening's late match, Sevilla were held to a 0-0 draw at home to Espanyol, who played the final half an hour with 10 men after Nico Pareja was sent off.

Real are now ahead of Barcelona at the top of the table on goal difference, with Sevilla three points behind them both with 16.

Real suffered a 3-2 home Champions League defeat by Milan on Wednesday and champions Barca can open up a three-point lead at the top of the standings with a home win over Real Zaragoza on Sunday.

Gonzalo Higuain and Karim Benzema had joined Cristiano Ronaldo and Ruud van Nistelrooy on Real's injury list at a rain-drenched Molinon, leaving Raul as the only recognised forward.

They found it tough to break down a spirited Sporting side, although goalkeeper Juan Pablo had to produce a fine save to deny Esteban Granero in the second half and Kaka sent a free kick narrowly wide.

Real had the lion's share of possession and pressed forward for a winner, Xabi Alonso flashing a drive over the bar and Raul having an effort ruled out for a Kaka handball.

Tempers began to fray as the tension mounted and Mahamadou Diarra appeared to lash out at Alberto Rivera but Sporting held on for a deserved point.

Atletico Madrid's miserable season took a turn for the worse a day after the sacking of coach Abel Resino and his replacement by Quique Sanchez Flores.

Diego Forlan missed one penalty in the first half but recovered to net another, only for teenage goalkeeper David De Gea to allow Borja Valero's tame shot to deflect in off his legs in the final minute of normal time.

Resino's assistant Santi Denia was in charge of the side and Atletico's players, now with only one win in eight matches and down in 14th, looked keen to impress the watching Sanchez Flores in the early stages at the Calderon.

Their efforts appeared to have been rewarded in the 27th minute when the referee ruled defender Josemi had handled the ball in the penalty area and showed him a second yellow card.

Forlan stepped up to take the spot kick but blasted wide of the right post.

The Uruguay striker was given a second chance five minutes into the second half when Ivan Ramis handled in the area and was also shown a second yellow.

Forlan sent Mallorca goalkeeper Dudu Aouate the wrong way, side-footing low into the bottom right, but Atletico were unable to press home their numerical advantage.

Midfielder Valero picked up a deep cross at the far post in the 90th minute and when De Gea tried to clear his shot from a tight angle he only managed to send the ball into his own net.

Espanyol's Cameroon keeper Carlos Kameni was on inspired form at the Sanchez Pizjuan, producing acrobatic saves to deny Diego Perrotti, Alvaro Negredo and Diego Capel.

Espanyol lost Nico Pareja on the hour when a wild tackle on Capel earned him a second yellow but the visitors held firm and almost snatched a winner when a Jose Callejon strike flew just wide in the 90th minute

Reuters