Real Madrid's Thibaut Courtois came back to haunt Atletico Madrid as two crunch saves denied Antoine Griezmann and Diego Costa on Saturday in a goalless draw at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Courtois spent three seasons at Atletico on loan from Chelsea but this was his first Madrid derby for Real. He made the most of it, saving when both Griezmann and Costa had only the Belgian to beat.
Gareth Bale could have won a pulsating encounter for Real too but he sidefooted wide from close range towards the end of the first half.
Bale did not emerge for the second period, substituted with a thigh injury, which will be a major concern for coach Julen Lopetegui. Real play CSKA Moscow in the Champions League on Tuesday.
In the end, both teams could have claimed victory but neither was perhaps too disappointed with a point.
Atletico maintain their resurgence after a miserable start while Real steady the ship following their hammering at Sevilla on Wednesday.
Lopetegui's side move back level with Barcelona on points. Atletico sit just two behind.
"We have not won because we didn't score but overall we have been very superior," Lopetegui said.
"The match was intense," added Diego Simeone. "We had chances through Griezmann and Costa but they were saved by Courtois.
"It's a pity because we wanted to win but we leave with a good result."
This match was not lacking for sub-plots. Courtois had played seven Madrid derbies for Atletico but now he was in the other team's goal.
It was Julen Lopetegui's first derby as Real coach, although he was the fifth Real manager Diego Simeone had stood opposite.
And Griezmann was up against Sergio Ramos, who very publicly slapped down the Frenchman's Ballon d'Or ambitions earlier this month. Perhaps Real took added satisfaction in presenting Luka Modric with his FIFA Best Men's Player award before kick-off.
Ramos, Bale & Marcelo out of CL
Real Madrid's squad headed for Moscow on Sunday, where the team is set to play the upcoming UEFA Champions League match against CSKA Moscow, but Sergio Ramos, Gareth Bale, Marcelo and Isco Alarcon did not travel.
Coach Julen Lopetegui has named 20 players for Tuesday's match, including Vinicius Jr, who made his La Liga debut against Atletico Madrid on Saturday and is looking to make his Champions League debut in Russia.
The Spanish coach decided to give a rest to captain Sergio Ramos after he suffered a cut to his left eyebrow during the Atletico match.
Bale underwent medical tests to determine whether he has a muscle injury, after being replaced at halftime during the Madrid derby.
Marcelo suffers a muscular problem and Isco recently underwent surgery for appendicitis.
Lopetegui will be forced to make changes in his team due to the four key players' absence.
Squad
Keylor Navas, Thibaut Courtois, Kiko Casilla, Carvajal, Alvaro Odriozola, Jesus Vallejo, Raphael Varane, Nacho, Sergio Reguilon Rodriguez, Casemiro, Federico Valverde, Marcos Llorente, Toni Kroos, Luka Modric, Dani Ceballos, Marco Asensio, Lucas Vazquez, Vinicius, Mariano Diaz Mejia and Karim Benzema.