Cristiano Ronaldo did not score to officially become the lone all-time goalscorer for Real Madrid, and even if Karim Benzema put his side ahead early in the game, Atletico Madrid ensured a share of the spoils with a late equaliser.
While Ronaldo has been celebrated already by Real Madrid for breaking Raul's all-time record for the club, officially the Portuguese is only level with the Spain legend, which means he needs another goal to go clear at the top.
However, that goal would not come in the Madrid derby on Sunday, a game in which Luciano Vietto scored a vital goal for Diego Simeone's men.
Real Madrid went into the lead on nine minutes, as Benzema placed a fabulous header into the back of the net off an equally-good cross from Dani Carvajal.
Atletico, however, should have been level just after the 20-minute-mark, after Sergio Ramos conceded a penalty for a poor tackle on Tiago inside the Real Madrid box.
However, Antoine Griezmann, in such good form this season, failed to convert that penalty, with Keylor Navas making a smart save.
Just when it looked like Real Madrid would hold on for the narrow win, Vietto, who has struggled a little since making a summer move from Villarreal, scored the equaliser, six minutes from time.
"We have taken one point and dropped two," Real Madrid manager Rafa Benitez said. "We dominated the first half and did what we had to do, but after the break they put pressure on and played with added intensity.
"We had chances on the counterattack that we did not put away and we lacked precision.
"We have to give Atletico the praise they deserve, they pressured and looked to attack. We have dropped two points due to the way the game went.
"We had the lead and we committed two errors, the penalty and the goal. Just looking at the last 15 minutes, you would admit that Atletico had the momentum, but if you consider the whole game you see that we had control for large periods."
Real Madrid moved above Barcelona, despite only picking up a point, albeit just on goal difference, with Atletico remaining a couple of points adrift of the two. Villarreal remain top of the La Liga standings by one point, with 16 from seven matches.
