Already without Cristiano Ronaldo and Ruud van Nistelrooy because of injury, Madrid coach Manuel Pellegrini also had to do without Karim Benzema and Gonzalo Higuain for the trip to Gijon due to niggles, and without that forward power the big-spending capital club could not find the breakthrough.

To put into perspective Saturday's result, Madrid had smashed 11 goals past Sporting in their two meetings last season and coming into the encounter Pellegrini's troops had averaged over three goals a game this term, netting 31 times in just 10 league and Champions League games.

It was though a disappointing night for the title hopefuls, who have now won just once in four matches in all competitions since world record signing Ronaldo picked up his ankle injury.

The draw means Madrid moves level on points with Barcelona at the top of the table, but the Catalans have a game in hand against Real Zaragoza on Sunday.

Atletico Madrid suffered another embarrassing setback after conceding an injury-time equaliser to nine-man Real Mallorca in the Rojiblancos' first game following the departure of coach Abel Resino.

Atletico had looked to be heading for a much-needed victory thanks to Diego Forlan's 52nd-minute penalty, but Mallorca heaped more misery on its hosts by drawing level in the 91st minute when home goalkeeper David De Gea deflected Borja Valero's low cross into his own net.

To make matters even more humiliating for Atletico, Mallorca had been playing with only 10 men since the 27th minute following Josemi's sending off, and with just nine since Ivan Ramis was red carded six minutes after the break.

Both of those dismissals were for second yellow cards handed out for handballs that resulted in penalties for Atletico, Forlan missing the first one.

In the evening's late kick-off Sevilla and Espanyol fought out a goalless draw. Sevilla are third, three points off top spot.

Sporting Gijon 0
Real Madrid 0

Sevilla FC 0
Espanyol 0

Atletico Madrid 1 (Forlan 54p)
Mallorca 1 (Valero 90)