Saturday 8 April 2017 21:05, UK
Real Madrid head coach Zinedine Zidane felt his side had thrown away victory after city rivals Atletico secured a 1-1 draw at the Bernabeu through a late goal from Antoine Griezmann.
The La Liga leaders came into the match with a two-point advantage at the summit and with a game in hand on all their rivals, while Atletico were 10 points adrift of their neighbours in third and knowing a defeat would likely spell the end of their slim title hopes.
Cristiano Ronaldo saw his effort headed off the line and Griezmann forced a good save from Keylor Navas in a tense first half before Real broke the deadlock on 52 minutes when Pepe nodded in a free-kick from Toni Kroos.
However, Atletico, who have won at the Bernabeu for the last three seasons, made Real pay for not killing off the match when Griezmann slotted in with just five minutes left.
Zidane, who was taking charge of his 50th match as head coach, said: "We put in a great performance and deserved more, but we lacked a bit of concentration in the last five minutes.
"It's a tough game to read. We put in a great performance but with five minutes to go we lacked that bit of concentration.
"You couldn't say that Atletico put in a great performance, we certainly did, but we had to get that second goal, which would have given us that peace of mind.
"We were then made to suffer and we didn't defend too well on one move and they are capable of making things tough for you.
"A second goal would have put us at ease. We had the chances to have got it. In the final minutes, we lacked that little bit extra in all areas.
"I do not think we lack physicality, but [we need] concentration and to defend together and with more energy."
Zidane told a press conference: "We got a draw today, but I think that it's a case of two points dropped. With the performance that we put in, we could have picked up all three points.
"We drew the game, but this changes nothing. The fight for the La Liga title will go right to the wire".
Zidane has seen speculation mount his position could be under scrutiny should Real fail to go on to deliver the La Liga title.
The French World Cup winner, though, remains focused on continuing to do his job until told otherwise.
"You'd have to ask those above me about that," he said. "I train every day, with dedication, strength and excitement. I work hard with the thrill that this shirt and club inspires.
"I am not going to speculate, I take each day as it comes."
Real later reported Pepe had suffered "fractures to his seventh and eight left rib" after having to go off in the second half. He will continue to be assessed but is a major doubt for the first leg of Real's Champions League tie against Bayern Munich in Germany on Wednesday.
