DENVER -- Josh Hader and the Milwaukee Brewers got the help they needed from the Chicago Cubs. They will need a little more after blowing a chance to pull even in the NL Central race.

Hader gave up a tying home run with two outs in the ninth inning and the Brewers lost to Colorado 3-2 in the 10th Saturday night, preventing them from catching St. Louis atop the division.

The Brewers will go into Sunday's regular-season finale one game behind the Cardinals, who lost 8-6 to the Chicago Cubs. If the Cards and Brewers wind up tied, there would be a one-game tiebreaker Monday in St. Louis for the division title.

If the Brewers don't overtake the Cardinals, they will play at Washington on Tuesday night in the NL wild-card game.

"It's a tough loss, but we play tomorrow and there's going to be more games after that," manager Craig Counsell said. "We're playing to force a [game] 163 tomorrow."

With a chance to tie for the division lead, Hader quickly retired the first two batters in the ninth. But rookie Sam Hilliard then stepped up as a pinch-hitter and launched an opposite-field drive to left off the Brewers closer that made it 2-all.

"Exactly where I wanted it," Hader said of the pitch. "He got a bat on it, elevation took it from there. There's times where you execute your pitch and get the result that you didn't want."

Trevor Story led off the Colorado 10th with his 35th home run, connecting against Matt Albers (8-6).

The loss was more painful when the Brewers lost another player to injury. Outfielder Lorenzo Cain, who robbed the Rockies of a homer with a catch over the wall in center in the seventh, left the game in the ninth with a left ankle sprain. He was hurt trying to score from first on a double by Ben Gamel and his availability for Sunday is uncertain.

"It's really, what does he look like when he comes in tomorrow?" Counsell said. "How much swelling is there?"

Counsell was ejected in the ninth inning arguing that Cain didn't have a lane to slide home. Cain has been troubled by a problem in the same ankle earlier this month.

"If you're not going to overturn that one, then why is there a rule? Tell me what the rule's for," Counsell said.

Milwaukee built a 2-0 lead on Eric Thames' 25th home run in the fifth and an RBI double in the seventh by Orlando Arcia. Three solo home runs by the Rockies sent the Brewers into Sunday needing more help from the Cubs. Ian Desmond homered off Drew Pomeranz in the Rockies eighth.

Jairo Diaz (6-4) got the win.

Cain finished with two hits and was thrown out twice on the basepaths, but he made up for it with a big catch on Garrett Hampson's drive in the seventh. He was greeted with a line of teammates near third base as he jogged off the field after the inning.

He also made a diving catch of Yonathan Daza's sinking liner to end the sixth.

"He was incredible. Obviously, his defense -- two plays that were absolutely amazing," Counsell said. "Huge plays. That's why he's a great player and he shows up in these games."

Yasmani Grandal was also thrown out at home in the sixth when he tried to score from first on a double by Mike Moustakas.

Moustakas was back in the lineup after not starting Friday's game with a nagging sore left elbow. Moustakas said his elbow "flared up recently" but added it felt much better after a day off.

"It's something I've always dealt with," he said. "You play 162 games your arm gets a little sore."

TRAINER'S ROOM

Brewers: OF Ryan Braun was diagnosed with a mild left calf strain after having an MRI. Braun, who was hurt in Friday's loss, said he will get treatment through Sunday and is optimistic he can play as early as Monday if Milwaukee has a game to decide the NL Central.

UP NEXT

RHP Jeff Hoffman (2-6, 6.78 ERA) will start the final game of the season for the Rockies. Counsell announced after Saturday's game that RHP Adrian Houser (6-7, 3.73) will get the ball for Milwaukee.

Premier Squash League Preview: A new Castle for Warwick/Kenilworth
By JAMES ROBERTS – Squash Mad Reporter

After just 2 seasons in the Premier Squash League (PSL), University of Warwick/Kenilworth Squash (WarKens) have already made quite an impact, topping the Northern Division last season and narrowly missing out on a spot in the Final. I made a recent trip to the University of Warwick to catch up with WarKens Team Manager Steve Townsend and chat about the team, his thoughts on last season, as well as his plans and ambitions for the coming season.

Before we chat though, there is the opportunity for a tour of the magnificent £49m University of Warwick Sports and Wellness Hub, which only opened back in April of this year. It is fantastic to see our local universities in the West Midlands investing so extensively in new sports facilities, this coming hot on the heels of the University of Birmingham’s new sports centre, the new home of WarKens’ PSL local rivals, the Birmingham Lions.

In terms of squash facilities, the Hub boasts 6 glass-backed courts, located in a very prominent position right at the main entrance. As a result, everyone using the centre walks straight past them as they come in. Steve tells me that this leads to lots of people stopping to watch what’s going on, and they often hear comments like “Wow, squash looks cool!” He is therefore very confident it will increase participation massively at Warwick.

Other features of the Hub, which the squash players can access for training, include a 12 lane swimming pool, an amazing gym with 15 racks and 250 stations, physiotherapy, 2 giant sports arenas and a jaw-dropping climbing wall, not that Steve will be letting the players on that!

Steve is hoping that these new facilities will enable the University to stage some major squash events in the future, including bringing in an all glass court, as has been done at the University of Birmingham. In terms of PSL matches, these will be shared equally between the University and Kenilworth Squash. The partnership between the two has been fundamental to the team and PSL nights at the club have over the past 2 seasons produced very special atmospheres.

Without doubt the University of Warwick Sport and Wellness Hub will represent a huge boost to the WarKens PSL team. Steve tells me that they are already seeing an early boost to their recruitment strategy as a result, with a strong intake of first year squash players having already arrived at the University. However, he expects to see real change to the level of squash players coming to Warwick over the coming years, not necessarily this one.

Onto Steve’s thoughts about his team’s preparations, plans and prospects:

JR: Firstly a bit of history. How did the PSL team come into being? Whose initiative was it and what benefits has it brought to both the university and the Kenilworth Club?

ST: Warwick has not traditionally been known as a performance sport university – more an academic one as it’s in the top 10 in the UK. A few years ago, the University realised that it would add an extra string to the bow of the University if it started to support performance sport. Squash was an obvious choice to focus on as we already had a good team and structure. Once it was decided that we were going to focus on squash, PSL was a natural next step, as a flag if you like to show we’re serious about squash and sport, to give our students something to aim at, and to inspire staff and students to be more active. I’m also the head coach at Kenilworth, and we’ve long harboured aspirations of having a PSL team, so the partnership was a very good initiative for both parties.

JR: Which players have you retained for the season and have you brought in any fresh blood?

ST: We’ve retained virtually all our players, which I’m really happy about – they continually out-perform their ranking, give absolutely 100%, which has led to our relative success for a new team. With the extra emphasis on women, we’ve strengthened in this area, adding Lily Taylor and Enora Villard to our ranks, so with Sarah-Jane Perry and Julianne Courtice, we hope to be strong in this area.

JR: After just 2 seasons in PSL, it must have been very satisfying to have topped your Division and qualified for the semi-finals last season. Equally however it must have then been heart-breaking to have just missed out on reaching the finals. Tell me a bit about how last season progressed from your perspective.

ST: It was incredible really, with many individual performances being really exceptional. The matches are so tight; we could have lost v Bristol away, with Baptiste Massotti coming back from match ball down to win the tie right at the start of the year, and that momentum carried on throughout. The fans at Kenilworth, the University and the locality have taken the players to their hearts, and they really feel part of the clubs. We were massive underdogs for the semis, and almost pipped that too. Paul Coll was a different class though!

JR: I know it is usually difficult to single out players but who impressed you the most from your team last season and why?

ST: All of our players have given everything so I’m really so happy about that. Nothing is too much trouble for any of them, including getting on court with Warwickshire juniors before the fixtures, and they’ve all done anything I have ever asked of them. But if I had to single anyone out to represent the spirit of the team, I’d have to say it’s SJ (Sarah-Jane Perry), who’s both a Warwick Alumna and a Kenilworth member and is unbeaten in PSL now for 5 years – what can I add to that?! Iker Pajares has also been a revelation. He dismantled Nick Matthew and also beat Dec James, both way higher in the rankings. That won’t be for long though! The crowd love watching him – he’s rapid, but moreover, you couldn’t wish to meet a nicer, more genuine guy.

JR: Which other teams do you think are going to put in the strongest showings this season? How do you rate your chances of reaching that first final, and even taking the title?

ST: We’ve been moved to the Southern division and on paper the teams are stronger than in the North. We are playing for the right to be in the Premiership next season, so that is our primary goal – anything on top of that would be a bonus!

JR: Do you have any exciting student players at the university who may be able to play for the team? Is it part of your PSL objectives to provide such opportunities to student players to help develop their games and ultimately to attract them to the university?

ST: It certainly is and we’re in touch with several potential students who have Warwick as one of their options for next season and have the potential to represent the PSL team. As far as this year goes, it’s hard to see one of our existing student team breaking into a match-day team, but they are working hard, improving rapidly and you just never know!

JR: Having played a full season using the best of 3 format, what are your views generally about this format? Do you feel it works well for PSL? What about more generally, now that we are seeing it more and more in the PSA World Tour events, in some cases right up to the semi-finals as is the case with the Netsuite Open at the moment?

ST: I like it for PSL, it definitely adds a different dynamic and produces faster-paced, more exciting rallies. When there are 3/5 matches in a row and it’s a team format, it works really well. For PSA, I haven’t been to a tournament featuring it and so I don’t have an informed opinion really. That said, I do feel for the players though, as to train for an event, fly half way around the World and then to lose 2-0 in 20 or so minutes can’t be much fun. My gut says that we should wherever possible be using the longer, purer form for the pinnacle of our sport – the PSA World Tour.

JR: What about the revised line up requiring 2 female players? Do you think this will play a positive role in developing the female professional game, as well as in promoting greater female participation in the sport generally?

ST: I think it’s a natural move along with the rest of society and promoting sport for women. It can only help develop our female professionals, but also generations of female squash players to come.

My grateful thanks to Steve for his time showing me around the new facilities and in answering my questions. Good luck to WarKens for the forthcoming season!

WarKens kick off their PSL season on Tuesday 1st October when they welcome the Welsh Wizards to Kenilworth Squash. Start time is 7:30pm. Tickets are available here: https://warwick.ac.uk/services/sport/active/squash/psl

More details about the Premier Squash League, including news, fixtures and full squad details can be obtained on the official website: http://pslsquash.com

Pictures : Steve Townsend and James Roberts

LOS ANGELES – Irwindale Speedway presented its 15th racing program of the year on Sept. 14, with an eight-event night on the half and third-miles.

Two 35-lap NASCAR Whelen All-American Series late model features resulted in victories for three-time Irwindale and California champion Trevor Huddleston, 23, who won seven of the 18 features this season.

Huddleston was not present three nights because of date conflicts with the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West. He ranks fourth in points after 10 of 14 scheduled K&N races.

Blaine Perkins, 19, won his first NASCAR late model track championship by 36 points after winning four of the year’s 18 main events. The Bakersfield resident also claimed the NWAAS California state championship.

Perkins drove last season’s championship car, a Victory Circle chassis Four Star Fruit/Auto Park It No. 21 Chevy. Car owner Christopher Alan is the father of Irwindale’s 2018 late model champion, Lawless Alan, also 19.

This season, Lawless Alan attended the University of Alabama and raced as a rookie in the SCCA Trans Am TA2 series. Lawless drove the Auto Park It No. 52 Ford Mustang owned by Mike Cope and sponsored by his father.

He raced 10 races at famous courses – Sebring Int’l Raceway, Road Atlanta, WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, Lime Rock Park, Belle Isle Park in Detroit, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course, Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Road America in Wisconsin, Watkins Glen Int’l and Virginia Int’l Raceway.

Alan’s final two races will be at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, and at Daytona Int’l Speedway.

Lawless usually qualified and finished in the top 10 on the lead lap with SCCA TA2 fields in the mid-20s. His best finish of fourth came in August at IMS. He currently is the leading TA2 rookie and ranks fifth in overall point standings.

Lawless was in the Irwindale pits to watch Perkins win his 2019 title in the Alan car.

Irwindale’s late model points runner-up was series rookie Jace Jones, son of versatile racer P.J. and grandson of 1963 Indy 500 winner Parnelli Jones. He won his first series 35-lap main August 31 in a 12-car field.

At 14 years, six months, Jones became the youngest late model winner in Irwindale history and won rookie of the year honors. He drove the same Racecar Factory-built HPR No. 55 Chevy that his brother, Jagger, drove as a rookie two years ago.

Behind Perkins and Jones in points were Nick Joanides, former NASCAR Drive for Diversity class member Ryan Vargas, Dean Thompson, Lucas McNeil and Huddleston.

Eight drivers won the 18 main events this year. Huddleston and Perkins led with seven and four victories, respectively. Vargas won twice. Joanides, Thompson, Jones, Ryan Schartau and Christian McGhee each won one feature.

Irwindale presented a 40-lap combined spec late model and race truck feature on the half-mile and an INEX Legend car feature on the third-mile. Both races produced surprise, first-time winners.

Other mains were for four-cylinder enduro cars and super stocks on the third-mile. An auto soccer 18-minute match in the infield, with two four-car teams, had a final score of 5-0.

First was the 35-lap Legends main. Rookie Jake Bollman, 12, won his first legends feature in a replica 1934 Ford coupe with a neon-green No. 71. He became the youngest legend car winner in track history in a car owned by his parents.

It was just his fifth race at Irwindale in the five-eighths scale, tube frame, 120-horsepower, motorcycle engine-powered race car.

Bollman started racing nine years ago in a go-kart and was a 2018 J-1 and J-2 karting champion. He was also a Bandolero champion at Orange Show Speedway in San Bernardino. He raced in the Lucas Oil Off-Road Racing Series in 2016.

To continue reading, advance to the next page.

CONCORD, N.C. – Martin Truex Jr. was second fastest in Saturday’s final Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series practice at the Charlotte Motor Speedway ROVAL, but it wasn’t all good news for the 2017 series champion.

Truex missed a shift midway through the practice after circulating the 2.28-mile course in 81.875 seconds at 102.009 mph. Truex came to a stop on the backstretch chicane and got a push back to the garage area, where it was decided that his No. 19 Toyota would need a new engine.

As a result, Truex will be forced to give up his eighth starting position for Sunday’s Bank of America ROVAL 400. He’ll now start at the tail of the 40-car field.

“I went from second to first (gear), so I don’t know. I’ve never done that before in my entire career, so definitely unfortunate,” Truex said. “I hate it for all the guys on the Bass Pro Toyota.”

Truex enters Sunday’s race locked into the second round of the playoffs thanks to two-straight victories at Richmond (Va.) Raceway and Las Vegas (Nev.) Motor Speedway.

“You know fortunately, I guess we don’t have a whole lot to worry about, it’s just frustrating,” Truex admitted. “We had a good car. We had a good qualifying effort yesterday. It’s just going to be hard starting from the back and I hate all the extra work for my guys. I apologize to them. I’m not sure how it happened. I had one other issue today with a shift in the gate. I don’t know if it was just an issue that was right there on the edge and I just screwed it up a little bit that one time, but we’ll have to look at it a little bit further.”

Another driver to have trouble during the final practice was second-place starter Alex Bowman, who lost control of his No. 88 Chevrolet coming out of turn three in the final minute of practice. He spun his car into a tire barrier at the entrance to turn four in the infield portion of the course, heavily damaging the right side of his car.

The damage was too severe to be repaired, forcing Bowman’s team to pull out a backup car. He’ll also have to start at the rear of the field alongside Truex. Denny Hamlin and Parker Kligerman, both of whom crashed and went to backup cars earlier in the weekend, will also start at the rear of the field.

Bowman, who was 10th fastest in final practice, enters Sunday’s playoff cutoff race two points behind polesitter and teammate William Byron for the final place in the next round of the playoffs.

Bowman’s Hendrick Motorsports teammate Jimmie Johnson also had issues in final practice, with the driver of the No. 48 losing control of his car entering turn five. He backed his car into a tire barrier, but his crew chose to repair the damage rather than prepare a backup car.

Austin Dillon also spun during final practice, but didn’t hit anything and continued with no damage.

Chase Elliott turned the fastest lap in final practice, topping the charts with an 81.801-second lap. Behind Elliott and Truex were Brad Keselowski, Clint Bowyer and Michael McDowell.

MONT-TREMBLANT, Quebec – With the drop of the green flag on Saturday’s Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Canada by Yokohama race at Circuit Mont-Tremblant, 18-year-old Roman De Angelis earned his first Platinum class championship in the series.

Driving the No. 79 Mark Motors Racing Porsche 911 GT3 Cup race car, De Angelis only had to start the race to secure the title, as he entered the season-finale weekend with an impressive 58-point margin in the championship standings.

The youngster from Belle River, Ontario, was the first car to the green flag and the first car to the checkered flag. He led for the entirety of the first 45-minute race of the weekend.

“I don’t think it’ll sink in until tomorrow because for me, I still don’t feel like it’s over,” said De Angelis, who previously won the 2017 GT3 Cup Challenge Canada Gold class championship. “I came into the weekend knowing that I just had to start anyways, so even then I didn’t really think about it. I guess tomorrow night I’ll see how it feels.

“I’m also pretty focused on the (Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA by Yokohama) championship where I think I also just have to start at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta, but you never jump the gun. It’s nice to do two-for-three with Mark Motors and for team championships, three-for-three.”

De Angelis’ path to the championship has mirrored that of his Mark Motors teammate last year, Zacharie Robichon. The two have been friends for longer than their Mark Motors days, since Robichon coached De Angelis when he ran Formula Ford several years ago.

Last year, Robichon collected 11 wins in 12 races – with De Angelis taking the outlier – and this year’s champion has so far secured 10 of 11 wins in 2019.

Robichon joined the top-tier IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship ranks this year in the GT Daytona class and two weeks ago, was crowned the sole champion of the inaugural WeatherTech Sprint Cup, which consisted of all GTD races two-hours, 40-minutes in length or shorter.

“When I joined Mark Motors, it was pretty cool to be teammates with him in Gold and then obviously last year,” said De Angelis. “It means a lot to have someone like Zach mentor me, even this year he has helped me a lot. And congratulations to him on his championship, he’s done an awesome job. He’s a back-to-back champ, so that’s pretty cool.

“To follow in his footsteps, guys like (Scott) Hargrove (2017 and 2014 GT3 Cup Challenge Canada champion) and (Daniel) Morad (2016 GT3 Cup Challenge Canada champion), who are also guys I look up to, it’s pretty cool to be up with them.”

Earning his best finish of the season was series rookie Ethan Simioni in the No. 40 Policaro Motorsports Porsche after starting from the third position. Local Quebecker Patrick Dussault in the No. 77 Lauzon Autosport Porsche also moved up one position at the start to finish third on the podium in front of his home crowd.

Another title was also secured following Saturday’s race, with Marco Cirone earning his sixth Platinum Masters championship in GT3 Cup Challenge Canada.

The race didn’t go as planned for the No. 88 Mark Motors Porsche, as they opted for Yokohama slicks ahead of potentially drier conditions. However, a consistent light rain forced the team to pit for wet tires and ended their chances for victory.

The strategy call didn’t damper Cirone’s spirits, however.

“It was worth a shot because we were in good position for the championship,” said Cirone. “Hopefully tomorrow we’ll go out and be able to prove that we’re top four.

“I really have to thank Michael and Liza Mrak for bringing me back this season. Last year, I did just a couple select races. I owe them everything because without them I wouldn’t be doing this. They’ve been so wonderful in their efforts and contributions to the series. And to my team for putting up with me all the time, so I really want to thank them. It’s been a fantastic year, so I can’t wait for tomorrow and I can’t wait for next season again.”

Winning Saturday’s race in the Platinum Masters category was the No. 37 TPC Racing Porsche of Michael Levitas. The Pikesville, Maryland local started third of Platinum Masters drivers and 10th overall on the grid ahead of his seventh race of the season.

His move up to a sixth-place finish also earned him the Yokohama Tire Hard Charger Award for gaining the most positions in the race.

“My compliments to all my fellow competitors, to all the racers in Canada,” said Levitas. “The start of the race was amazingly clean. Everybody could be trusted side by side. IMSA did a fantastic job, Porsche Canada does an awesome job and I can’t thank TPC Racing and Downtown Porsche enough for bringing me up to Canada.”

Finishing second in Platinum Masters was Perry Bortolotti in the No. 84 Mark Motors Porsche. Scoring his first podium position of the season was another newcomer to the series, Jean Audet, driving the No. 67 Porsche for Grand TIMES Hotel Motorsports.

The Colorado Avalanche signed top line winger Mikko Rantanen to a six-year, $55.5 million deal Saturday, which takes another big name restricted free agent off the board.

Rantanen's deal runs through the 2024-25 season and carries an average annual value of $9.25 million, though the salaries per year fluctuate -- including $12 million in each of the first two years and $6 million in the final year.

The Finn is coming of a career-season where he set new highs in goals (31), assists (56) and points (87) on Colorado's ultra productive top line alongside Nathan MacKinnon and Gabriel Landeskog.

The deal also means that Colorado has Rantanen and MacKinnon signed for a combined $15.55 million against the salary cap for the next four seasons.

The deal was announced one day after Patrik Laine ended his contract stalemate with the Winnipeg Jets with a two-year bridge deal for $13.5 million total. Rantanen had been training in Switzerland with Laine, his good friend. Once Laine signed, the two players flew back to Helsinki together, and Rantanen's deal got done shortly after.

Other notable restricted free agents that also inked their deals during training camp: Toronto's Mitch Marner (six years, $65.3 million), Tampa Bay's Brayden Point (three years, $20.25 million), Boston's Charlie McAvoy (three year, $14.7 million), Vancouver's Brock Boeser (three years, $17.625 million) and Calgary's Matthew Tkachuk (three years, $21 million).

Winnipeg's Kyle Connor and Edmonton's Jesse Puljujarvi remain the only two restricted free agents who have yet to sign deals.

Rantanen was Colorado's first-round pick (No. 10 overall) in 2015.

Colorado opens its season Thursday, hosting the Calgary Flames.

INDIANAPOLIS – Mi Jung Hur kept her two-stroke lead in the Indy Women in Tech Championship on Saturday, birdieing five of the final eight holes for a 6-under 66.

Hur rebounded from an opening bogey with a birdie on the par-5 second. She added birdies on Nos. 9, 11, 13, 14, 16 and 18 to get to 17 under at Brickyard Crossing, the layout that features four holes inside the Indianapolis Motor Speedway oval.

"This is my first time ever in my life I had a lead all three rounds," Hur said. "So, I just want to keep it."

The South Korean player won the Ladies Scottish Open last month for her third LPGA Tour victory.

She doubled her lead with the birdie on 18.

"That was my best birdie for all three rounds," Hur said. "Before I putt it, I was thinking about it. I knew I was ahead by one and I was thinking two-shot lead would be a little bit easier for me for tomorrow."

Hur opened with a 63 to take a two-stroke lead and kept in Friday with a 70 in windy conditions.

Marina Alex, coming off the United States' Solheim Cup loss to Europe, was second after a 64.

"I was able to get many more birdie opportunities," Alex said. '" just felt like I didn't play a whole lot different, it was just the course allowed for more birdies today."

She won the Cambia Portland Classic last year for her lone LPGA Tour title.

Puerto Rico's Maria Torres had a 66 to get to 13 under.

Real Madrid earned a 0-0 draw at neighbours Atletico Madrid in a tight derby clash to stay top of La Liga on Saturday, continuing their recovery after a disappointing start to the season.

Karim Benzema came closest to scoring at the Wanda Metropolitano but Atletico goalkeeper Jan Oblak made a fine save to keep out the French forward's header.

- Real Madrid ratings: Ramos strong, Hazard stifled in goalless affair

Atletico forward Joao Felix twice fired wide in the first half, while Gareth Bale lashed an effort off target after the break, in a game of few chances.

Real Madrid are top with 15 points from seven matches, while Atletico stayed third with one point less.

"I think with the game we played we deserved a lot more," Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane told reporters. "In the end a point is a point. We had chances, the header from Benzema especially.

"I can't criticise my players over anything, I'm annoyed for them above all, but I'm happy with the game they played. They too are a bit disappointed not to take all the points."

Real's Sergio Ramos and Atletico's Kieran Trippier were each lucky to avoid bookings for cynical fouls on Joao Felix and Eden Hazard respectively in a cagey opening.

Atletico's club record signing Felix sneaked in behind Madrid's defence but dragged an effort across the face of goal, whistling another shot just wide towards the end of the first half.

At the other end, Oblak made one solid save to tip Toni Kroos's low drive around the post.

Both teams were more afraid of losing than hungry to win, treading water with a draw seemingly suiting them both.

"We have a lot of work to do [to get rid of] errors that we should not be committing, we have to keep working," said Atletico coach Diego Simeone.

"In the first half we had more of the play but we couldn't finish any of our chances. In the second. Oblak made that save from Benzema's header. It was a hard-fought game, we both lacked what you need to win a game."

After a shaky start to the season and a 3-0 thrashing by Paris St. Germain in the Champions League, Real coach Zinedine Zidane has steadied the ship with wins over Sevilla, Osasuna and now this draw with a direct title rival.

Real Sociedad, who are fifth, could displace Madrid at the top with a win over Sevilla on Sunday.