MADRID, Spain -- Cristiano Ronaldo scored a late equalizer as Real Madrid avoided a bruising derby defeat at Spanish title rival Atletico Madrid with a 2-2 draw on Sunday. Russell Gage Jersey . Ronaldo pounced on a loose ball inside the area to net the 82nd-minute equalizer -- his 23rd goal of the season for the league leaders. Karim Benzema put Madrid ahead at the Vicente Calderon Stadium after three minutes but, instead of wilting, Atletico hit back with two goals to take the lead by halftime. Koke smashed a low shot beyond Madrid goalkeeper Diego Lopez, who then watched Gabi Fernandezs swerving effort from 30 metres (yards) fly past him just before the break. Madrid stayed three points ahead of Atletico, but Barcelona was able to cut its deficit to Madrid to one point after a laboured 4-1 win against Almeria at the Camp Nou. Barcelona led 2-0 by the 24th after Alexis Sanchez tapped a rebound into the empty goal before Lionel Messi curled an exquisite left-foot free kick around the defensive wall and into the top of the goal for his 15th league strike of the season. A rout looked in the cards until Angel Trujillo got free to head home a corner in the 27th, and the relegation-threatened club made Barcelona work for its points. Carles Puyol, who had made a rare start, scored an even rarer goal after Messis header came off the bar straight to him in the 83rd minute. Xavi Hernandez scored moments later as the Catalans bounced back from a 3-1 loss to Real Sociedad last weekend. Madrid leads with 64 points, Barcelona has 63, and Atletico is on 61 points. The fifth meeting between crosstown rivals Atletico and Madrid since last Mays Copa del Rey final kept its trademark liveliness and aggression, with Atletico knowing defeat would likely end its dreams of a first title since 1996. "Atletico tried to make the game violent," Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said. "We dont play that way, however. But they tried right to the end." Atleticos defence played Benzema onside for the France striker to score his 15th of the season, leaving him alone to guide Angel Di Marias cross into the box past goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois. Ugly confrontations followed as both teams used gamesmanship to try and gain an edge, with Arda Turan booked for protesting in the 11th after Sergio Ramos tripped Diego Costa inside the area with no penalty awarded. But Atleticos pressure paid off in the 28th when Turan spotted Koke inside the area to smash past Lopez. Diego Costa, who will play at the Calderon for Spain on Wednesday, was a physical presence and troubled Madrid throughout. Atletico took the lead in first-half stoppage time when Gabis powerful drive beat the slow-footed Lopez for a deserved lead. In the second half, Lopez kept it close as Atletico found space on the counter with Madrid pressing for an equalizer. Despite being outplayed, Madrids attack finally connected when Gareth Bale failed to control a cross but the ball fell to Ronaldo to extend Madrids unbeaten run in all competitions to 28 games. "Atletico played a bruising style right to the end, when we finally got a chance to play and create opportunities," Ancelotti said. Madrid is unbeaten at the Calderon for 15 games, dating to June 1999. "The result is what it is," Atletico coach Diego Simeone said. "We had chances to win it. At least we showed we are still alive in the title race." Ruben Castros late goal gave bottom side Real Betis a 1-1 draw at 10-man Villarreal, which slipped six points from fourth and the final Champions League spot. Betis was left 11 points from safety. Real Sociedad fell seven points behind fourth-place Athletic Bilbao after Kevin Gameiro skipped through a pair of defenders and netted the rebound from his initial shot to lead Sevilla to a 1-0 victory. Joaquin Larrivey scored as Rayo Vallecano climbed within three points of 17th-place Almeria -- and safety from the drop -- with a 1-0 win over Valencia, which played the last 15 minutes with 10 men. Steve Bartkowski Jersey . DeGrom outpitched Jake Peavy in a tantalizing hitless duel that carried into the seventh inning Saturday night before the New York Mets broke loose and beat the San Francisco Giants 4-2. Falcons Official Jerseys . And yet as they left TD Garden amid the slush and snow of a winter storm on Thursday evening, there was a sense among the Leafs that they had finally stood toe to toe with their long-time bully, only to fall just short. http://www.authenticfalconsshopnfl.com/ . -- The Minnesota Vikings released reserve cornerback A.The opening tee shot of The Open will be shown live for the first time as part of Sky Sports round-the-clock coverage of golfs pre-eminent Major. Sky Sports will dedicate an entire channel to the Championship, offering 10 days of programming including live coverage of all four days play and practice rounds, evening highlights of each days play plus a host of documentaries and shows exploring the unique allure of The Open.The channel launches on July 11, when Sky Sports 1 HD becomes Sky Sports The Open. Skys live coverage of The 145th Open at Royal Troon will begin on July 14, ahead of the opening tee shot at 6.35am which will be shown live for the first time on television in the UK and Ireland. The Championship continues until July 17. Sky Sports managing director Barney Francis said: The Open is the pre-eminent golf Major and Sky Sports will offer the Championship the coverage it deserves. With all four Majors and the Ryder Cup in 2016, theres never been more golf on Sky Sports With a dedicated channel, we will offer viewers the complete story live from Royal Troon, from the opening tee shot to the final putt. Were excited and honoured to be covering the event and cant wait for it to begin.R&A chief executive Martin Slumbers said: The Open is a true celebration of world-class sport. We are delighted with the comprehensive and innovative coverage that Sky Sports will deliver from the build-up to the Championship at Royal Troon through to the crowning of the Champion Golfer of the Year. Royal Troon last hosted the Open Championship in 2004 The Open holds a special place in the hearts of sports fans who appreciate the unrelenting challenge that is presented to the worlds best players, and we know that Sky Sports will broadcast the Championship with great insight and expertise. Authentic Falcons Jerseys. Coverage will feature commentary and analysis from some of the biggest names in golf including Paul McGinley, Butch Harmon and Colin Montgomerie. Sky Sports award-winning golf production team will utilise some of the latest broadcast technology, including virtual analysis of the course and selected player swings. Zach Johnson claimed the Claret Jug in a three-man play-off last year Skys coverage of The Open will be a highlight of another unmissable summer of sport on Sky Sports, which includes live England Test cricket against Sri Lanka and Pakistan, every Formula 1 Grand Prix, including Silverstone, and Englands rugby union tour of Australia. Then in August, there will be 126 live Premier League games, with more top picks and Friday night matches for the first time,This year, Sky Sports is the only place to watch all four Majors and the Ryder Cup. The full schedule is available to those that subscribe to Sky Sports and to non-subscribers through online streaming service NOW TV, available on 60 devices, which offers access to seven Sky Sports channels for £6.99 a day or through a week pass at £10.99. The clubhouse at Royal Troon Golf Club On the same day that Sky Sports The Open launches, Sky Sports channel numbers will change, with Sky Sports News HQ moving to Sky electronic programme guide (EPG) number 406, with Sky Sports 1 becoming 401.Sky Sports channel listings from July 11401 - Sky Sports 1 (Sky Sports The Open)402 - Sky Sports 2403 - Sky Sports 3404 - Sky Sports 4405 - Sky Sports 5406 - Sky Sports News HQ407 - Sky Sports F1Watch the Open throughout the week from July 11-17 live on Sky Sports - your home of golf Also See: Open Championship news All four majors live on Sky Recap: Johnsons 2015 victory Golf live on Sky Sports 4 Cheap Cowboys JerseysCheap Giants JerseysCheap Eagles JerseysCheap Redskins JerseysCheap Falcons JerseysCheap Panthers JerseysCheap Saints JerseysCheap Buccaneers JerseysCheap Cardinals JerseysCheap 49ers JerseysCheap Seahawks JerseysCheap Rams JerseysCheap Bears JerseysCheap Lions JerseysCheap Packers JerseysCheap Vikings Jerseys ' ' '