Real Madrid edged the derby 3-2 against city rivals Atlético Madrid to remain in touch with LaLiga leaders Barcelona but the performance was far from convincing.

Having dragged themselves in front after a Vinícius Júnior penalty and Federico Valverde's sixth goal in five games overturned Ademola Lookman's first-half effort, they were unable to hold the lead for very long.

Substitute Nahuel Molina's brilliant, swerving strike from 25 yards restored parity and although Vinícius edged the hosts back in front, Valverde's purple patch ended when he was sent off with 13 minutes remaining for hacking at Alex Baena's ankle.

Real, whose difficulties were not helped pre-match as reports suggested Trent Alexander-Arnold was dropped after being late for training, closed the gap to the leaders after Barcelona had briefly extended it to seven with a win earlier in the day.

Florencia Tan Jun/Getty Images

---

Despite Valverde hitting a post in only the ninth minute Atlético generated the better chances, with Real goalkeeper Andriy Lunin saving from Marcos Llorente and Giuliano Simeone.

Real's response saw Arda Güler twice fire wide before the hosts were opened up by one long pass from deep.

Lookman held up the ball in front of Antonio Rüdiger and the back-tracking Dani Carvajal, replacing Alexander-Arnold, long enough for Matteo Ruggeri to overlap.

The left-back's cross into the six-yard area was backheeled by Simeone into the path of the advancing Lookman who poked a shot past Lunin.

Just before half-time Aurélien Tchouaméni headed wide before Guler finally tested Juan Musso with a shot from outside the penalty area.

Angel Martinez/Getty Images

---

Real appeared to have turned things around in the first 10 minutes of the second half.

When Dávid Hancko brought down Brahim Díaz close to the byline Vinícius converted from the spot and then Valverde seized on Ruggeri's aimless ball into his own penalty area to score.

However, their lead did not last long with Molina's superb strike from distance flying past Lunin.

Alexander-Arnold emerged off the bench just past the hour and within eight minutes it was his diagonal pass which allowed Vinícius to cut in from the left and bend a shot beyond Juan Musso.

Valverde's dismissal offered Atlético hope and Julián Álvarez was denied an equaliser by the frame of the goal.