Lucas earns draw for Deportivo as Atletico Madrid miss out on top spot

Atletico Madrid missed the chance to climb to the top of the Primera Division after Lucas' equaliser secured a point for sixth-placed Deportivo La Coruna in a 1-1 draw.With fellow pacesetters Real Madrid and Barcelona not playing until Saturday, Atletico were on course to move one point clear at the summit following Tiago's first-half strike.But Lucas took advantage of some poor defending from Jose Maria Gimenez to net the equaliser in the 76th minute and deny the visitors, who remain third, a fourth consecutive win.Fomer Chelsea and Portugal midfielder Tiago broke the deadlock in the 33rd minute when Deportivo failed to clear their lines and his half-volley from the edge of the box flew into the bottom right-hand corner.Atletico should have added a second before half-time but Antoine Griezmann was guilty of missing two clear-cut opportunities.The forward, with six goals to his name this term, failed to convert from close range after Diego Godin headed a corner against the post and then nodded wide on the stroke of the interval.Deportivo showed signs of clawing their way back into the match in the second half, Fede Cartabia providing two comfortable saves for Jan Oblak from long-range efforts, and then eventually drew level 14 minutes from time.Lucas robbed Gimenez as he tried to shield the ball out for a goal-kick and then rounded Oblak to sidefoot into the net.Deportivo almost secured a first win in four outings when Faycal Fajr's stunning 25-yard curling effort cannoned back off the crossbar after 88 minutes.