Sergio Ramos helps Sevilla earn point against former club Real Madrid

Real Madrid were held to a point against Sevilla on Saturday but Carlo Ancelotti's side will still face Barcelona next weekend as La Liga leaders.

Madrid prepared for the first el clasico of the season with a battling 1-1 draw at Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan where Los Blancos were on course for a second loss of the campaign when David Alaba put through his own net.

Carvajal headed home Toni Kroos’ free-kick to make it 1-1 before ex-Madrid captain Sergio Ramos missed a golden chance in stoppage time to earn new Sevilla manager Diego Alonso victory in his first game in charge.

The 1-1 draw moves Madrid on to 25 points with second and third dplaced Girona and Barcelona playing their respective fixtures on Sunday – against Almeria and Athletic Bilbao – but neither are able to move top ahead of Saturday’s clash at the Olympic Stadium in Catalonia.

Real players were left unhappy by decisions to rule out goals for Fede Valverde and Jude Bellingham, the latter after Sevilla's Lucas Ocampos had gone down hurt with Madrid piling forward.

“The referee did well, he had a good game, he stopped the counter-attack to look after the health of a player, I think he had a high-level game,” Ancelotti told a news conference, perhaps with a hint of sarcasm.

Later the coach explained that only by speaking in this way could he avoid a suspension for revealing his true feelings.

“Irony is the only way [to speak] after this match because I think that if I say what I think about the refereeing I'll receive a lot of games' suspension,” Ancelotti told Real Madrid TV.

Sergio Ramos receiving a great ovation from Sevilla fans after the game against Real Madrid.