Atletico Madrid vs Real Madrid: 5 Key Talking Points

#1 Barcelona are the real winners of this derby

A superb Lucas Hernandez tackle stops Cristiano Ronaldo and saves Atletico

An incredible 10 points separate the Madrid clubs from Barcelona at the top of the table. No club in the illustrious history of Spanish football has ever clawed back such a big margin, done so early on, to win the title.

While Atleti may not have considered themselves contenders for the title this year, that is certainly not the case for their neighbours... and to see Barcelona, a supposedly on-the-decline, destroyed-in-the-summer-transfer-window Barcelona do so very well and pull so far ahead will hit them where it really hurts.

The one point that both Madrid clubs share have merely strengthened Barca's hand... and they are the only ones who won after the first goalless derby in a dozen years.

P.S. To end the rather despondent sounding Talking Points on a positive note, here are the biggest, well, positives for Atleti and Real from the match

- Casemiro has remembered why he's in the squad, eschewed the sense of adventure that seemed to possess him regularly early on this season, and become the solid-as-hell defensive midfielder that Real Madrid have been crying out for.

- While Atleti have not been looking all that great defensively this season... Diego Godin, Stefan Savic, Juanfran and most of all Lucas Hernandez impressed with some trademark Atleti-solidity at the back... Lucas' last-ditch tackle on Ronaldo the kind that can inspire a season-changing run of matches, and Simeone will be banking on this turning out to be the start of something new, something better.

Oh, and El Nino's run and pass for the Kevin Gameiro chance was a wonderful throwback to a happier time for Atleti's favourite son.