SUBSTITUTE Sergio Araujo struck a late equalizer as Las Palmas held Real Madrid to a 2-2 draw and left them with a one-point lead over Barcelona at the top of La Liga on Saturday.

    Karim Benzema had given Real a 2-1 lead in the 67th, three minutes after coming on, but the hosts spoiled the visitors’ night with Araujo’s 85th minute goal.

    Barca, playing without the injured Lionel Messi for the first time this season, won 5-0 at 10-man Sporting Gijon earlier in the day.

    Neymar scored twice while Luis Suarez, Arda Turan and Rafinha also hit the back of the net.

    Real, which saw its record-equalling 16-game winning run in La Liga halted in Wednesday’s 1-1 draw with Villarreal, took a deserved 33rd-minute lead.

    Marco Asensio headed in the rebound after goalkeeper Javi Varas was unable to hold onto Nacho’s powerful strike.

    Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane took Cristiano Ronaldo off after 71 minutes with the Portugal captain, who had failed to score Wednesday, having endured another disappointing performance. (SD-Agencies)