Madrid remain nine points behind Barca with 13 games to go after Raul Albentosa cancelled out Ronaldo’s opener 24 minutes from time.

However, Zinedine Zidane’s men were left to rue Ronaldo’s miss from the spot to make it 2-0 before the break when Carlos Kameni dived to his left to parry the three-time World Player of the Year’s effort.

A point moves Real level with Atletico Madrid in second ahead of the Madrid derby next weekend, but Atletico can move to within six points of Barca with victory over Villarreal later on Sunday.

Madrid were without the injured Karim Benzema and Gareth Bale, whilst James Rodriguez was only left on the bench by Zidane.

When the opening goal did arrive it was in controversial circumstances as Ronaldo headed home Toni Kroos’s free-kick despite clearly standing in an offside position.

There was no doubt about the penalty award two minutes later when Ronaldo was brought down by Weligton.
Yet, the normally lethal Portuguese from the spot was denied by a fine low save by Kameni.

Madrid stopper Keylor Navas was finally beaten when Malaga’s two centre-backs combined for the equaliser as Weligton’s low cross was coolly slotted home at the back post by Albentosa.

Malaga could even have snatched all three points as Navas was again forced into action by a looping Charles header.

However, for the second time this season Malaga did enough to take a point from Real and almost certainly stretch their run without a league title to four years.