Real Madrid could only draw with Almeria, dropping two crucial points in their title battle with Barcelona.
It might have been even worse for Madrid as well, with Jose Mourinho's side needing a 77th-minute equaliser from substitute Esteban Granero to snatch a point after Almeria had taken a shock lead through Leonardo Ulloa just before the hour mark.
Cristiano Ronaldo almost earned Madrid the victory in the last minute but his ferocious free-kick from the edge of the box came back off the underside of the crossbar and the spoils were shared.
The result saw Madrid's five-match winning streak in La Liga come to end and, more importantly, handed a further boost to league leaders Barcelona.
