the strings in the middle, and threatened the home goal in the 33rd minute when Pedro headed Andres Iniesta's cross over the bar.

Iniesta took a knock to the knee in the first half and was taken off as a precaution at the break.

The Spain playmaker made way for Messi, who on Wednesday played for the first time in almost two months since recovering from a thigh strain and scored twice in a 4-0 King's Cup last 16, first leg win at home to Getafe.

The Argentina international drew a fine save from Atletico goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois with a fizzing low shot in the 81st minute but otherwise made little impact against a typically resolute home defence.

The vociferous Atletico fans, whose team have not won the league since 1996, seemedsatisfied with the draw against their vastly wealthier rivals after the whistle, chanting "Atleti! Atleti" as the players swapped shirts and trooped off the pitch.

"We were expecting an intense game against one of the best teams in the league and we are pleased with the result," Atletico captain Gabi told Canal Plus.

"We will continue to take each game at a time and I think the team has performed extraordinarily well in the first half of the season," he added.

"It will be tough to repeat that in the second half but hopefully we can manage it."

Celta Vigo inflicted a first defeat on Valencia's new coach Juan Antonio Pizzi with a 2-1 home victory, while fourth-placed Athletic Bilbao moved to 36 points, four clear of Real Sociedad in fifth, with