Madrid - Atletico Madrid continued their crisis on Saturday with a 1-1 home draw against fifth-placed Mallorca, which had two players sent off.

Diego Forlan missed one penalty for Atletico, but then scored a second one. Borja Valero levelled for Mallorca right at the death - with the help of a blunder from teenage goalkeeper David de Gea.

As usual, Atletico left the field to the jeers of their

long-suffering fans, and club president Enrique Cerezo had to endure another post-match protest.

"We should really have won tonight," said Atletico left-back Antonio Lopez.

"We cannot continue to throw points away like this."

The disappointing draw leaves Atletico seventh from bottom, with just seven points from eight matches.

On the Atletico bench was 1996 double-winning hero Santi Dena, caretaker coach for just one match until Quique Sanchez Flores takes charge on Monday. On Friday Abel Resino was sacked by Cerezo.

Atletico made a bright start and were given a penalty in the 27th minute for a handball by Josemi, who was harshly sent off. Forlan, last season's league top scorer, put his spot-kick wide.

It was a case of deja vu in the 54th minute, when Ivan Ramis was sent off for another handball in the area, leaving Mallorca with nine men. This time Forlan made no mistake from the spot.

But Atletico failed to build on their lead and paid the price in the 91st minute, when a nervous De Gea pushed a centre from Borja into his own goal.

Typical Atletico: a moment of clumsy misfortune which served as a metaphor for another evening of frustration.

Later on Saturday, injury-plagued Real Madrid are away to Sporting Gijon.

Real are just one point behind leaders Barcelona but will be without injured strikers Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, Gonzalo Higuain and Ruud Van Nistelrooy.

In Saturday's late game, third-placed Sevilla will be at home to Espanyol. (dpa)