article: Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid may have played out a goalless draw at the Vicente Calderon on Tuesday night, but there was still plenty to talk about after the Champions League first leg. Here Sportsmail looks at the five things we learned after the two bitter rivals clashed again in Europe. Real Madrid must be careful with a talent like Raphael Varane . Something has to give at Real Madrid. Carlo Ancelotti's favoured centre-back partnership is Sergio Ramos and Pepe, but in Raphael Varane, who turns 22 later this month, they have a diamond. Pepe's injury trouble recently has meant Varane has started a few games, continuing the education that began under Jose Mourinho. Chelsea’s coach has fluttered his eyelashes at the French international a few times during the past year, making sure he's in pole position should the defender become available. Raphael Varane (left) impressed again for Real Madrid - and saved . Varane will be thinking he is more than ready to be the starting centre-back for a Champions League team and with good reason. His performance here was wise beyond his years and his lightning quick turn of pace can help mop up after any errors. One sprint back to deny Mario Mandzukic was like watching a gazelle catch up with a rhino without even breaking sweat. Varane saved his team at the death too, mopping up after Iker Casillas rushed out his goal and failed to reach the ball. Jan Oblak is proving patience is a virtue . Jan Oblak became the most expensive goalkeeper in Spanish football history when he signed for €16million from Benfica in the summer. And then Diego Simeone promptly dumped him on the bench and installed another new player, Miguel Angel Moya, in goal. There were reports in the Spanish media that the coach did not rate him, that Atletico wanted to sell him back to the Portuguese side. When he finally played, it was a disaster, with the team losing 3-2 to Olympiakos and Oblak put back on the bench. Jan Oblak (centre) denies Gareth Bale early on in the contest and the keeper had an impressive game . Eventually an injury to Moya left Simeone with Oblak in goal against Bayer Leverkusen, where he became a hero in the penalty shoot-out which secured the team passage to this round of the Champions League, and Atletico Madrid's goalkeeper was brilliant again against Madrid. The Slovenian stopper was the only thing standing between Real Madrid and a hatful of first-half goals. Oblak's save from Gareth Bale - spreading himself wide and blocking the Welshman's strike with his right arm - after barely more than three minutes had elapsed was hugely important. It was beautiful, crucial. The amazing atmosphere generated by Atletico's supporters would have been dented by a goal that early. Oblak makes a superb save to deny James Rodriguez (third left) from opening the scoring for Real Madrid . Better was still to come, Oblak making a superb save from a James Rodriguez snap shot, which he didn't see until very late, the highlight of a first-half in which he made six stops. It was altogether reminiscent of the backbone Atletico relied on last season, with goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois essential in their La Liga triumph and road to the Champions League final. And all this after sitting on the bench for half the season. Another fruitless evening for Gareth Bale . Nobody can say that Gareth Bale didn't work hard enough for Real Madrid here, but instead that he just wasn't good enough. The world's most expensive player endured another frustrating evening, which started in the worst way possible when he missed a one-on-one chance. Played in down the right, Bale had the ball on his favoured left foot, but his finish was too imprecise and Oblak made a brilliant save. Bale didn't get involved much in the first half, with the game passing him by as sometimes it tends to do. Bale (left) worked hard again for Madrid but failed to have the desired impact as Atletico kept him quiet . Bale (right) sees a shot saved by Atletico keeper Oblak as he endured another frustrating night . He upped the effort in the second period but to little effect. Working back in the right-back position he tried to skin Guilherme Siqueira, but the Atletico man nudged him and Bale tumbled. No free kick. In attack he nearly eked out an opportunity for Cristiano Ronaldo towards the end, but the Portugal striker was instantly closed down. It was that kind of night for Real Madrid, and yet another one for Gareth Bale. Mad Mario doesn't play for Liverpool... he's at Atletico . Atletico Madrid are good at replacing their strikers, after they are perennially taken by bigger teams. Fernando Torres was replaced by Sergio Aguero, who was replaced by Radamel Falcao, who was replaced by Diego Costa, who has now been replaced by Mario Mandzukic. While the Croatian hasn't quite lived up to the Chelsea striker's standards in terms of crucial goals, he's as ready for a fight as the Spaniard, and that's saying something. Mandzukic, like Costa, also gets short shrift from the referee, with his reputation going before him. He riled Dani Carvajal up so much here that the Real Madrid defender snapped and punched him in the chest. The theatrics that followed were part of his skill set of dark arts too, even if referee Milorad Mazic wasn’t buying. Mario Mandzukic was left bloodied after a stray elbow from Sergio Ramos but got little sympathy from the ref . Ramos and Mandzukic clash, leaving the Altetico Madrid striker needing treatment for a head injury . A stray elbow from Sergio Ramos left Mandzukic with blood sprayed across his face, but he knows what the deal is at Atletico – the pleasure comes with the pain. Eventually it was the striker who ended up, somewhat harshly, in the Serb’s notebook for fighting too hard in an aerial duel. Although he couldn’t find the net himself, his hold-up play was essential in giving Atletico some breathing room and it’s for the best that a row with Diego Simeone seems to have been buried. History says it's advantage Atletico . This season Real Madrid have taken on Atletico seven times and not won once. This was the third draw; Diego Simeone's side have won the other four games. The Argentine coach will be pleased with this result, because now a goalscoring draw at the Santiago Bernabeu next Wednesday will see his team through. So far this season Madrid have scored four times against Atletico, while the Rojiblancos have netted 12 in reply, including five at the Bernabeu. Antoine Griezmann (left) will be crucial to Atletico Madrid's chances of winning in the Santiago Bernabeu . Madrid will be obliged to attack and that will suit Atletico just fine. Simeone's side are built to resist and with Antoine Griezmann up front, they will be able to hit Los Blancos on the counter. Last season Chelsea came to the Vicente Calderon and fought for a 0-0 draw. They took that back to Stamford Bridge and were soundly beaten by Atletico Madrid, 3-1 at home. Simeone will feel quietly confident his men can repeat the trick once more. Furthermore, like for the 4-0 humbling Madrid suffered in February, Marcelo is suspended and Fabio Coentrao, who has been out of favour, will play. Mario Suarez was booked against Madrid and suspended too, but Tiago Mendes can slot in for him without much fuss.
highlights: Gareth Bale missed a one-on-one chance after just three minutes .
  Raphael Varane impressed with his pace and general reading of the game .
  Mario Mandzukic left bloodied after clashing with Sergio Ramos .
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