MADRID: A Raul Garcia equaliser two minutes from time denied James Rodriguez a dream home debut for Real Madrid as Atletico Madrid salvaged a 1-1 draw in the first leg of the Spanish Super Cup on Tuesday.

Colombian World Cup star Rodriguez, who came on for the injured Cristiano Ronaldo at halftime, thought he had won the game when he slotted the ball into the net in the 80th minute at the Santiago Bernabeu, pouncing on a loose ball in the penalty area following an attempt by Karim Benzema.

However, Atletico got a precious away goal to take into the return leg at the Vicente Calderon on Friday when Garcia flicked home a late corner from close range.

“There is everything to play for now. I got the goal but it could have been anyone in the team. We now have another match at home and the chance of lifting a trophy,” Garcia told reporters.

There was little of the flair that saw Real beat Sevilla in European Super Cup a week ago and, although there were several new names in the Atletico side from last season, they maintained the same solidity that saw them win La Liga.

Throughout the first half, Atletico held Real in check by dominating the midfield with disciplined tackling and ensuring at least two players shadowed forwards Gareth Bale and Ronaldo every time a pass was made to them.

Rodriguez joined Xabi Alonso, Toni Kroos and Angel Di Maria in Real’s midfield and was brought on by coach Carlo Ancelotti after Ronaldo had been seen holding and rubbing his left leg late in the first half. Di Maria had come on in the second-half for Luka Modric.

Ancelotti did though allay fears that Ronaldo’s injury could rule him out for a prolonged period of time.

“He had a strain after the first-half and he wasn’t comfortable. We will evaluate him tomorrow and do all the proper checks, but it doesn’t appear anything too serious,” said the Italian.

Despite having scored an away goal, Atletico coach Diego Simeone said his team’s chances of winning the cup were still only 50 percent.

“We are going to find ourselves up against a team with many attacking options and very good players,” he said.

Published in Dawn, August 21st, 2014