3 takeaways from Atletico's draw vs. Real Madrid: A dance of matadors and raging bulls

When Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid meet on the field, a rivalry is reignited. Unfortunately, not all sparks light a pyre and on this particular day, the two teams played a rather dull match that ended 1-1 at the Vicente Calderon.

It was a back-and-forth match with little action. As far as 1-1 results go, it was relatively uneventful. And yet, there was beauty in this match, and a few takeaways, too. Let's have at it.

La Liga's growing pains produce parity and lassitude

As La Liga has grown in the last five years, so too has the level of competition across the league. La Liga now offers more than just two world-class teams.

This revelation is both good and bad. More competition keeps the league interesting over the course of the full season, and could even produce a surprise winner, like Atletico in 2013.

But with the quality gap between the teams narrowed, it's difficult for the bigger clubs to replicate results like, say, Arsenal's impressive 3-0 win over rivals Manchester United. Instead, you're left with 1-1 draws in which the moments of magic are cut with long stretches of back-and-forth nothingness.

If this match was any indication of how the first El Clasico of the season will be contested between Real Madrid and Barcelona, prepare for a bit of a snoozefest on November 21.

Karim Benzema has a good head on his shoulders

There are a lot of great goal-scorers in the world, but none more ferocious when it comes to scoring with their heads than Karim Benzema.

Just look at the power Benzema gets on the ball using the muscles in his neck and shoulders.

Impressive stuff, and, at that height, very difficult to pull off. Cristiano Ronaldo may have the better leap, but Benzema knows how to bury 'em with power.

Atletico Madrid is a resilient and passionate bunch

It was a boring match ... until it wasn't.

Compare the cool, calm finish of Benzema to the passionate, raw, and visceral reaction of Atletico Madrid's players (and especially its manager, Diego Simeone) and you will see, in sum, the difference between these two capital outfits.

Simeone and his players simply could not contain themselves after Luciano Vietto scored an equalizer late in the match, letting the emotional part of the game flow freely.

In the modern era, professional players have become somewhat cold; their celebrations, subdued. Sure, players and managers react to goals with smiles and a round of high fives, with laughter and jumps for joy, but how many roar that primal roar from the innermost part of the gut?

Simeone manages a passionate group, and it is that passion that has seen them succeed time and time again, against all odds. It is that passion that keeps Atletico running, fighting, and scoring. It is for this very reason that they deserved the solitary point they procured on the night.

If Real is the matador - calm and focused, steely in his resolve - then Atletico is its raging bull - the hotheaded, uncontrollable beast. In this fixture, there were no winners or losers. There were only onlookers, mesmerized by a lullaby dance under the setting Spanish sun.