Cordoba are holding Real Madrid at 1-1 in this afternoon's La Liga clash at the Estadio Nuevo Arcangel.

The hosts took a shock lead against the European champions after just three minutes as Sergio Ramos's handball in the box prompted the referee to give Cordoba a penalty.

Nabil Ghilas stepped up and fired a powerful shot past Iker Casillas and into the top corner of the Madrid net.

Miroslav Djukic's charges continued to press forward and nearly doubled their lead in the ninth minute when Ghilas whipped a ball in the direction of the unmarked Fede Vico, but the cross proved too heavy for the young striker.

The visitors probed forward in a bid to find an equaliser, and had a great opportunity to do so when Vico brought down James Rodriguez just outside the box. However, Cristiano Ronaldo's subsequent free kick flew high and wide of the crossbar.

Nevertheless, Real were able to get themselves onto the scoresheet just before the half-hour mark when Karim Benzema poked home following a corner from the left.

Both sides continued to have chances, as Bebe and Ronaldo threatened for their respective teams, but they had to be content with being level at the break.