MADRID (AFP) - Real Madrid are refusing to press the panic button after their 1-1 draw against Real Mallorca on Saturday with coach Bernd Schuster insisting it was a valuable point after going down to ten men.

Real took the lead through Wesley Sneijder but then had full back Sergio Ramos sent off on 65 minutes for a second caution and Mallorca substitute Borja Valero equalised minutes later.

Villarreal can now close to within four points of Real at the summit with victory at Sevilla on Sunday but the champions are trying to stay calm.

"I think we had the game under control until the sending off," explained Schuster.

"Unfortunately we were only able to leave with one point. Whatever the case may be, it's important to keep registering points at this stage, even if it is just one point.

"There were two stages to the match. There was a before and an after Sergio Ramos was sent off. We had the match in our grasp before it happened."

Playmaker Guti agreed that dropping two points was no reason to be downbeat.

"Leaving the Ono stadium with one point is extremely positive as Mallorca aren't an easy rival especially after we played the last half hour a man down," said Guti.

"The sending off was the turning point, but it's no excuse."

Goalkeeper Iker Casillas admitted Ramos, who has a poor disciplinary record, can sometimes lose his rag but resisted the temptation to take a swipe at the referee.

"Sergio Ramos being sent off changed the match but we salvaged an important point with ten men," declared Casillas.

"Sergio has a temper but always puts the team first. I don't think he deserved the second yellow, but it's the referee's call.

"We can't complain, but we did have to fall back with only ten men on the pitch. One point away from home is okay."

Champions Real now have a week to rest with no Champions League football before they take on struggling Real Murcia at home next weekend.

"We have to move forward as a team. There are seven matches left which are all finals," explained Sneijder.

"I know we can do it (win the title). Best of all, our next match is at home against Murcia, so I am sure we can do well will our fans behind us."

Real have four home matches among the remaining seven matches, including 'El Classico' against Barcelona, in the title run-in.

Schuster's team have been poor since 2008 losing five league matches - Almeria, Real Betis, Getafe, Depor and Valencia - compared with 2007 when they lost just twice.