Real Madrid also won, with a Higuain hat trick, and remain third – a point behind Barça and Llevant, with Seville’s 2-1 win over Sporting moving them up to fourth, a further point behind. That defeat for Sporting leaves them bottom after a weekend in which none of the bottom none clubs managed a win.

Llevant continue to surprise

Llevant put out the oldest ever La Liga team – with a combined age of 346! - for their game against Malaga, who in contrast to their hosts minimum spending had splashed out big money over the summer to muscle in at the top table. Despite all of that, it was Llevant who took the points with three first half goals and another solid defensive performance that leaves them as the La Liga team who have conceded fewest goals –just three in seven games – and they have only been outscored by Barça and Madrid.

Higuain bags another hat trick

Llevant and Barça are a point ahead of Real Madrid, who saw off the early pacemakers Betis 4-1, with Gonzalo Higuain grabbing his second successive league hat trick. Betis have now lost three on the run, scoring just once and remain in seventh spot. A point behind Real Madrid are Seville, who beat Sporting with a great opening goal from Manu del Moral and a second from Caceres, though they also lost Diego Perotti to injury and the Argentinean midfielder will definitely miss the trip to the Camp Nou. Valencia drop to fifth, a further point off the pace, after an injury time penalty from Hemed gave Joaquin Caparros a point on his debut in charge of Mallorca.

Atletico fail to close the gap

Atletico Madrid failed to close the gap on the leading group, taking just a point in a goalless game at Granada. Atletico have failed to score in five of their seven league games –though they did win the other two 4-0 – causing boss Gregorio Manzano to state: “we need to maintain our defensive strengths , but improve up front”. Zaragoza and Espanyol are now level with Atletico on nine points after wins at the weekend. Helder Postiga scored twice – the second already a candidate for goal of the season- to see off Real Sociedad at La Romareda After their opening day defeat to Real Madrid, Zaragoza have lost just once -4-3 to Betis- in their last six games, whilst Espanyol won their first away game of the season at Rayo thanks to a second half Romaric strike.

Bilbao finding form

Athletic Bilbao seem to have found their feet and their 3-1 win over Osasuna on Monday night - their second consecutive win ahead of a series of tough games against Valencia, Atletico Madrid, Barça and Seville- takes them to within a point of Espanyol. Osasuna are on seven points, alongside Real Sociedad and Villarreal, who recorded their third draw on the run with in the 0-0 game at Getafe on Saturday.