Messi injury spoils Barcelona win
to Lionel Messi took the gloss off BARCELONA's 2-1 win over LAS PALMAS as the Argentine was ruled out for up to two months with a torn left knee ligament.
Messi lasted just nine minutes before suffering the injury in a clash with Pedro Bigas, while Luis Suárez's double was enough for Barca to bounce back after their disastrous 4-1 defeat to Celta Vigo last week.
Suárez struck either side of half-time, heading home a Sergi Roberto cross then firing Munir El Haddadi's pass into the net, with Neymar also missing a penalty for the Catalans.
Jonathan Viera reduced the deficit with a deflected goal for the islanders late on, although it was no more than a consolation. After the match La Blaugrana announced via a statement on Twitter that Messi was facing an extended spell on the sidelines: "Messi has a tear in the internal collateral ligament of his left knee. He will be out for around 7-8 weeks," it read.
Léo Baptistão's early strike against his parent club helped VILLARREAL storm to the top of La Primera and become outright leaders for the first time in their history after 16 seasons and 576 matches in the top flight. The Brazilian striker netted the only goal of the game at El Madrigal to clinch a 1-0 victory over ATLÉTICO MADRID as the Yellow Submarine made it five wins on the spin to maintain their unbeaten start to the campaign.
On-loan Baptistão, who has not played for Los Colchoneros for two years, linked up with summer signing Roberto Soldado on 14 minutes and shot low into the corner to earn his side all three points against one of their immediate rivals for the European places.
Marcelino's men have also equalled the club's best-ever start to a La Liga season, which came in 2008-09.
Shkodran Mustafi's first-half header saw VALENCIA get back to winning ways with a hardfought 1-0 win over GRANADA.
The German defender was the unlikely hero for the home team when nodding in a cross from Zakaria Bakkali in the 26th minute. Even so, Los Che were not totally convincing against the Andalusians, who have still never won at Mestalla in 22 attempts, and needed goalkeeper Jaume Domenech to pull off a superb save from Ruben Rochina's free-kick to preserve their lead.
Paco Alcacer had a goal chalked off for the hosts in the second period, but it did not matter as Nuno's men claimed a welcome three points.
SEVILLA moved off the bottom of the table with a 3-2 triumph over RAYO VALLECANO in an entertaining encounter at the Sánchez Pizjuán. Kevin Gameiro opened the scoring for Los Rojiblancos in the 23rd minute and the lead was doubled in first-half stoppage time through Steven N'Zonzi.
Bebé pulled a goal back for the Madrid side when his 51st-minute free-kick found the top corner and the comeback was complete on 68 minutes after Javi Guerra scored from inside the penalty area.
However, Rayo had to play the last seven minutes with 10 men as Antonio Amaya picked up a second yellow card and Sevilla made them pay, Yevhen Konoplyanka curling a free-kick into the corner with four minutes remaining.
Iago Aspas rescued a point for CELTA VIGO in a 1-1 draw at EIBAR just days after helping himself to a brace in the Galicians' 4-1 thrashing of Barcelona. Borja Bastón had put the Basques ahead after just three minutes, finishing from close range following Sergi Enrich's flick-on from a corner, but former Liverpool man Aspas was on hand to volley Jonny's cross into the back of the net 14 minutes from time to preserve Celta's unbeaten start and leave them in the Champions League places.
Lucas Pérez scored a goal in each half to help DEPORTIVO LA CORUÑA defeat ESPANYOL 3-0 at Riazor and move into the top six.
Depor went ahead courtesy of an own goal by defender Álvaro González in the 14th minute and Pérez doubled the advantage 13 minutes later following a swift counter-attack. The winger added a third from inside the area shortly after the break to round off a comfortable afternoon for the hosts, who recorded their third win of the season.
REAL BETIS produced a second-half fightback to win 2-1 at SPORTING GIJÓN and pick up their first away victory since returning to the top flight.
Carlos Castro broke the deadlock in the 16th minute before former Málaga winger Joaquìn levelled things for Los Verdiblancos two minutes into the second half, glancing in a Rubén Castro cutback for his first goal since returning to the club in the summer.
Rubén Castro completed the turnaround on 57 minutes with a strike from the edge of the area that surprised everyone and proved sufficient to propel Pepe Mel's team into the top half.
A second-half double from substitute Álvaro Vázquez inspired GETAFE to a 3-0 success over LEVANTE at the Coliseum Alfonso Pérez as both sides looked to give themselves some breathing space above the relegation zone.
Nonetheless, it was hard going for the Madrid outfit until they managed to get the breakthrough nine minutes from time, Vázquez getting his head on the end of a Damián Suárez centre four minutes after coming on.
Eighteen-year-old forward Emi went on to score his debut goal for El Geta with a low strike in stoppage time and Vázquez put things beyond doubt with the last kick of the game.
REAL SOCIEDAD and ATHLETIC BILBAO shared the spoils as the Basque derby at Anoeta ended in a disappointing 0-0 draw.
La Real were fortunate not to concede a first-half penalty when Aritz Aduriz's shot was blocked by Asier Illarramendi's flailing arm in the box, although after the break they had much the better of proceedings and could even have won the game when Jonathas missed a late double chance.
David Moyes' side now sit just below halfway in the table while the point means Athletic climb out of the bottom three.