A hat-trick from Gonzalo Higuain helped Real Madrid to a 4-0 win over Espanyol and put them on the shoulders of joint leaders Barcelona and Levante on Sunday.
Real have had a stuttering start to the season but have now bounced back from one point in two games with back-to-back wins and are a point behind Barcelona who beat Sporting Gijon 1-0 and Levante who won 1-0 against Real Betis.
Cristiano Ronaldo hit the post after just three minutes but Real went ahead after 17 minutes with Ronaldo setting up Higuain.
Kaka should have added to their lead but keeper Iker Casillas also blocked shots from Thievy Bifouma and Sergio Garcia for Espanyol.
Midway through the second half Higuain hit a powerful drive into the top corner while Vladimir Weiss missed a good opportunity to reduce the deficit for Espanyol.
Substitute Jose Callejon slotted in a third against his former club and Higuain completed his hat-trick a minute from time as Real condemned Espanyol to their first defeat at home.
An injury-plagued Barcelona moved into first place with 14 points as Adriano gave them their first away win of the season.
After draws against Real Sociedad and Valencia, Barcelona looked to beat bottom of the table Sporting, but they did so with a lengthy injury list.
Cesc Fabregas and Andres Iniesta were among the midfielders in the treatment room while neither Carlos Puyol or Gerard Pique started in defence.
Barca don't have a good record against Sporting and drew there last season but Adriano gave them the lead, knocking in a rebound after a Xavi Hernandez shot came back off a post.
While Barca had almost total control of the ball they struggled to convert it into further goals against a very organised Sporting, whose only shot of note was a Roberto Canella drive which keeper Victor Valdes parried before half time.
Eric Abidal went off injured after the break to add to Barca's defensive worries but they never looked likely to concede, while the main danger to the Sporting goal came from a Lionel Messi header which keeper Juan Pablo caught.
"We played a strong Sporting who were very deep and worked together well. There was no space because they closed it down," said Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola.
"Always when we play after a Champions League game it is difficult but I think we did well in the first half and then faded after that."
Unfashionable Levante are behind Barcelona only on goal difference after a Juanlu Gomez goal gave them a 1-0 win over former leaders Real Betis, their fourth successive victory.
Promoted Betis won their first four games on the trot, but succumbed to their second straight defeat against a Levante side who had the better openings.
Arouna Kone had a couple of excellent chances to score either side of Juanlu's volley from a Valdo Lopes cross which broke the deadlock after 33 minutes.
"We know which league we are in and although the fans can enjoy our position inside the dressing room we are only thinking that we have taken a step closer to our target," said Levante coach Juan Ignacio Martinez, whose aim is to avoid relegation.
Atletico Madrid drew 0-0 with Sevilla in a match between two sides who are expected to be fighting for a Champions League place by the end of the season.
The home side had the better openings but it will be a game remembered more for the number of fouls with the referee issuing eleven yellow cards.
Diego had a shot blocked by keeper Javier Varas and Jose Antonio Reyes missed the target with an excellent chance.
After the break Manu del Moral went close for Sevilla but Varas continued to save Sevilla while Radamel Falcao ballooned the best opportunity over the cross bar from inside the six yard box.
Malaga are a point behind the leaders after a superb overhead kick in injury time from Julio Baptista completed a spectacular turnaround as they beat Getafe 3-2 on Saturday.
The Andalusian side, who are bankrolled by a Qatari billionaire, moved up to 13 points and clear on goal difference of Valencia who beat Granada 1-0.
Two penalties from Tomer Hemed gave Mallorca, with caretaker coach Miguel Angel Nadal, the uncle of tennis superstar Rafael Nadal, in charge, a 2-2 draw away to Osasuna.
Raul Garcia headed both Osasuna's goals from corners.
Source: AFP
