Substitute Hernan Perez snatched a late equaliser for Villarreal whose poor start to the season continued with a 2-2 draw at home to Zaragoza on Saturday.
Considered by many as the only team capable of pushing Barcelona and Real Madrid in the league they have struggled so far with only one victory in all competitions.
Coming into the game on the back of a 2-0 Champions League defeat by Napoli, Villarreal began the stronger but Luis Garcia gave Zaragoza the lead against the run of play.
Giuseppe Rossi brought Villarreal back on level terms from the penalty spot but the visitors went into the break ahead with Pablo Barrera scoring from another counter-attack.
In an open game Villarreal earned a point through Perez nine minutes from the end.
Two penalties from Tomer Hemed gave Mallorca a 2-2 draw away to Osasuna.
Miguel Angel Nadal took charge of the team following Michael Laudrup's resignation in midweek and Hemed put Mallorca in front with a spot kick but Raul Garcia responded with two headed goals for Osasuna.
With 10 minutes to go Hemed kept his cool again from 12 yards to give Mallorca a point.
Racing Santander drew 1-1 with Rayo Vallecano with Raul Tamudo scoring for the side from Madrid before Adrian Gonzalez equalised on the hour mark.
Following summer investment Malaga have started well with Getafe their next opponents later Saturday while Valencia are also in action against Granada.
On Sunday, Barcelona travel to bottom of the table Sporting Gijon still looking for their first away win of the season in La Liga after draws against Real Sociedad and Valencia.
"To win the title you need to win a lot of matches away from home. We are now faced with another very difficult game and it is down to us to break this poor run," said Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola.
"We always find it difficult to beat them (Sporting) and analysing it, it is because they defend very well and pack their penalty area.
"I think that this will be a close game which will be decided by small details and so we will have to work hard and use our heads."
While Barca have suffered injuries to important players like Andres Iniesta and Cesc Fabregas they have benefitted from Lionel Messi's rich vein of form which saw him score a hat-trick last weekend and then two more in the Champions League against BATE Borisov to become Barcelona's joint second highest scorer alongside Lazslo Kubala on 194 goals.
Real responded after picking up just one point from two games with a 6-2 win over Rayo Vallecano and then beat Ajax 3-0 in the Champions League.
They travel to Espanyol with Kaka restored to the starting eleven after a long battle with injury and loss of form.
"I feel a debt to the club for always having stood by me, it would have been easier to leave but I never considered that. I have the dream of triumphing at Madrid and I want to achieve it," said the Brazilian.
"The results mean the atmosphere could be better in the dressing room but we are all united."
Source: AFP
