MADRID — Barcelona and Atletico Madrid dropped their first points of the Spanish top-flight football season on Saturday, missing the chance to equal the record for the best-ever La Liga start.
Reuters
Champions Barca, who visit AC Milan in the Uefa Champions League tomorrow, were held 0-0 at Osasuna.
It was the first time they failed to score in a domestic league game in 65 matches since a 0-0 draw at Villarreal in January 2012.
Atletico also lost 1-0 at Espanyol as Real Madrid’s record nine straight wins to kick off the 1968-69 campaign remained intact.
Third-placed Real won 2-0 at home to Malaga, Carlo Ancelotti’s side closing within three points of leaders Barca ahead of next week’s Clasico at the Nou Camp and two points shy of Atletico.
Real won thanks to a goal from Angel Di Maria and a stoppage-time Cristiano Ronaldo penalty, won by world record signing Gareth Bale, who was a late substitute.
Barca were unable to breach a well-drilled Osasuna defence in Pamplona and Atletico were thwarted by an Espanyol side who have made a strong start to the season under Mexican coach Javier Aguirre.
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The only goal of the game at Espanyol’s Cornella-El Prat stadium in Barcelona came in the 54th minute when the ball deflected into the net off the outstretched leg of Atletico goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.
Argentine Lionel Messi, who had not played since the end of last month due to a thigh strain, came off the bench for the final 25 minutes of Barca’s game, but not even the World Player of the Year could conjure a goal for the champions.
Real warmed up for Wednesday’s Champions League game against Juventus with a victory.
It was hardly the sparkling display coach Ancelotti wanted to dispel doubts after some unconvincing performances this term, but the Italian was happy about a general improvement from his expensive squad.
“Today I am pleased,” Ancelotti said. ”Everyone was focused on defending, we pressed well and recovered possession quickly. That was the difference compared to other matches — we did not give them chances and were well positioned.
“We have to keep it going and do things better but today the team performed well. We started the week on a positive note.”
