Athletic Bilbao 1 - 3 Barcelona (Highlights) | Levante 0 - 0 Real Madrid

Athletic Bilbao 1 - 3 Barcelona
(0-1) 54' Keita, (0-2) 73' Xavi, (1-2) 90' Gabilondo, (1-3) 92' Busquets

After their uninspired win over Sporting Gijon, all the talk in the Spanish press had been about Barcelonas 'Messidependencia'. When you think about it, which team wouldn't depend on a player like Messi? It was the same last season with Real Madrid and the 'Cristianodependencia' debate. It's an argument I don't really understand. Teams will always depend on their greatest stars to produce the goods. And they'll always miss them when they're injured. Just some handle the loss better than others, especially when you have Xavi, Iniesta, Villa and Pedro to fall back on. Tonights trip to the Cathedral of Spanish football was a test of Barcas mettle. A raucous home crowd, a rain-soaked pitch and a team of red and white foot soldiers. There are few tougher assignments in La Liga, especially when you're without your biggest name.

Barca passed with flying colours. Yes, they were helped by the refs odd decision to send off Amorebieta for a robust challenge on Iniesta, but the Azulgrana were always in control. Athletic Bilbao probed away and the giant Fernando Llorente threw himself around but with Iniesta and Xavi dominating in the centre and Villa a constant threat, Bilbao always struggled to get hold of the ball. And things were made even more difficult after half an hour when Amorebieta was shown red when the ref should really have produced yellow. With the sending off, Athletics hopes vanished into the cloud filled skies. David Villa had hit the post in the first half, but the inevitable opening goal came early in the second half as Keita neatly slipped the ball under Iraizoz. Then Xavi fired in before Bilbao gave themselves late hope with a tap in from Gabilondo. But with seconds remaining Busquets made sure of the three points after David Villa had also seen red for hitting out at Gurpegui. Messidependencia? Not today.

Levante 0 - 0 Real Madrid

I'm pretty sure tonight was the night Jose Mourinho realised the scale of his task at the Bernabeu. Off the pitch he's doing all the right things. This weeks comment that 'teams gift wins to Barca' made sure Real Madrids dodgy start to the season has stayed well clear from the back pages of the papers. On the pitch is another matter. The defence is fine, with Carvalho, Pepe (suspended for tonights match), Sergio Ramos and Marcelo protecting San Iker admirably. Astonishingly it's up top where Madrid are suffering. Gonzalo Higuain has been shocking at times this season while Cristiano looks desparately short of inspiration. And as for Mesut Özil, the young German just can't get into games away from the Bernabeu. I have no doubts that all will come good, but the longer their dry spell continues, the more problems Real Madrid will have in putting teams to the sword. Six goals from 105 efforts so far this season tells its own story.

But to only speak of Madrids failure infront of goal would be doing Levante a huge injustice. After the start they've had, you would think they would have been dreading the visit of Madrid, but Levante were well up for it. Ballesteros and Nano were rocks at the back but it was very much a team effort. Manager Luis Garcia (an ex-Atletico player) remarked that his team finished the match 'physically exhausted'. It was certainly a point well-earned and after the midweek win against Almeria, they seem to have finally acclimatised to life back in La Liga. But for Madrid it was another 0-0 to add to their opening day no-score draw at Mallorca and they drop a point behind Barca and two behind leaders Valencia.

Sporting Gijon 0 - 2 Valencia

(0-1) 7' Topal, (0-2) 10' Soldado

Valencia carried on their stunning start to the season with a notable win against Sporting Gijon at El Molinon. Topal and Soldado got the two early goals that ripped the life out of Sporting and had the match sewn up after only ten minutes. Juan Mata and Pablo Hernandez put in classy performances and Roberto Soldado always looks like he has a goal or two in him. Sporting manager Manuel Preciado believes Valencia are serious candidates for La Liga but I have to disagree with him. Yes they've had a storming start to the season, but I look at the teamsheet and while it is full of quality, I can't see them seriously challenging Barca and Real Madrid over the course of a whole season. As always when it comes to the debate of the 'big two' in Spain, I hope they prove me wrong. In the meantime they have an impenetrable defence and an exciting attacking style that is bringing goals and points. Their biggest test so far awaits midweek. A visit from Manchester United.

Atletico Madrid 1 - 0 Real Zaragoza
(1-0) 20' Diego Costa

Deportivo La Coruña 0 - 2 Almeria
(0-1) 4' Uche, (0-2) 18' Uche

Hercules 2 - 0 Sevilla
(1-0) 21' Trezeguet (p), (2-0) 38' Trezeguet

Espanyol 1 - 0 Osasuna
(1-0) 24' Alvaro Vazquez

Mallorca 2 - 0 Real Sociedad
(1-0) 5' Cavenaghi, (2-0) 61' Cavenaghi

Racing Santander 0 - 1 Getafe
(0-1) 16' Victor Sanchez

Malaga 2 - 3 Villarreal
(1-0) 4' Eliseu, (1-1) 21' Cazorla, (1-2) 23' Rossi, (2-2) 29' Rondon, (2-3) 33' Cazorla