A win for either on Saturday would have seen them equal the best ever start to a season which was set by Real Madrid with nine straight wins. But as it is, that record remains untouched.
Atletico fell to a 0-1 defeat away to Espanyol in a tight and physical game which was decided by a strange own goal by Atletico goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, 10 minutes after the break. Courtois somehow managed to kick the ball into his own net after Sergio Garcia had failed to contact with a cross from the left.
A 0-0 draw in Pamplona saw Barcelona’s perfect record come to an end, a week ahead of playing Real Madrid in the ‘El Clasico’.
Barca struggled to break down a well organised Osasuna and Cesc Fabregas failed to take the chances which fell their way on a night where the only good news for the Catalans was Carlos Puyol’s return after seven months, because of a knee injury, and Lionel Messi on as a second half substitute after being sidelined for three weeks with a muscle problem.
The other consolation was that as a result of Atletico’s defeat, the point leaves Barca as leaders of Spain’s top flight league with a point lead over Atletico.
Meanwhile, Real Sociedad took a morale boosting win away to Valencia ahead of their Champions League trip to Manchester United.
Antoine Griezmann and Ruben Pardo, who scored a stunning shot, put the Basque side 2-0 ahead before Dorlan Pabon netted a 93rd minute strike to put some sheen on the scoreline for Valencia, whose recent run of form comes to an end. Barca and Real play season’s first El Classico next week.
Atletico fell to a 0-1 defeat away to Espanyol in a tight and physical game which was decided by a strange own goal by Atletico goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, 10 minutes after the break. Courtois somehow managed to kick the ball into his own net after Sergio Garcia had failed to contact with a cross from the left.
A 0-0 draw in Pamplona saw Barcelona’s perfect record come to an end, a week ahead of playing Real Madrid in the ‘El Clasico’.
Barca struggled to break down a well organised Osasuna and Cesc Fabregas failed to take the chances which fell their way on a night where the only good news for the Catalans was Carlos Puyol’s return after seven months, because of a knee injury, and Lionel Messi on as a second half substitute after being sidelined for three weeks with a muscle problem.
The other consolation was that as a result of Atletico’s defeat, the point leaves Barca as leaders of Spain’s top flight league with a point lead over Atletico.
Meanwhile, Real Sociedad took a morale boosting win away to Valencia ahead of their Champions League trip to Manchester United.
Antoine Griezmann and Ruben Pardo, who scored a stunning shot, put the Basque side 2-0 ahead before Dorlan Pabon netted a 93rd minute strike to put some sheen on the scoreline for Valencia, whose recent run of form comes to an end. Barca and Real play season’s first El Classico next week.