Clasico glory for Real

[sake]

A review of the weekend's action in the Spanish Primera Division.

Real Madrid overcame Neymar's early goal to see off arch rivals Barcelona 3-1 at the Bernabeu as Luis Suarez suffered defeat on his long-awaited debut for the Catalan giants.

Neymar put the visitors ahead in El Clasico after just four minutes but Madrid were level by half-time thanks to Cristiano Ronaldo's 35th-minute penalty.

That was Ronaldo's 19th goal of the season in all competitions and 15th consecutive league goal at the Bernabeu. It was also the first Primera Division goal Barca had let in under new coach Luis Enrique, having gone 776 minutes without conceding.

Barca's defence would be breached twice more in the second half as in-form Madrid extended their winning streak to nine matches in league and Europe. Pepe headed them in front in the 51st minute before Karim Benzema slotted home a third 10 minutes later.

The visitors' £64million summer signing Suarez, who had started the match after serving a four-month suspension for biting Italy Giorgio Chiellini during the World Cup, was unable to spark a comeback and the Uruguay international was replaced in the 69th minute.

Lionel Messi was also thwarted as he sought to become the leading scorer in Primera Division history.

Barca remain at the top of the table despite suffering their first defeat of the season, but Madrid are now just a point behind.

Valencia are two points adrift of the pacesetters after bouncing back from their opening loss of the campaign to Deportivo La Coruna last weekend with a 3-1 victory over Elche.

First-half goals from Shkodran Mustafi and Dani Parejo set Los Che on their way and a David Lomban own goal just after the hour put Valencia further clear before Elche netted a late consolation through Jonathas.

Earlier on Saturday, Athletic Bilbao won for the first time in La Liga since August as Xabier Etxeita's goal ensured a 1-0 victory in a low-quality clash at Almeria.

Etxeita drove home low 12 minutes into the second half to end a nine-match winless run in all competitions for the Basque side.

Celta Vigo added to struggling Levante's woes with a 3-0 victory at Balaidos.

Joaquin Larrivey opened the scoring in the 27th minute and the Argentinian made it 2-0 with seven minutes to go, taking his league tally for the season to six.

Substitute Alex Lopez then wrapped up Celta's biggest league win since April with a late third following a glaring mistake by visiting goalkeeper Diego Marino, leaving Levante - who this week sacked Jose Luis Mendilibar and replaced him with Lucas Alcaraz - stuck in the bottom two on five points.

Celta had seen their unbeaten start to the campaign ended by a 3-1 defeat to Villarreal in their last home game but the Galician side rarely looked in danger of suffering another setback against lowly Levante.