MADRID — Barcelona missed the chance to equal the best ever start to a Spanish league season as it dropped its first points of the campaign in a 0-0 draw at Osasuna. With Lionel Messi starting on the bench, the visitors failed to make the most of their dominance in the first-half with Marc Bartra's wayward header their only serious effort on goal. Neymar and Cesc Fabregas then passed up great chances to put Barca in front at the beginning of the second period before Messi was finally introduced for the final quarter. However, even the Argentine couldn't open the door as Osasuna stood firm to prevent Barca scoring in the league for the first time since January 2012. “With the performance of the team and the chances we had, normally it would be enough for Barcelona to win but today it wasn't to be,” lamented Barca coach Gerardo Martino. A point was enough though to move Martino's men to the top of the table as Atletico Madrid also lost its 100 percent record with a 1-0 defeat at Espanyol. Thibaut Courtois' own goal 10 minutes after the break handed Javier Aguirre's side the three points against his old club to leave Atletico a point adrift of Barca in second place. Real Madrid cut the gap on the leaders to three points ahead of their clash at the Camp Nou next weekend with a routine 2-0 win over Malaga at the Santiago Bernabeu. Gareth Bale made his return to action for Los Blancos as a late substitute and won the penalty which Cristiano Ronaldo converted to seal the points after Angel di Maria had given Madrid the lead. It was a much improved all round performance from Madrid, who were only denied a far more comfortable margin of victory due to a series of wonderful saves by Malaga keeper Willy Caballero. Real Sociedad, which will chase a first victory in their third Champions League Group A outing at Manchester United Wednesday, won in La Liga for the first time since the opening day of the season as it beat Valencia 2-1. — Agencies
