Nine-man Real Madrid sent reeling by new defeat
Nine-man Real Madrid slumped to a 1-0 defeat at Espanyol to leave the misfiring multi-millionaires hovering just one point above the Spanish League relegation zone.
It was Real's third defeat in eight days and left them with just one league win so far this season.
They also had two players - Sergio Ramos and Julio Baptista - sent-off to complete a miserable week which started with a 3-2 home defeat by Celta Vigo and continued with a 3-0 mauling by Lyon in the Champions League.
Real were joined in the dunces' corner by reigning champions Barcelona who blew their chance of reclaiming the top spot when they went down 2-1 at Atletico Madrid.
After Real's first half chances were thwarted by Espanyol's outstanding goalkeeper Carlos Kameni, Espanyol turned the tables in the second period with Daniel Jarque heading the only goal from an Ivan De La Pena's free kick.
"There were opportunities but they defended well and their goalkeeper pulled off a series of great saves," said Real coach Wanderley Luxemburgo.
Real players protested that the goal should not have been allowed to stand as the referee had blown for a penalty while the ball was in the air.
Real's Sergio Ramos had fouled Alberto Lopo and the Real players responded to the whistle of referee Julian Rodriguez Santiago, who decided to play the advantage.
Ramos, who signed from Sevilla three weeks ago for 27 million euros, then caused further problems for the Spanish giants when he got his second yellow card for a tackle on De La Pena three minutes from time.
Julio Baptista then followed Ramos off three minutes into injury time after a wild sliding tackle on Espanyol's Joanthan Soriano, which left the 19 year-old writhing in agony and having to be stretchered off.
"It seems to becoming normal that we beat Real," joked a delighted Espanyol coach Miguel Angle Lotina, recalling that they won by the same scoreline last season.
The surprise leaders are unheralded Madrid side Getafe, the Spanish capital's industrial southern suburbs, after their impressive 4-3 victory at Alaves on Sunday.
"When we have the ball at our feet, this team has a lot of confidence and I think we showed that here. Whenever Alaves got in front we came straight back at them," said Getafe coach Bernd Schuster.
"Our personality came through in this game. I always believe that you should play your own game, and that's what we did after the early surprises by Alaves."
Alaves went ahead after just five minutes thanks to a penalty from their Brazilian playmaker Nene.
Getafe, who spent all of last season - their debut in the Spanish first division, in the lower half of the table - didn't let Alaves enjoy their lead for very long and equalised two minutes later through Jaime Gavilan.
Nene quickly found the net again before Riki Sanchez restored parity once more midway through the first half.
Riki then got his second after 38 minutes, his left foot shot going through the fingers of Alaves goalkeeper Roberto Bonano, to give Getafe a 3-2 lead at the break.
Mariano Pernia added Getafe's fourth, direct from a free kick on the edge of the area five minutes after the break before Nene then completed his hat trick with his second penalty on 65 minutes.
Getafe were helped to the top by Celta Vigo, who had won their first two games but surprisingly went down 1-0 at home to Racing Santander on Sunday, with the only goal of the game coming on the hour from Francisco Casquero.
Champions Barcelona slumped to a 2-1 defeat at Atletico Madrid.
The Catalan club got off to a good start when Samuel Eto'o got his third goal of the season from close range, finishing off a pass from Ludovic Giuly, just five minutes into the game.
However, Spanish international Fernando Torres put behind him his recent barren spell and equalised for Atletico after 17 minutes, their first goal of the season.
Mateja Kezman got Atletico's winner from a corner barely a minutes after the break although the hosts could have got a third as Maxi Rodriguez hit the post just after the hour.