Real Sociedad take a point to go top in Spain

Real Sociedad will enjoy at least a week atop the Spanish top flight after a 2-2 draw at fellow Basques Alaves on Sunday proved enough for them to nudge a hapless Celta Vigo down into second place.

Before the weekend, Celta had been ahead of Real Sociedad on goal difference, but the Galicians lost their unbeaten record when they went down 1-0 to visitors Rayo Vallecano.

Alaves started the game determined to not make life easy for Real and Martin Astudillo put the home side ahead after just five minutes, latching onto a cross from Magno Mocelin.

Real got back on level terms when Turkish midfielder Nihat Kahveci got his fifth goal of the season after 34 minutes and the advantage tilted in their direction shortly afterwards when Alaves' Pablo Gomez was sent off.

Sociedad then took the lead midway through the second half when Valery Karpin scored with his favourite left foot from a Darko Kovacevic pass.

Alaves squandered their first big chance to draw level when Carlos Llorens sent a penalty wide, after Real defender Gabi Schurrer had brought down Ivan Alonso, but got their share of the points when Ruben Navarro scored four minutes before the whistle with a thunderbolt right-foot free kick.

It was Alaves' first point at home this seasdon and will ease some of the pressure on their coach Mane Esnal.

By contrast, life is very comfortbale for Real Sociedad's French coach Raynald Denouiex, who has revived Real's fortunes after three seasons spent under the shadow of relegation.

Real Sociedad lead the Spanish first division with 14 points from six games, with Celta Vigo now a point adrift in second place.

Celta can put their defeat down to the inability of their Brazilian striker Vagner, his partner in crime Jesuli Mora, and earlier in the game Benni McCarthy, to put away the myriad of chances that came their way.

Rayo's Bolo Perez found the net after six minutes, heading home a Sergio Mora cross, and Madrid's third club hung on despite the onslaught, which continued even after Celta were reduced to ten men.

The Galician hosts had to play most of the second half one player short after McCarthy was sent off just five minutes after the break for an outrageous tackle on Rayo midfielder Jorge Azkoitia.

Real Betis went the way of Celta and lost their unbeaten record after going down 1-0 to Real Mallorca.

Alvaro Novo's long-range strike after 32 minutes was enough to secure three points for the visitors.

Malaga sneaked up to third after their 1-1 draw at Athletic Bilbao and now have 12 points after six games.

The Costa Del Sol side can thank their veteran 32 year-old defender Miguel Angle Roteta - one of only three members of the current squad who was with the club when they were in the third division five seasons ago - for saving their unbeaten record.

In addition to his work at the back, Roteta headed home his first league goal in nearly two years, connecting with a Gerardo Garcia free kick five minutes from time.

Athletic had taken the lead after just six minutes through Santi Ezquerro.

Espanyol levered themselves off the foot of the table thanks to a brace of goals from Roger Garcia.

The Barcelona-based side had not won in the league this season prior to defeating their fellow strugglers, and had only scored a single goal, but they got into their stride in the second half and Roger found the net after 61 and 72 minutes.

Espanyol's reserve team coach Ramon Moya was at the helm after Juande Ramos had been suspended from his duties earlier on Sunday.

Victory was only enough to lift Espanyol one place, and send Recreativo to the bottom, as Osasuna also got their first win of the season.

The Pamplona club beat Sevilla 2-1 with both their goals coming from the Australian striker John Aloisi.