Real Madrid eased the pressure on manager Zinedine Zidane by moving level on points with Athletic Bilbao at the top of LaLiga following a 1-0 win at in-form Sevilla.
A day after Barcelona's shock second defeat of the season, Karim Benzema's second-half header settled a tight encounter at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan as Real bounced back from Wednesday's heavy Champions League loss to Paris St Germain.
The result, which puts Real on 11 points alongside table-topping Bilbao, inflicted a first loss on Sevilla head coach Julen Lopetegui, who was sacked by Real 11 months ago.
Pressure had increased on Frenchman Zidane ahead of the trip to Andalusia after last season's struggles and a low-key start this term were followed by a miserable 3-0 defeat in the French capital.
Substitute Javier Hernandez thought he had salvaged a late draw for the hosts but his deft finish was correctly ruled out for offside as Real comfortably held on.
Bilbao had moved top earlier on Sunday after extending their unbeaten start to five games by beating Basque rivals Alaves 2-0.
Raul Garcia's penalty gave Athletic a half-time lead at San Mames before Iker Muniain sealed the points 18 minutes from time to extend the visitors' winless run to four games.
Real Sociedad, like Sevilla, are a point off the top spot after Willian Jose scored twice in their 3-1 victory at Espanyol.
Brazilian forward Jose gave Socieded a two-goal half-time lead and, after a Joseba Zaldua own goal halved the home side's deficit, Alexander Isak sealed the three points 15 minutes from time.
Bottom club Leganes picked up their first point of the campaign by battling back to hold Valencia to a 1-1 draw.
Valencia, who won at Chelsea in the Champions League in midweek, went ahead through Daniel Parejo's 21st-minute penalty, but Oscar levelled the contest 10 minutes before the break to deny Albert Celades a first league win as Valencia coach.
Elsewhere, Getafe were 4-2 victors against Real Mallorca thanks to an own goal from Iddrisu Baba, Jorge Molina's penalty and strikes from Allan Nyom and Angel.
Ante Budimir's quickfire double briefly gave newly-promoted Mallorca hope by reducing the scoreline to 3-2 but the visitors' winless run extended to four games.
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