Real Madrid have suffered their first Liga defeat of the season after slipping to a surprise 1-0 defeat at Levante after losing Sami Khedira to a 40th-minute red card.
Germany midfielder Khedira received his marching orders upon collecting a second yellow close to half-time, but his team-mates still managed to see more of the ball, only to be caught on the counterattack when Arouna Koné blasted high into the net after being set up by Javi Venta on 68 minutes.
Try as they might, José Mourinho’s troops could find no way back and now trail leaders Valencia and Real Betis Balompié – who won 3-2 at Athletic Bilbao – by three points after three games. More importantly, they trail title rivals Barcelona by a point.
Their city neighbours Atlético Madrid enjoyed a much better evening, as they beat dispatched Racing Santander 4-0 thanks to a hat-trick from summer signing Falcao. It proved a good day for Luis García too as he struck twice, including an added-time winner, to spearhead a 2-1 success for previously winless Real Zaragoza at home against Espanyol, while Miguel Pérez Cuesta’s fourth-minute effort was enough to give Rayo Vallecano victory at Getafe.