Atletico squeeze past Rayo in seven-goal thriller
Atletico Madrid beat Rayo Vallecano 4-3, after going four goals ahead in the Madrid derby on Sunday, to continue their unbeaten start in La Liga.
Mario Suarez, Koke, Arda Turan and Radamel Falcao got the goals for the European Super Cup winners in their first game since their 4-1 victory over Chelsea in Monaco.
Suarez got the only goal of an even first-half, turning home a Diego Costa pass on 29 minutes.
Four minutes after the restart, Koke anticipated another right wing pass from Costa to double the lead and a minute later Turkish international Turan was in the same spot to finish of an almost identical pass from Juanfran.
On 55 minutes Falcao converted a penalty to make it seven goals in four games for him in all competitions.
However, defensive frailties allowed Andrija Delibasic a quick double and Leo Carrilho to frighten the home side in the last eight minutes.
But it all came too late for Rayo who fought until the last kick against their larger city rivals.
The win puts Atletico on seven points after three games and into fifth position despite playing a game fewer than most of the other teams.
Earlier on Sunday, Real Sociedad beat a poor Zaragoza side 2-0 with goals from centre-half Inigo Martinez and Carlos Vela.
After a goalless first period, it was ex-Arsenal player Vela who brought the match to life.
The Mexican first placed a perfect corner on to the head of Martinez who powered home an unstoppable header, before winning a penalty that he then converted to end Zaragoza’s challenge.
In other games the only two sides pointless to date, Espanyol and Osasuna, picked up important draws.
Osasuna were the better team throughout their 1-1 home draw with Mallorca.
Kike Sola put the home side ahead on 69 minutes only for Israeli international Tomer Hemed to smash home his third goal in three games nine minutes later to leave his side undefeated with eight points from four games.
Espanyol hosted Athletic Bilbao in a remarkable 3-3 draw in the midday kick-off.
After sailing into a two-goal lead in the first period with goals from Javi Lopez and Joan Verdu it seemed that their first win was in sight.
However Bilbao, who have also suffered a turbulent start to the season, were able to play their strongest striking partnership for the first time in the second period.
Aritz Aduriz, in is third spell at the club, had already headed one back when Fernando Llorente came on for his first appearance of the season on 68 minutes.
Two minutes, and two touches later, and the want-away striker, who refused to sign a contract extension over the summer, had levelled the game.
Espanyol then thought they had snatched the win when Italian Samulele Longo finished a Wakaso Mubarak pass with 10 minutes remaining.
The youngster was then sent-off for a second yellow card after celebrating the goal with the home fans and five minutes from time, Aduriz smashed home his second for a share of the points.
Deportivo La Coruna also remain unbeaten after a 1-1 at Granada for whom another Italian striker Floro Flores hit a late equaliser after Portuguese international Nelson Oliveira had given the Galician side a first-half lead.
