La Liga Table 2015: Sunday's Week 1 Results and Updated Standings
Real Madrid stumbled to a 0-0 draw at Sporting Gijon on Sunday as Rafa Benitez's reign opened under sorry circumstances, while defending champions Barcelona clinched a 1-0 win at Athletic Bilbao.
Luis Suarez volleyed home the only goal at San Mames to heave Barca to a closely fought victory, but there was to be no such saving grace for Real as Karim Benzema sat out with a thigh injury.
Later on Sunday, Levante's Ivan Lopez scored a late own-goal to give Celta Vigo an opening win to start the season, and Villarreal edged past Real Betis with a 1-0 victory at the Estadio Benito Villamarin.
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Read on for a breakdown of Sunday's La Liga results, current standings and the latest headlines arising from a day of action involving Spain's top two titans.
| Friday, August 21 | Malaga | 0-0 | Sevilla |
| Saturday, August 22 | Espanyol | 1-0 | Getafe |
| Saturday, August 22 | Deportivo La Coruna | 0-0 | Real Sociedad |
| Saturday, August 22 | Atletico Madrid | 1-0 | Las Palmas |
| Saturday, August 22 | Rayo Vallecano | 0-0 | Valencia |
| Sunday, August 23 | Athletic Bilbao | 0-1 | Barcelona |
| Sunday, August 23 | Sporting Gijon | 0-0 | Real Madrid |
| Sunday, August 23 | Levante | 1-2 | Celta Vigo |
| Sunday, August 23 | Real Betis | 0-1 | Villarreal |
| Monday, August 24 | Granada | vs. | Eibar |
| 1 | Celta Vigo | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | +1 | 3 |
| 2 | Atletico Madrid | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | +1 | 3 |
| 3 | Barcelona | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | +1 | 3 |
| 4 | Espanyol | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | +1 | 3 |
| 5 | Villarreal | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 6 | Real Betis | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 7 | Valencia | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 8 | Deportivo La Coruna | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 9 | Sevilla | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 10 | Real Sociedad | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 11 | Malaga | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 12 | Real Madrid | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 13 | Sporting Gijon | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 14 | Rayo Vallecano | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 15 | Levante | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -1 | 0 |
| 16 | Las Palmas | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 0 |
| 17 | Athletic Club | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 0 |
| 18 | Getafe | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 0 |
| 19 | Eibar | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 20 | Granada | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Rafa's Reign Under Fire?
The Bernabeu is an intense cauldron of pressure for any manager fortunate enough to land the Real Madrid hot seat, and a 0-0 stalemate at Sporting on Sunday will already lead to questions being asked of Benitez.
However, full credit must go to Sporting for their defiance against one of the world's greatest powers, and they earned the respect of La Liga writer Sergi Dominguez thanks to their unified front:
Irrespective of just how impressive Sunday's hosts might have been, it won't do a lot to salve the frustrations of many a Madridista, after Real finished with 27 shots compared to Sporting's six, per WhoScored.com.
Goal.com's Ben Hayward uses the example of Barca chief Luis Enrique to explain why Benitez deserves his chance, with Enrique having started slowly at the Camp Nou, only to go on to win a European and domestic treble:
Real Madrid play host to Real Betis on Saturday in their first home fixture of the new season, a matchup that now places an entirely new burden on Benitez's side to not only win, but to do so in style.
Karim Benzema was a very noticeable absentee on Sunday, and his return to the side may be considered vital if Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale are to do their bit in alleviating the pressure on Benitez's shoulders.
Slight But Sensible Start for Barca
It was hardly their most glamorous win of 2015, but Barcelona secured three points against Athletic Bilbao to open their 2015-16 campaign with a spring in their step.
Lionel Messi had the chance to put Barca ahead from the spot but missed the 14th penalty of his career, leading Match of the Day's Gary Lineker to jest about his unusual pacification:
Fortunately for Enrique, Suarez was on hand to bag the necessary winner after 54 minutes, but there was a negative spin to proceedings following injury scares for Dani Alves and Sergio Busquets.
Spanish newspaper Sport quoted Enrique in his post-match comments; the tactician is hopeful that neither blow will rule his stars out for any considerable length of time:
"They don't seem like they will be too serious. These are things [injuries] that happen in football. It is a really demanding sport on a physical level and after starting with so many tough games [this season], it's normal that [injuries] will happen."
Sergi Roberto came on as a replacement for Alves to impress at right-back, and despite the slim nature of the win, Barcelona can take their share of positives from what was always going to be a tough tie.
Athletic can also hold their heads high at having managed to limit Barca's assault, especially considering the Blaugrana accounted for more than 60 percent of possession on Sunday, according to WhoScored.
