Barcelona: Mallorca's 2-0 win over Valencia to extend their excellent start and move up to second place in the Spanish league was overshadowed on Sunday by the postponement of Real Madrid's game at Rayo Vallecano due to a presumed act of sabotage that left Vallecas stadium insufficiently well lit.
The Spanish capital derby had been billed as a must-win match for Madrid, who are 11 points behind leader Barcelona. Instead, electricians tried and failed to repair the damage caused by what Rayo president Raul Martin Presa called "vandals" who had "cut the wiring" on some of the stadiums light towers.
"Unfortunately, because of an act of sabotage, we won't be able to stage the game. It is a disgrace," said Presa, adding that the match will be played on Monday if the wiring can be fixed in time.
Earlier on Sunday, Victor Casadesus scored one goal and set up another to ensure that undefeated Mallorca won its third straight match at Iberostar stadium, lifting it to within four points of Barcelona.
Victor put Joaquin Caparros' team ahead eight minutes in when his shot slipped under goalkeeper Diego Alves. The Spanish forward then headed on a long goal kick for Angel Arizmendi to double the hosts' advantage in the 55th, just seconds after coming on as a substitute.
Valencia, who lost their Champions League opener at Bayern Munich midweek, have just one win after five rounds.
"Maybe we can stir (the league) up because, I insist, this team is ambitious," said Caparros. "But we have to keep our feet firmly on the ground because football has many ups and downs and the best way forward is to focus on the short term, like the next game."
Also, Malaga drew 0-0 at Athletic Bilbao to stay unbeaten in third place and level with Mallorca on points. Atletico Madrid won their third straight by downing the visiting Valladolid 2-1, and Levante rallied to a 2-1 home win over Real Sociedad.
Defender Diego Godin showed the finishing touch of a striker to give Atletico the lead in the 31st with a cool chip shot, and Radamel Falcao tallied his eighth goal in all competitions for Atletico with a spot kick in the 45th. Atletico goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois let Alberto Bueno's shot slip through his hands to gift Valladolid a consolation goal in the 55th.
Atletico coach Diego Simeone applauded the "absolute precision" of Godin's goal, but the Argentine manager saved his highest praise for his goalkeeper.
"I congratulated him. After his mistake he knew how to react and made quality saves. I think he was the Man of the Match," Simeone said.
In Valencia, former Newcastle forward Obafemi Martins netted an 86th-minute winner in his debut for Levante to seal their comeback.
Sociedad went in front at Ciutat de Valencia stadium through David Zurutuza's long-range strike off the upright in the 23rd, only for Jose Barkero to level for Levante with a penalty with 20 minutes to play.
Martins, who had gone on after halftime, used his pace to chase down Sergio Ballestero's long pass, head it forward and fire past the goalkeeper to snatch the win in dramatic fashion before celebrating with a series of somersaults.
"Already in my first training session I saw that Levante isn't such a small club as some people think, and I am very happy to be here," the Nigeria international said.
On Saturday, it was: Barcelona 2, Granada 0; Zaragoza 3, Osasuna 1; Celta Vigo 2, Getafe 1; and Real Betis 1, Espanyol 0.
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