Barcelona: Carlos Vela scored a 75th-minute equaliser on Saturday to give Real Sociedad a 1-1 draw at Elche in Spain, keeping the Basque side undefeated before it completes a critical playoff to reach the Champions League group stage.
Also, Espanyol fought back to beat Valencia 3-1 for their first victory of the Spanish league season, while Villarreal scored their second late winner in as many weeks to rally 2-1 over Valladolid.
Early at Martinez Valero Stadium, Sociedad appeared to be looking ahead to Wednesday when they host Lyon with a 2-0 advantage heading into their second leg with Europe's top tier club competition at stake.
Elche struck two minutes in when Ferran "Coro" Corominas tapped in a corner kick earned from the hosts' pressure that continued to cause Sociedad problems through the first half. Elche went close to scoring again through headers by Alberto Botia and Manuel del Moral on either side of half-time and were on course for their first win in the topflight for 25 years after being promoted last spring.
But Sociedad slowly pushed Elche onto back foot, and Vela was left unmarked to volley in Xabi Prieto's cross for his second goal in as many league games. The Mexico forward nearly took the full three points for Sociedad with a curling strike from outside the area that clipped the bar two minutes from time.
"Given how the game went, a point isn't too bad, even though at the end we had a chance to win," said Vela. "The first half was theirs, but in the second we knew how to rectify the situation. The point is good and now we have to keep working to finish off the job of going to the Champions League."
Espanyol created three clear scoring opportunities before Valencia's Helder Postiga snatched the 10th-minute opener at Cornella-El Prat Stadium. The goal, however, didn't change the flow of the match, and Espanyol defender David Lopez headed in Simao Sabrosa's corner kick in the 31st.
Christian Stuani headed Espanyol in front two minutes after the break, jumping and redirecting a free kick by Juan Fuentes off the post and into the net. Forward Thievy Bifouma sealed the result in the 89th with his second goal in two games coming from Espanyol's bench after an excellent dribble and assist by Manuel Lanzarote.
When Valencia coach Miroslav Djukic was hired this summer, he said he had returned to his former club to "awaken a sleeping giant." After their poor performance on Saturday, the former Serb defender wasn't so optimistic.
"I'm ashamed," said Djukic. "We talk a lot and think we are stars but maybe we aren't. We have to come down from the clouds because perhaps we aren't so good. We looked ridiculous. We can't achieve anything with this attitude."
Villarreal also had to come from behind to edge the visiting Valladolid after Javi Guerra finished off a team build-up of five passes in the fourth minute. Giovani Dos Santos made it 1-1 in the 38th by slicing a penalty kick off the post after Valladolid's Gilberto "Alcatraz" Garcia fouled Jauma Costa in the area.
Dos Santos had given Villarreal their first win last week with a goal in the 86th. This time it fell to Ruben "Cani" Gracia to charge forward on the break and blast the ball into the top corner in the 83rd to keep Villarreal perfect in their return to the first division.
On Friday, Athletic Bilbao beat Osasuna 2-0 while Getafe drew 2-2 at home with Almeria.
Barcelona visit Malaga on Sunday with Lionel Messi unavailable after injuring his leg midweek in a 1-1 draw at Atletico Madrid in the first leg of the Spanish Super Cup. Also, Atletico face Rayo Vallecano, Sevilla travel to Levante, and Real Betis play Celta.
Real Madrid visit Granada on Monday.
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