MADRID: Barcelona went on top Sunday after laboring to a 1-0 victory at bottom club Sporting Gijon for their first away win in La Liga this term. Xavi hammered a long-range shot against the post after 12 minutes and Adriano Correia put away the rebound, but Barca were far from their best and a third successive away draw was always a possibility as a combative Sporting made life uncomfortable.

The champions moved on to 14 points from six games and were ahead of second-placed Levante on goal difference, after one of the season’s surprise early form teams beat another, Real Betis, 1-0 away.

Juanlu’s volley went in off the legs of Betis goalkeeper Casto Espinosa in the 33rd minute and from there on their rugged defense held firm to maintain an unbeaten start to their campaign.

The Valencia-based club, who claimed the scalp of Real Madrid just two weeks ago, were a point ahead of Malaga and Valencia, who both won on Saturday.

Sevilla went to fifth with 12 points, ahead of their rivals Betis on goal difference, after a 0-0 draw at Atletico Madrid thanks to goalkeepers Javi Varas and Thibaut Courtois.

Unfashionable Levante racked-up a fourth successive victory Sunday as a Juanlu Gomez goal gave them a 1-0 win over Real Betis.

Promoted Betis won their first four games on the trot, but succumbed to their second straight defeat Sunday against a Levante side who had the better openings.

Also Sunday, forward Fernando Llorente scored a in each half to give Athletic Bilbao a 2-1 win at Real Sociedad for its first league victory of the season at the sixth attempt.

Sociedad’s Inigo Martinez scored the equalizer with a long-range effort from the halfway line, but Llorente gave Athletic coach Marcelo Bielsa his first league win since joining the club in the offseason with his second in the 70th.

Malaga, bankrolled by a Qatari billionaire, were the Saturday leaders after a superb overhead kick in injury time from Julio Baptista completed a spectacular turnaround as they beat Getafe 3-2.

The Andalusian side, who invested heavily in the summer, moved up to 13 points and clear on goal difference of Valencia who beat Granada 1-0.

Pedro Leon put the visitors ahead with an excellent volley from distance and while Ruud van Nistelrooy headed Malaga level, Nicolas Miku controversially restored Getafe’s advantage with a header which also came off his hand.

Malaga appeared to be heading for defeat before Enzo Maresca slotted home and then two minutes into injury time Baptista acrobatically gave them the three points.

An early strike from Sergio Canales saw Valencia beat Granada Saturday and claim their first win in three matches while substitute Hernan Perez snatched a late equalizer for Villarreal whose season’s poor start continued with a 2-2 draw at home to Zaragoza.

Other Saturday matches saw Mallorca, with caretaker coach Miguel Angel Nadal in charge, draw 2-2 away to Osasuna and Racing Santander draw 1-1 with Rayo Vallecano.