First slip-ups for Barcelona,Atletico Madrid

Real Sociedad broke an eight-game winless streak in all competitions with a morale-boosting 2-1 victory at Valencia before it travels to Manchester United on Wednesday in Europes top-tier competition. Antoine Griezmann opened and Ruben Pardo added a long strike for Sociedad before Valencias Dorlan Pabon grabbed a consolation goal.

Saturday saw the return of Lionel Messi for Barcelona and Gareth Bale for Madrid from nagging muscle injuries. While Messi couldnt muster a shot after going on in the 68th minute against the well-organized Osasuna,Bale earned a questionable penalty that Cristiano Ronaldo converted in injury time to seal Madrids victory over Malaga.

Barcelona was bolstered by the return of veteran defender Carles Puyol,who played all 90 minutes of his first game in seven months after recuperating from knee surgery.

Each day I feel better, said Puyol. These last months have been hard. But thats over. Now the good part comes.

Faced with Neymars diabolical dribbling,Osasuna renounced the ball,packed its midfield,and hung on to a point its fans celebrated wildly and coach Javi Gracia said tastes like a win.

Normally we win a game like this, said Barcelona coach Gerard Martino. I am fine with our performance. Osasuna can hurt you on its pitch,and we didnt suffer in defense. We didnt take away the three points because we wasted our opportunities. In the first half we couldnt make that last pass. We either came up centimeters short or made the wrong decision. own goal

Atletico had gone unbeaten through 12 matches in Spain and abroad this season. And its first defeat only came through an own goal after its rising talent Jorge Koke Resurreccion volleyed Diego Costas pass off the woodwork in an otherwise defense-dominated first half at Cornella-El Prat Stadium.

But Espanyol broke through in the 54th when Atletico goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois redirected Juan Fuentes cross into his own net in a failed attempt to block its trajectory with his outstretched boot.

Earlier in Madrid,Angel Di Maria scored seconds after halftime with a cross intended for Ronaldo that caught Malaga goalkeeper Willy Caballero out of position. Madrid improved as the match went on and only Caballero stopped the hosts from recording a bigger win. Caballero made an excellent reflex save with his left foot to deny Ronaldo from close range in the 82nd and two minutes later used his right hand to parry substitute Jese Rodriguezs low shot past his upright.

Di Maria said he wanted to see Caballero join him on Argentinas national team as it prepares for the 2014 World Cup. I believe Caballero deserves to go, Di Maria said.

But Caballero couldnt reach Ronaldos well-placed spot kick after Bale,who had gone on for the final 15 minutes,went flying to the turf following what appeared to be light contact with Malaga defender Weligton.

Ronaldos eighth goal of the season took him level with Messi. Both trail Atleticos Diego Costa with 10.

We defended well,were more aggressive and played with our lines closer together, he said. I hope to see this same intensity in the games to come, said Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti.

Ancelotti said Karim Benzema would be back in his squad against Juventus after he missed Saturdays game due to a leg knock he had picked up in training.