Barcelona reaffirmed its favorite status with an 8-0 drubbing of Osasuna on Saturday, but thoughts of a straightforward league duel between the three-time defending champion and Real Madrid were put in check after Madrid lost 1-0 at Levante.

Valencia and Real Betis have won all three games to lead by two points over Barcelona and Sevilla, while Madrid and Malaga trail the co-leaders by three points.

Barcelona remains without Andres Iniesta and Alexis Sanchez for its toughest test of the season so far.

Madrid, meanwhile, looks to recover at winless Racing Santander.