La Liga wrap: Levante humble Real, Falcao fires Atletico

Real Madrid suffered a surprise 1-0 defeat away to Levante in La Liga on Sunday, as Real Betis and Atletico Madrid both won.

Levante lost 8-0 to Real in the Copa del Rey last season, but gained their revenge at Estadi Ciutat de Valencia, inflicting a first defeat of the campaign on Jose Mourinho’s side.

The visitors had the better of the opening exchanges, with Karim Benzema and Kaka both going close.

The match turned with the sending off of Germany midfielder Sami Khedira in the 39th minute.

Cristiano Ronaldo was introduced off the bench but it was Levante who began to dictate terms, as Vicente Iborra and Juanlu both tested Real goalkeeper Iker Casillas.

In the 68th minute the hosts forced a breakthrough, with Ivory Coast international Arouna Kone collecting Javi Venta’s cutback and firing into the roof of the net.

The 10 men of Real failed to find an equaliser in the time remaining, and the defeat leaves them fifth, three points behind leaders Valencia and one back from champions Barcelona.

In other matches, Colombia striker Radamel Falcao claimed a hat-trick as Atletico Madrid defeated Racing Santander 4-0 to record their first win of the season.

Falcao struck twice in the first half, with the second from the penalty spot, and once in the second period at Estadio Vicente Calderon, with Adrian netting the other.

Promoted Real Betis maintained their 100 percent start to the season and joined Valencia on nine points following an eventful 3-2 win away to Athletic Bilbao.

Visitors Betis led 3-1 by half-time through goals from Benat and Perez Nacho, together with Salvador Lopez Sevilla’s penalty at Estadio San Mames.

Oscar had pulled one back for the home side with seven minutes remaining in the half, and they received a boost when Betis defender Mario was shown a red card in the 75th minute.

Athletic got another goal back courtesy of David Lopez’s 85th-minute penalty.

But they were unable to find a third and also finished a man down when Fernando Amorebieta was dismissed five minutes into injury time.

Elsewhere, Real Zaragoza picked up their first win of the season with a 2-1 victory at home to Espanyol.

Zaragoza led from the 29th minute through a goal from Luis Garcia.

Javi Lopez equalised for the visitors with 20 minutes to go, before he was shown a red card in the 84th minute.

Luis Garcia’s penalty miss with three minutes remaining appeared to have cost the hosts a chance of victory, but he made amends by netting a 93rd-minute winner.

And Miguel Perez Cuesta’s third-minute goal was enough for promoted Rayo Vallecano to bag their first win of the season, a 1-0 triumph away to Getafe.