MADRID - Real Madrid remain level on points at the top of the Liga Santander following a 3-1 win at home to Real Sociedad on Saturday night.

Although the visitors took the lead as early as the second minute thanks to a Willian Jose goal, Karim Benzema equalized from a header following a Luka Modric free kick in the 37th minute.

Fede Valverde put Madrid ahead early in the second half with a stroke of luck as his shot took a big deflection off Mikel Oyarzabal to leave keeper Alex Remiro stranded.

Gareth Bale made his return to action for Real Madrid in the 67th minute and was booed every time he touched the ball by the home fans, but the Welshman again showed his importance to the club with a 74th minute cross which led to Luka Modric scoring Madrid's third goal of the game.

It could have been 4-1 if Isco had got onto the end of another excellent cross from Bale in the closing minutes, but the win means Madrid have maintained the improved form they showed before the international break.

FC Barcelona once again made hard work of taking all three points away from their Camp Nou Stadium as they had to fight back from a goal down to beat Leganes 2-1 in the Butarque Stadium.

Barca coach Ernesto Valverde played an attacking side with Leo Messi, Luis Suarez, Antoine Griezmann and Ousmane Dembele in his starting 11, but Leganes opened the scoring with a well-taken goal from Youssif En-Neysiri after just 12 minutes.

It wasn't until eight minutes into the second half that Suarez leveled the scores with a glancing header following a Messi free kick and Arturo Vidal sealed the win with a close range finish 12 minutes from the end, before admitting after the game that Barca need to improve.

Atletico Madrid were held to a 1-1 draw away to Granada, who ended a run of three consecutive defeats thanks to a powerful header from German Sanchez from a 68th minute corner just eight minutes after Renan Lodi had put the visitors ahead with a left foot shot.

Sergio Canales scored a 93rd minute free kick to give Betis a 2-1 win at home to Valencia and possibly save coach Joan Ferrer 'Rubi's job.

Maxi Gomez netted Valencia's opener after 32 minutes, but veteran winger Joaquin Sanchez levelled the scores five minutes later from the center of the area before Canales winning goal from a narrow angle.

The round of matches kicked off on Friday night as Levante made it 3 wins from 4 games with a 2-1 win at home to Mallorca.