MADRID, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- Real Madrid returned to the top of La Liga on Sunday with a 4-1 win at home to Las Palmas after Atletico Madrid and FC Barcelona both dropped points.

Real Madrid got off to a dreadful start on Sunday afternoon when Las Palmas took the lead after just 30 seconds when Fabio Silva scored from close range.

Sandro Ramirez gifted Madrid a penalty in the 18th minute when he hauled back Antonio Rudiger at a corner and Kylian Mbappe made no mistake from the spot.

Brahim Diaz made it 2-1 from a pass from Lucas Vazquez's pass after 33 minutes and Mbappe added a third for Real Madrid soon afterward.

Rodrygo scored a fourth for Real Madrid after a pass from Fran Garcia in the 57th minute and the game was virtually over for Las Palmas moments later when Benito Ramirez was sent off for a high challenge on Vazquez.

Another piece of good news was the return of David Alaba as a late substitute over a year after suffering a serious knee injury.

On Saturday, Atletico Madrid was stunned by Leganes, who ended its 15-game winning run thanks to Matija Nastasic's powerful header early in the second half.

Leganes goalkeeper, Marko Dmitrovic made some fine saves, including one from Angel Correa in injury time, but Antoine Griezmann wasted Atletico's best chance of the game in the 89th minute when he sent the ball wide from the penalty spot after Sergio Gonzalez had been penalized for handball.

Barcelona was unable to improve on its poor record in Getafe, where it hasn't won since 2019.

Jules Kounde put Barca ahead from close range after nine minutes, but Mauro Arambarri scrambled an equalizer 11 minutes from halftime and although Barca had chances to win, it struggled to find space against their well-organized rivals.

On Sunday, Athletic Club Bilbao strengthened its position in fourth place and moved level on points with Barcelona thanks to a 2-1 win away to Celta Vigo.

Athletic was the better side in the first half, but didn't open the scoring until the 62nd minute when Alex Berenguer poked home Inaki Williams' cross.

Dani Vivian volleyed in Athletic's second nine minutes later and the visitors looked in control until Adama Boiro's untimely slip let in Hugo Alvarez in the 74th minute.

Celta looked for an equalizer, but Athletic's defense didn't allow any more chances in the game.

Rayo Vallecano extended its unbeaten run to six games in LaLiga with a 1-1 draw away to Osasuna, who has not won in eight, despite qualifying for the quarter-finals of the Copa del Rey on Thursday.

Sergio Camello put Rayo ahead when he clipped the ball over Osasuna goalkeeper, Sergio Herrera after 19 minutes, but Raul Garcia equalized for the home side with a powerful header just ahead of the hour.

Valencia moved off the bottom of the table and above Valladolid with a 1-0 win at home to Real Sociedad thanks to Hugo Duro's 26th-minute goal. Duro was left with a simple finish after a rebound fell kindly to give him a simple finish.

Real Sociedad rested players after its Copa del Rey win on Thursday and paid the price against a rival that looks to be recovering confidence under new coach Carlos Corberan.

Saul Niguez and Dodi Lukebakio scored as Sevilla fought back from a goal down to win 2-1 away to Girona, who had taken the lead thanks to Arnau Martinez's 36th-minute header.

Alaves striker Kike Garcia scored a hat-trick as his side claimed an important 3-1 win away to Betis, with his second and third goals coming after Betis defender Romain Perraud was sent off for using an arm on Carlos Vicente.

On Friday night, Espanyol won a vital relegation battle 2-1 with goals from Javi Puado and new signing Roberto Fernandez.

Javi Sanchez scored for Valladolid who lost striker Raul Moro with a broken collar bone after a bad fall. Enditem

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