Osasuna bring Levante back down to earth

The Valencia-based club, whose annual budget of around 20 million euros is less than a 20th of new leaders Real Madrid, fell behind to an Alvaro Cejudo strike in the 39th minute and Nino netted a second for Pamplona-based Osasuna three minutes later.

Cejudo, who had already been booked for taking his shirt off in his goal celebration, was shown a second yellow card in the 59th minute but Levante were unable to exploit their numerical advantage and their astounding seven-match winning streak came to an end.

“It’s true that we have been on a very good run but we knew this was going to be a tough match,” Levante coach Juan Ignacio Martinez, who is in his debut top-flight campaign, said at a news conference.

“When you have won so many games the next defeat is always closer,” he added.

La Liga had a more familiar look to it after Levante were toppled from the summit, withReal Madridleading on 25 points from 10 matches thanks to Saturday’s 1-0 win atReal Sociedad.

In Sunday’s late kick-off, big-spendingMalagaclimbed aboveEspanyolinto sixth when they beat the Catalan capital’s second club 2-1 at the Rosaleda.

Athletic Bilbaowere held to a 1-1 draw atSporting Gijon, Croatian substitute Mate Bilic grabbing an equaliser for the hosts after Markel Susaeta’s 63rd-minute effort.