Barca go two points clear of champions Valencia whose grip on top of the Spanish league weakened Saturday after they were held to a lacklustre 1-1 draw at Real Betis.

Spanish giant's Real Madrid's nightmare start to the season continued as the star-studded outfit suffered their third loss in six games when they fell 1-0 to struggling Deportivo La Coruna at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium.

Deportivo's Spanish international striker Albert Luque struck at the stroke of half time when he chipped over Iker Casillas in goal for just the second win of the season for the Gallician side.

Real's new Liverpool signing Michael Owen failed to impress as he filled in for injured Ronaldo, missing his chance of his first goal after 37 minutes when Figo came down the right and crossed for Raul only for Owen to chest and volley wide.

Owen, frustrated at being left on the bench so often since joining 29-time Spanish champions Real Madrid for 12 million euros in the summer, was substituted after 52 minutes by Fernando Morientes.

It was a woeful performance by Real with England captain David Beckham the best performer on the night.

The hosts rarely worried Deportivo keeper Jose Molina whose only real save came four minutes into extra time after French playmaker Zinedine Zidane blasted towards Roberto Carlos whose shot was saved.

Deportivo, who achieved just their second ever win at the Bernabeu, moved up to 11th position just behind Real Madrid.

Barcelona, meanwhile, were pushed all the way by lowly Numan-cia, who provided a solid defence, before Swede Larsson pushed through with a header off a corner into the bottom left hand corner of the net after 70 minutes of play.

But the hosts suffered after new recruit Edmilson, who came on as a substitute for African Player of the Year Samuel Eto'o after 61 minutes, was stretchered off the pitch just three minutes later.

The hosts missed a string of chances to increase their advantage late in the game with an effort from Brazilian defender Iuliano Belletti after 76 minutes going over the crossbar.

Two minutes into extra time Numancia had a chance to take a point but missed a corner, as Deco hit just wide before the whistle in what was the hosts last chance of a second goal.

Valencia, hit after inspirational left winger Vicente Rodriguez was ruled out for two weeks with a sprained left ankle, failed to fire.

After taking the lead after 10 minutes when Italian marksman Marco Di Vaio scored his fifth goal of the season Valencia failed to find any inspiration, with Brazilian Edu grabbing the equaliser after 30 minutes following a pass from Valencia reject Ricardo Oliveira.

Elsewhere third-placed Sevilla were held 0-0 at second from bottom Racing Santander, as goals in either half gave Malaga a 2-0 home win against Osasuna.

Tailenders Real Mallorca suffered their fourth loss in six ties when they fell 2-0 at Levante.

Atletico Madrid, missing a host of first team players, fell 1-0 at Real Sociedad on Saturday.

The San Sebastian outfit jumped out of the relegation zone to 15th position thanks to a header from Serbian Darko Kovacevic off a shot from Russian Valery Karpin five minutes before the break.

Atletico were unfortunate to have three efforts at goal hit the posts as they dropped two spots to sixth position with their second loss of the season.