FC Barcelona's Ivan Rakitic, right, heads the ball to goal beside Athletic Bilbao's Mikel Balenziaga, during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between FC Barcelona and Athletic Bilbao, at San Mames stadium, in Bilbao, northern Spain, Sunday, Aug. 28, 2016. (AP Photo/Alvaro Barrientos)
FC Barcelona's Ivan Rakitic, right, heads the ball to goal beside Athletic Bilbao's Mikel Balenziaga, during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between FC Barcelona and Athletic Bilbao, at San Mames stadium, in Bilbao, northern Spain, Sunday, Aug. 28, 2016. (AP Photo/Alvaro Barrientos)
Alvaro Barrientos/AP

Story highlights

Three teams clear after two games

Las Palmas top on goal difference

CNN  — 

Barcelona joined old rival Real Madrid at the top of La Liga and opened up a two-point lead on most of the rest after just two games.

Defending champion Barcelona beat Athletic Bilbao 1-0 at San Mames Sunday after Ivan Rakitic headed in from the six yard box, running on to a perfectly-flighted cross by Arda Turan midway through the first half.

Real Madrid secured its place at the top of the pile by beating Celta Vigo 2-1 at the Bernabeu Saturday with goals from Alvaro Morata and Tony Kroos.

Read more: Guardiola’s Man City goes top in EPL

Earlier on Sunday though, Las Palmas knocked in five goals against Granada to edge ahead of both Real Madrid and Barcelona on goal difference.

Zinedine Zidane’s Real has made an impressive start to the season and has now won its last 14 league games, and, according to the official website has gone unbeaten in its opening home match for 11 consecutive seasons.

Real Madrid's Gareth Bale heads past Pablo Hernandez of Celta Vigo.
Real Madrid's Gareth Bale heads past Pablo Hernandez of Celta Vigo.
Denis Doyle/Getty Images Europe/Getty Images

With Deportivo La Coruna only managing a 0-0 draw at Real Betis Friday and Leganes also playing out a goalless draw at home to Diego Simeone’s Atletico Madrid, it gave Barcelona an opportunity to join the breakaway group.

Barca coach Luis Enrique was relieved to come away with victory – the 100th of his reign.

“We were finding it difficult to get the ball into the opposition’s half, but we were more in control of things in the second half, although it was them who created most pressure towards the end,” he told Barca’s website.

“It’s an invigorating result. It’s very hard to play at San Mames, so we’re really pleased with the outcome.”

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Sevilla joined Deportivo, Sporting Gijon and Leganes on four points after a 0-0 draw at Villarreal in Sunday’s late game.