Lionel Messi scored his 400th career goal and Neymar hit a hat trick as Barcelona got back to winning ways in style, thrashed Granada 6-0 at the Nou Camp.
A deflected goal by Neymar set the Catalans on their way to victory before a header by Ivan Rakitic and another strike from Neymar stretched Barca's lead at the break.
Two Messi strikes sandwiched Neymar's third in the second half as the South American duo completed the rout.
Barca had surrendered their 100 percent start to the season in midweek by drawing at Malaga, but produced an emphatic response against Joaquin Caparros' side, who had only conceded three goals before their trip to the Catalan capital.
It means Barcelona climb above Valencia to the summit.
First half goals from Luka Modric and Cristiano Ronaldo saw Real Madrid overcome a potentially tricky trip to Villarreal 2-0 and march on to their third straight win.
- Ancelotti praises Real Madrid attitude
The Croatia midfielder broke the deadlock after the half-hour mark with a trademark shot from outside the area and Ronaldo doubled the lead before the break, just moments after a plane paid for by Manchester United fans flew over the Madrigal carrying the message "Come Home Ronaldo."
Villarreal had held Real to a 2-2 draw at the Madrigal last season and a month earlier gave Barcelona a run for the money and dominated the early moments of this game. They won two corners in the first two minutes and then striker Ikechukwu Uche forced a smart save from Casillas.
Real are four points adrift of Barcelona.
Atletico Madrid brushed aside a below-par Sevilla 4-0 to claim a professional and ultimately emphatic 4-0 win.
Goals from Koke and Saul Niguez in a low-key first half put the reigning Spanish champions in control of the game.
And Raul Garcia's penalty and Raul Jimenez's header in the closing stages ensured the points would not slip away.
- Corrigan: Atleti dominate Sevilla
Atleti boss Diego Simeone was back in the dugout following his eight-match touchline ban (four in La Liga) stemming from his conduct in the Supercopa win over city rivals Real Madrid.
The move up to second, for 24 hours at least with Valencia in action on Sunday, and are two points off the top.
A second brace in four days from Leo Baptistao helped Rayo Vallecano to a 2-0 Primera Division victory at Levante on Saturday night.
Baptistao struck in the 12th and 33rd minutes to claim all three points for Paco Jemez's side at the Estadio Ciudad de Valencia.
It could have been worse for Jose Luis Mendilibar's side had Rayo striker Alberto Bueno not missed a 68th-minute penalty, but Levante were particularly toothless in front of goal and deserved nothing from this game.
Athletic Bilbao's disappointing start to the new La Liga season continued as they were held to a goalless draw at home by Eibar.
Indeed, the hosts could count themselves lucky to come away with a point, with Ander Capa's shot which came back off the bar for Eibar the closest either side came to a goal.
Bilbao, who finished fourth last season, have won only one of their opening six league games this term and, while this draw at least halted a run of three straight losses, it still left them struggling near the foot of the table.