Barcelona: A Karim Benzema brace gave Real Madrid a 2-1 victory at Athletic Bilbao and lifted them to the top of La Liga on goal difference ahead of Celta Vigo, who thrashed Barcelona 4-1 on Wednesday with Iago Aspas hitting a double.

Villarreal are also in a three-way tie for first place on 13 points after they beat Malaga 1-0 away, while Barcelona are a point behind.

Benzema took full advantage of a poor back pass by Mikel San Jose and fired home to put Real ahead after 19 minutes.

Bilbao showed typical fighting spirit and a fine diving header from Sabin Merino ended Real keeper Keylor Navas' record unbeaten start to the season after 67 minutes, but they were only level for three minutes.

Benzema, a threat all night to the Athletic rearguard, was quickest to an Isco cross and knocked it in from close range.

Real and Celta now have 13 points after five games while Barca are a point behind.

"It was very tough but we worked hard and we are happy with the win," Real defender Raphael Varane told reporters. "The league will be very tough and the key is the consistency which we are showing."

After disappointing spells at Liverpool and Sevilla, Aspas is back to his best this season having returned to Celta and struck clinical finishes in either half against a Barca side who were far from their normal dominant selves.

Nolito, a former Barca youth player, fired his fifth goal in as many games to put Celta ahead after 25 minutes with a pinpoint curling drive from the left of the area. Aspas then chipped the ball over keeper Marc-Andre Ter Stegen for the second minutes later.

It was clear that it was not going to be Barca's day when Lionel Messi struck the woodwork after 52 minutes with only keeper Sergio Alvarez to beat and then Aspas raced clear and slotted home on 55 minutes.

It was the third time Barca have conceded four goals in just nine games this season having been thrashed 4-0 by Athletic Bilbao in the Spanish Super Cup and beaten Sevilla 5-4 in the Uefa Super Cup. It was Barcelona's biggest La Liga defeat under Luis Enrique.

Barcelona's Neymar scored from a tight angle after 80 minutes but Celta substitute John Guidetti volleyed in their fourth minutes later. "If we are going to lose then I would prefer to do so against a team like that which doesn't try playing tricks," Barca coach Enrique told a news conference.

"We saw the quality that Celta have and that was the reason why we lost. They performed in every sense well and all we can do is congratulate them."

Busquets noted there was a long way to go in the season and said the players were aiming to get their bid for a sixth Spanish title in eight years back on track as soon as possible.

We have to turn the page, learn from our mistakes and prepare well for Saturday, which will also be a tough game vs Las Palmas," he told reporters.

"We have to be more wary of counter attacks and more efficient up front," added the Spain international.

Barca's attacking trio of Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez hit a Spanish record 122 goals in all competitions last season as the club swept to a treble of titles but have yet to click into top gear this term.

It proved that Barcelona may have problems but, more importantly, showed just how good this performance by Celta was. The talk should not be about Barcelona - although it always is, of course - but about their opponents.

The players in the blue of Celta could have been mistaken for Barca the way they pressed the visitors back with their quick movement and link-up play.

Ter Stegen could only get his fingertips to Nolito's strike into the top corner and then Gerard Pique hesitated in possession on the halfway line with the ball finding its way to Aspas who ran through and lifted the ball over the keeper.

After the break Barca pressed forward but left themselves wide open at the back. Messi hit the woodwork and then shortly after Aspas latched onto a long punt forward, evaded a challenge from Dani Alves, and found the corner with his shot.

Messi set up Neymar for a consolation while Guidetti was then given space in the area and cracked the ball home.

Real's Mateo Kovacic was given the chance of playing in the trident behind Benzema with Gareth Bale still out injured. Benzema was the visitors' most dangerous player on the night and he was quick to pounce on San Jose's mistake to put them ahead.

Navas, who had been close to joining Manchester United during the transfer window, had set a club record start to the season by not conceding in five games, but he was finally beaten when Sabin's excellent header thundered past.

Benzema secured the win with a predatory finish.