La Liga round-up: Real Madrid close in on win record with 15th-straight victory as Barcelona also win 1-0 away at Bilbao

REAL MADRID'S 2-1 win against Celta Vigo was their 14th La Liga victory in a row and leaves them just one shy of their all-time record.

Alvaro Morata’s first of the campaign had more than a hint of offside about it but the goal will at least give the front man some confidence going into international week.

Fabio Orellana’s stunner into the top corner looked to have earned the Galicians a point until Toni Kroos buried one from outside the box on 81, which proved to be the winner.

Despite the loss, Eduardo Berizzo can take some positives from a performance that was a vast improvement on the 7-1 thrashing from last season.

Real Betis kicked off the action on Friday night and whilst their 0-0 draw at home to Deportivo was a marked improvement from their thrashing at Barcelona, Gus Poyet’s men were still disappointing overall.

Depor had opted not to travel with Arsenal-bound Lucas Perez but were still comfortable throughout in Seville.

Espanyol took a two-goal lead against Malaga thanks to a Gerard Moreno double, but Diego Llorente’s brave 67th-minute header gave the visitors hope. Substitute Charles’ decisive finish in the last minute saw the visitors grab a 2-2 draw.

Real Sociedad’s comfortable 2-0 away victory at Osasuna kicked off Saturday’s set of four fixtures, Juanmi calmly slotting into an empty net at the end of the first half before a comical looping header from Unai Garcia beat his own keeper on 81 to seal the points.

Paco Alcacer and Shkodran Mustafi - who has since joined Arsenal - did not play for Valencia at Eibar and in their absence, Los Che lost to a Pedro Leon strike which sent them tumbling to the bottom of the table.

Diego Simeone’s Atletico Madrid laboured once more against a promoted side, and not even the return of Antoine Griezmann could inspire them in a dire, goalless affair against Leganes.

Cholo has to take most of the blame after fielding four central midfielders in a defensive set up. Devoid of ideas and without any cohesiveness or attacking intent, Atleti got what they deserved and already find themselves four points behind the leaders.

Granada were soundly beaten by an inspired Las Palmas who top the table on goal difference. One apiece at the break, the hosts stepped it up in the second half to ease home by 5-1.

After their second tough draw in a week, this time held goalless at home by Sporting Gijon, new boys Alaves sit proudly in mid-table. It’s a huge confidence boost before their next assignment – away at Barcelona.

The Catalans prepared for that fixture with a Sunday evening trip to Athletic Bilbao, Lionel Messi’s 350th league game for the club.

The Argentinian wasn’t quite at his influential best and the Blaugrana should’ve scored more than the bullet header that Ivan Rakitic tucked away in the first half.