Barca held at Osasuna, miss out on record

                       

 FC Barcelona's Neymar (up) jumps over Osasuna's goalkeeper Andres Fernandez Barcelona dropped their first points of the season when they were held to a 0-0 draw at Osasuna on Saturday and missed the chance to equal the best ever La Liga start.

Lionel Messi, who had not played since the end of last month due to a thigh strain, came off the bench for the final 25 minutes but not even the World Player of the Year could breach the home defence in Pamplona.

Barca and Atletico Madrid won their opening eight games and the latter can open a two-point lead at the top and equal Real Madrid's record of nine wins from nine matches from the 1968-69 season with a win at Espanyol later on Saturday (2000 GMT).

Barcelona, who play at AC Milan in the Champions League on Tuesday and host Real in the 'Clasico' next Saturday, have 25 points, with Atletico second on 24.

Real are two points further back in third after their 2-0 win at home to Malaga in the earlier kickoff with second-half goals from Angel Di Maria and a Cristiano Ronaldo penalty.