NEWLY promoted Alaves stunned Spanish champion Barcelona by winning 2-1 at the Camp Nou on Saturday as boss Luis Enrique paid a heavy price for starting Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez on the bench.

    Barca now trails Real Madrid by three points at the top of the table after Cristiano Ronaldo took just five minutes to score on his return from a two-month injury layoff in a 5-2 rout of Osasuna at the Bernabeu.

    Enrique made seven changes from their last outing with Messi recovering from a groin problem and Suarez rested following his exertions in World Cup qualifying with Uruguay.

    “It wasn’t a good day from the start, we weren’t precise enough,” said Enrique.

    Ronaldo was making his first appearance since limping off in tears during the Euro 2016 final, but was handed the perfect return on a plate by Gareth Bale as the Welshman squared for him to tap into an unguarded net.

    “The truth is I started a bit warily, which is normal after a serious injury, but I feel good, without pain and getting back to full fitness,” said Ronaldo.

    Antoine Griezmann handed Atletico Madrid a much-needed first win of the season in a 4-0 victory at Celta Vigo.

    (SD-Agencies)