Club Atlético de Madrid moved level on points with FC Barcelona at the top of the Spanish Liga after defeating Elche FC 2-0 on a Saturday which also featured a Gareth Bale hat-trick in a 4-0 success for Real Madrid CF.

The Blaugrana have the chance to restore their three-point cushion when they travel to Athletic Club on Sunday, but, for 24 hours at least, they have been joined on 40 points by Diego Simeone's men. Atlético were held for over an hour until Diego Costa laid off for Koke to tap in, and the Brazilian forward notched a goal of his own on 74 minutes to seal victory.

Madrid remain three points behind their city rivals after comfortably seeing off Real Valladolid CF 4-0, with Bale the star of the show. The Welshman's opener was added to by Karim Benzema before half-time, and Bale struck twice more after the interval to secure a fifth successive league win for the Merengues.

Elsewhere, Real Sociedad de Fútbol fought back to down RCD Espanyol 2-1 and RC Celta de Vigo beat UD Almería 3-1. In Friday's games, Weligton's added-time equaliser earned a 1-1 draw for Málaga CF at fourth-placed Villarreal CF, and Getafe CF clinched a 1-0 triumph against Levante UD.