Barcelona: Fernando Llorente played for Athletic Bilbao for the first time this season and added a goal to Aritz Aduriz's double to help secure a 3-3 draw at 10-man Espanyol in the Spanish league on Sunday.
Llorente had not played through the first three rounds after telling his boyhood club he wouldn't renew his contract beyond next summer, adding to Bilbao's tumultuous offseason that saw them lose midfielder Javi Martinez to Bayern Munich.
The Spain striker said that his decision to leave Bilbao was "personal" and one that "people have to respect."
"It hurts that people doubt me, I have always given my all for Athletic," Llorente told Spanish radio SER after the game. "In January I will be free again to negotiate, but I want to push that all to the side now to help my team. The less people talk about me, the better."
Also on Sunday, Atletico Madrid outlasted Rayo Vallecano 4-3 in a Spanish capital shootout as Diego Costa set up two goals and earned a penalty that Radamel Falcao converted for his ninth goal in six games for club and country this season.
Joan Verdu appeared to set Espanyol on its way to an easy win at Cornella-El Prat stadium after assisting Javi Lopez's 18th-minute opener and punching in a rebound from a shot by Samuele Longo in the 44th.
But Aduriz started Bilbao's fightback with a thumping header in the 56th, and Llorente went on as a substitute in the 69th and scored on his first touch two minutes later, firing in a pass from Iker Muniain to make it 2-2.
Longo, on loan from Inter Milan, reclaimed the lead for the hosts in the 80th, only to be sent off with his second booking for celebrating his second goal with his new team by embracing the fans in the front row.
Bilbao quickly made good on their numerical advantage when Aduriz whipped home a vicious volley three minutes later to split the points.
Elsewhere on Sunday, Mallorca drew 1-1 at Osasuna after both teams went down a man in the first half, Real Sociedad beat Zaragoza 2-0 thanks to goals by Inigo Martinez and Carlos Vela, and Granada drew 1-1 with Deportivo La Coruna at home.
On Saturday, leader Barcelona routed Getafe 4-1 to remain perfect through four rounds, while Real Madrid lost 1-0 at Sevilla to fall eight points behind its archrival. Also, Valencia beat Celta Vigo 2-1, while Malaga downed Levante 3-1.
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