MADRID, Feb. 23 (Xinhua) -- Real Madrid's brief stay at the top of La Liga ended with defeat in Pamplona, while FC Barcelona eased past Levante to reclaim first place. Here are four things we learned from Matchday 25.

1. VAR shows its good and bad sides

VAR proved decisive in two matches, helping Osasuna to a 2-1 home win over Real Madrid and sparking debate in a 1-1 draw between Real Betis and Rayo Vallecano.

In Pamplona, VAR corrected two clear errors. Osasuna were awarded a penalty after Ante Budimir was fouled, having initially been booked for diving, and Raul Garcia's late winner was reinstated after VAR overturned an incorrect offside call.

The technology was less convincing in Seville, where two lengthy checks in the Betis-Rayo game reviewed challenges near both penalty areas. Neither resulted in a spot kick, and the main impact was an additional 14 minutes of stoppage time.

2. Old problems resurface for Real Madrid

Pamplona again proved a difficult stop for Real Madrid, who delivered a flat performance against an aggressive Osasuna side that fully deserved the points.

Osasuna, led by former Real Madrid B-team forward Raul Garcia and the in-form Budimir, dictated the physical battle and prevented Madrid from establishing control.

Kylian Mbappe endured another quiet afternoon, raising concerns that the French forward may be feeling the effects of his heavy workload this season while managing a lingering knee issue.

3. Lookman makes an instant impact at Atletico

Ademola Lookman has quickly made his mark since joining Atletico Madrid last month. The Nigeria forward has scored four goals in six appearances, offering pace and directness down the left flank.

Lookman has converted four of his eight shots and helped create space and chances for Julian Alvarez and Alexander Sorloth.

Espanyol struggled to contain him on Saturday, and if his form continues through May, Lookman could play a key role in securing Champions League qualification.

4. Barcelona cruise, tougher tests ahead

Barcelona knew a home win over Levante would return them to the top after Real Madrid's loss, and the outcome was rarely in doubt.

Teenager Marc Bernal scored in the fourth minute, Frenkie de Jong added a second, and Fermin Lopez struck from distance to seal a 3-0 victory.

Barcelona benefited from a rare midweek break and have another free week before hosting Villarreal next weekend. That match is expected to pose a far sterner challenge than Levante, who arrived at the Camp Nou after consecutive home defeats that have badly damaged their survival hopes. ■