Through three weeks, Real Madrid and Barcelona have shown their quality in different ways.

On one side of the fence are the defending Spanish League champions Barcelona, who have won the UEFA Super Cup and come out with three wins from three very difficult games. On the other side of the fence has been Real Madrid, struggling early on against minnows before finding their way to 11 goals in the last two matches. So what have we learned so far from the Spanish League's top sides?

Defensively Madrid has been rather good so far. They're not perfect, but there have been some notable differences from a year ago, when any chance against the team threatened to be a goal against.

For one, Madrid's offensive pressure has limited chances against, with the team conceding a total of four shots on target in those three games. There have been some terrific saves from Keylor Navas, such as the penalty against Real Betis and the recent header against Espanyol. But the keeper has not been particularly troubled, as both of those chances came with the result beyond a doubt.

Barcelona's defense has been stalwart as well through its opening three games of La Liga, though there is certainly some concern that the signs showcased in the UEFA Super Cup -- when the team blew a 4-1 lead -- and the first leg of the Spanish Super Cup -- a 4-0 loss at Bilbao -- would crop up again. Barcelona did not concede more than three goals at any point in its treble winning 2014-15 season, but the team has already topped that in two straight games. The defense has been less porous in its three Spanish League fixtures, allowing six shots on target and conceding just one goal against Málaga, Atlético Madrid and Athletic Bilbao.

On the other side of the pitch, things could not be more different. Madrid struggled out of the gate, managing a 0-0 draw at Sporting Gijón, a game many expected to be a cakewalk for the Spanish giants. Questions over offense immediately started coming to the fore, with many wondering whether the team would ever be able to find its spark under Rafa Benítez. Flash forward two games, and that offense is no longer a problem.

Gareth Bale has two goals and three assists in that span, cementing himself as the team's playmaker and enjoying some strong play in the middle of the pitch. Cristiano Ronaldo scored five goals and one assist in the most recent 6-0 win over Espanyol to snap out of his scoring slump, and Karim Benzema has two goals in as many games for the team. Add in some terrific play from James Rodríguez prior to his injury, and this team's offense looks primed for a big year.

Barcelona's forwards started off on fire in the UEFA Super Cup win over Sevilla, before slumping ever since. The team's 2-1 win over Atlético Madrid this past weekend was the first time the team scored more than one goal since the 5-4 win against Sevilla in the Super Cup. Messi has four goals in six games this year, including only one in the Spanish League, while Neymar has one goal and Suárez has another. Of course, the team has played against other top sides, so it is not likely that this streak will continue when they face minnows like those Madrid has played.

The important thing, however, is that Barcelona has scraped past three tough games, two of them on the road, en route to a perfect nine points in three games. Madrid has seven points and needs to deliver equally potent performances when the big tests come their way.

Standings Through Week 3

Barcelona - 3 Wins , 9 Points, 1 Trophy

Real Madrid - 2 Wins, 1 Draw, 7 Points, 0 Trophies

Whose start has been more impressive through Week 3? Madrid or Barcelona?