Primera Liga Round-Up

Real and Barcelona ease to victory

By Peter Fraser   Last updated: 3rd September 2007

Ronaldinho

Ronaldinho: At the double

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Teams

  • Athletic Bilbao
  • Atletico Madrid

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Real Madrid went top of La Liga with a crushing 5-0 win over Villarreal.

It was not until five minutes before the break that Real came to life as Raul slotted home with a trademark poacher's goal, but then Villarreal had no answer.

Ruud van Nistelrooy netted in between a Wesley Sneijder brace, before Guti made sure of the victory with eleven minutes remaining.

The comfortable win means Real, who introduced debutant Gabriel Heinze as a second half substitute, continue their 100 per cent start to the season as they bid to defend their Primera Liga title.

Elsewhere, a Ronaldinho brace and a controversial third goal gave Barcelona a 3-1 victory over Athletic Bilbao at the Camp Nou.

Ronaldinho put his side in front when he fried home after eight minutes and the Brazilian ace then doubled the lead from the penalty spot ten minutes before the break.

After the interval Bilbao, who had Lertxundi Koikili sent off, came back into the game when Markel Susaeta slotted home his first La Liga goal on 72 minutes when Victor Valdes flapped at a cross.

However, one minute later Barcelona secured the points as referee Carlos Megia Davila debatably adjudged Yaya Tore's long-range strike to have crossed the line after coming down off the bar.

Valencia collected a their first win of the season with a 2-1 away win against newly promoted Almeria courtesy of an 81st minute winner from Emiliano Moretti.

Former Liverpool striker Fernando Morientes had put Valencia in the lead two minutes after half-time, but Alvaro Negredo levelled after 65 minutes before Moretti won it.

Another former Liverpool forward was on target in the 1-1 draw between Getafe and Recreativo De Huelva.

Florent Sinama Pongolle, who left Anfied in May, appeared to have won the game for Recreativo, but Del Manu netted a Getafe equaliser deep into injury time.

Two goals in the final seven minutes gave Real Betis a 2-2 share of the spoils with Espanyol.

Luis Garcia had given Espanyol the lead with two strikes before half time, but Fernando (83) and Rafael Sobis (85) rescued Betis a point.

Real Valladolid and Deportivo La Coruna played out an entertaining 2-2 draw.

Jose Garcia Calvo struck to give Valladolid the lead a minute after half-time, but Sebastian Taborda struck a 52nd minute equaliser.

Valladolid then regained the lead when Gonzalez Sisi fired home on 71 minutes, but Deportivo again fought back five minutes later when Riki found the back of the net.

Mariano Pernia rescued a point for Atletico Madrid at home to Real Mallorca when he struck in the 77nd minute to cancel out Daniel Guiza's first half opener.

Almeria v Valencia

Barcelona v Athletic Bilbao

Villarreal v Real Madrid

Real Valladolid v Deportivo La Coruna

Real Betis v Espanyol

Getafe v Recreativo de Huelva

Atletico Madrid v Real Mallorca