Primera Liga round-up

Barca and Real slip-up, while Atletico are off to a flier

By Chris Burton   Last updated: 31st August 2008   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Primera Liga round-up

Forlan: Bagged a brace for Atletico

Sunday's results:

Athletic Bilbao 1 Almeria 3
Atletico Madrid 4 Malaga 0
Numancia 1 Barcelona 0
Osasuna 1 Villarreal 1
Racing Santander 1 Sevilla 1
Real Betis 0 Recreativo 1
Sporting Gijon 1 Getafe 2
Deportivo La Coruna 2 Real Madrid 1

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Barcelona were surprisingly beaten by newly-promoted Numancia and reigning champions Real Madrid slipped up at Deportivo as Spanish football returned in earnest on Sunday.

Meanwhile, there were comprehensive victories for Almeria and Atletico Madrid and dropped points by Sevilla and Villarreal.

The dismissal of Frank Rijkaard over the summer, coupled with a host of big-money signings, was supposed to signal the start of a new dawn at Barcelona, but that theory came crashing down as the Catalan giants suffered an embarrassing 1-0 reversal at Numancia.

New coach Pep Guardiola fielded his strongest possible side at Los Pajaritos but saw Mario snatch a 13th minute winner for the hosts.

Real Madrid looked a shadow of the side which claimed the crown last year as they slumped 2-1 at Deportivo La Coruna.

Miguel Mista put the home side ahead on 27 minutes, with Depor holding that slender advantage until shortly after the interval.

Deadly Dutchman Ruud van Nistelrooy then found an equaliser on 47 minutes, but Alberto Lopo broke Real hearts with what proved to be the decider just five minutes later.

Last season's runners-up Villarreal fared marginally better in an action-packed opener against Osasuna.

The Yellow Submarines took a point in a 1-1 draw, but the game was marred by a dismissal from both sides.

Villarreal took the lead nine minutes into the second half when Marcos Senna grabbed a rare goal, before Manuel Pellegrini's side saw Diego Leal sent-off for a professional foul on 68 minutes.

Javad Nekounam levelled the scores with the resulting spot-kick, only to then see their numerical advantage disappear as Bejunartea Miguel Flano saw red 12 minutes from time.

Atletico Madrid were the big winners of the night, easing to comfortable 4-0 victory over Primera Liga new-boys Malaga.

Sergio Aguero got the capital club up and running with a 26th minute effort and Diego Forlan doubled their lead 12 minutes later.

The Uruguayan striker then grabbed his second of the game from the penalty spot a minute before half-time.

With the result never in doubt, former Liverpool front-man Florent Sinama-Pongolle completed the scoring with a fourth nine minutes from time.

Sevilla are expected to be among the title challengers this season but got their campaign underway with a 1-1 draw away at Racing Santander.

Luis Fabiano put the visitors ahead on 71 minutes but Juan Juanjo grabbed an equaliser five minutes later, having only stepped off the bench 60 seconds earlier.

Almeria cruised to a 3-1 victory against Athletic Bilbao, with the game all but settled inside an hour.

Hernan Pellerano (7), Alvaro Negrado (33) and Juan Manuel Ortiz (50) got the goals for Gonzalo Arconada's side.

Ion Velez did pull one back for the hosts on 56 minutes but the substitute's strike proved to be no more than a consolation.

Recreativo Huelva also began their season with success on the road as they saw off Real Betis 1-0 in Andalucia.

Perez Adrian Colunga got the only goal of the game on 36 minutes to hand Recre all three points.

Getafe left it late to claim a 2-1 victory at Sporting Gijon, with their winner coming just four minutes before the end.

Juan Albin gave the Madrid-based outfit a 14th minute lead, only to see Gimenez Diego Castro level matters 10 minutes before the break.

However, it would Javier Casquero who had the last word as he struck with time running out.

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