La Liga - Real and Barca lose openers

Eurosport - Mon, 01 Sep 11:50:00 2008

Real Madrid were again undone at bogey ground Riazor 2-1 by Deportivo La Coruna on the opening day of the Liga season while promoted Numancia spoiled Pep Guardiola's league debut as Barcelona coach with a 1-0 win.

FOOTBALL, Deportivo-Real Madrid - 0

Real have not won in La Coruna since 1991 and were soon trailing when home striker Mista, who had already hit the bar, rose to head in from a free-kick in the 27th minute.

Visiting full-back Marcelo hit the bar with a cross-cum-shot just before the interval, but two minutes after the re-start Ruud van Nistelrooy pounced to volley home a deflected shot.

Parity lasted only four minutes until Alberto Lopo headed Depor back in front from a corner, and Bernd Schuster, who had left the unsettled Robinho in Madrid, was unable to engineer a fightback.

"I'm not concerned. They were simply more alert on two crosses and we dominated the game well. Overall I think we did well," said Schuster, who refused to comment on the future of Robinho.

Numancia spoiled Guardiola's league debut as Barcelona coach.

The second division champions broke away to score through midfielder Mario early in the first half and Barca wasted a host of chances as they laboured to react.

Samuel Eto'o and Lionel Messi both hit the woodwork but Numancia's rearguard held firm to give their new coach Sergio Kresic a winning start.

"We played badly and our positioning on the pitch was bad as well. Everyone has a role to play and we haven't done our work today. It was a major slip-up," Guardiola said.

The performance of the day came from Atletico Madrid, who qualified for the Champions League group stage during the week, and stormed to the top of the standings with a 4-0 demolition of Malaga, like Numancia promoted last season.

Netherlands defender John Heitinga opened the scoring on his league debut and Uruguay striker Diego Forlan added two more before the break, the second from the penalty spot.

French striker Florent Sinama Pongolle made it four near the end.

"In the first third of the season we have set ourselves the objective of staying in the top three. We have taken a step towards achieving that, but it is still early days," said Atletico coach Javier Aguirre.

Last year's runners-up Villarreal were held to a 1-1 draw away at Osasuna when Marcos Senna's glorious free-kick was cancelled out by Iran midfielder Javad Nekounam's penalty.

Another touted contender for a top-four finish, Sevilla, were also held to a 1-1 draw away to Racing Santander.

Valencia are second in the standings behind Atletico after beating Real Mallorca 3-0 on Saturday.

Reuters

Comment 1 - 14 of 14

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  1. Alo all still have 37 games on the hand .....is a long way to go?????Real Madrid will be back on form soon .....dunn worry ...as long Man U suck????hahahahahahahah

    From nnazrano, on Tue 2 Sep 6:45AM

  2. Football is a term game we need good passes from Messi and Xavi, Barca's solution for all goal problems is not Messi . He should distributes the balls as he did in last China(ie give good passes to others). This was a good test match for the coach, next match Barca will win with many goals.

    From agendia j, on Mon 1 Sep 8:50PM

  3. i think there is nothing for barca this season

    From cherry, on Mon 1 Sep 12:03PM

  4. I think Atletico Madrid will win the league and Villareal will be runners-up again, Sevilla 3rd and Real and Barca will fight for the 4th place all the year and lose it in the final day for Valencia. Hahahahaaa

    From roy_elias10, on Mon 1 Sep 11:58AM

  5. I saw the last five games Numancia played in the second division last year, 3 ended in a draw and 2 in deffeat.
    And yet they won over Barca hahahahahahaa!!!!!

    From roy_elias10, on Mon 1 Sep 11:55AM

  6. HA HA REAL MADRID WITH A PLAYER WHO WANTS TO LEAVE AND THEY DONT WANT HIM TO AND WONT ALLOW HIM HIS DREAM MOVE FOR MORE MONEY THAN THEY PAY HIM THEY ALSO HAVE THE CHEEK TO SAY THE PLAYER AS BEEN TAPPED UP AND UNSETTLED BY CHELSKI SOUNDS LIKE DEJA VU TO ME .GET A TASTE OF YOUR OWN TACTICS WITH RONALDO YOU SCUMBAGS I HOPE BLATTER SAYS ROBINHO IS A SLAVE BUT I WONT HOLD MY BREATH HE WONT WANT TO UPSET HIS MATE CALDERON MADRID WONT WIN JACK ALL THIS SEASON SO RONALDO WONT BE ON HIS WAY NEXT SEASON WHEN HE REALISES THERE GARBAGE MAYBE CITY MIGHT PUT A BID IN FOR RONNIE NOW THE ARABS ARE FLASHING THERE MONEY ABOUT .IN THERE DREAMS THERE STILL WONT BE ANY TROPHIES FOR THE BITTER BLUES NO MATTER HOW MUCH MONEY IS PUMPED IN THE ARABS WILL SOON BE BORED AND GO BACK TO HORSE RACING HA HA AT LEAST THE FANTASY BAR LAPDANCERS IN MANCHESTER WILL MAKE SOME CASH OF THE NEW SLEAZY OWNERS LOL HAPPY DAYS FOR ALL MANU FANS WHAT A LAUGH

    From dazmanutd, on Mon 1 Sep 11:37AM

  7. I think Barca needs creativity in Midfield . Xavi cannot provide any creativity at all .
    Football is a team game . Barca's solution for all goal problems is not Messi .
    In last 30 minutes the ball from midfield went straight to Messi most of the times .
    That is definitely not going to work .
    No doubt messi is brilliant but he cannot win all games for Barcs.
    Hleb was on right flank and hardly saw the ball .
    He has given ball 4 or 5 times and all the time he looked dangerous with the ball .
    Henry should not start games for barca . He should be used as substitute .
    Xavi has to be replaced with some one more creative .
    Put Hleb in center or may be get messi in center in place of Xavi .
    Xavi looks more like defensive midfielder and Toure is there for that .
    Games are won in midfield , in order to be a power-house you have to have a great midfield .
    Look at all good and best teams they are always good at midfield .
    Barca was good 3 years backs because midfield was great (ronaldhinio,deco).
    Now midfield is garbadge for barca and they are not going to improve unless they bring in creative players in midfield

    From titu, on Mon 1 Sep 11:34AM

  8. I think Barca needs creativity in Midfield . Xavi cannot provide any creativity at all .

    From titu, on Mon 1 Sep 11:32AM

  9. great start real as well hehehe now im bit more satisfied but we could hav been couple of points ahead already

    From Aleksandar, on Mon 1 Sep 7:11AM

  10. At least Real lost against a worthy team and outside Madrid...
    I pitty Barca... loosing in Camp nou against Numancia..... what a shame
    this year my money is on Athletico Madrid.

    From Rabih, on Mon 1 Sep 6:31AM

  11. The only good thing here is Real lost as well.........*sigh*........its gonna be a long season....

    From carlos c, on Mon 1 Sep 12:45AM

  12. real is unlucky...barca is loser...shame on you hleb same as henry...- arsenal's and real madrid's fan-

    From Airpool, on Sun 31 Aug 11:11PM

  13. haha nice to see alec hleb getting a good wooping!

    From zac.fawcett, on Sun 31 Aug 8:28PM

  14. Great Start Barsa.....!!!... Keep it up on whole over the League...

    Hee Haaaa

    From Anwar A, on Sun 31 Aug 8:05PM
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