La Liga - Ronaldo scores on winning Real debut

Eurosport - Sun, 30 Aug 09:29:00 2009

Real Madrid overcame a stubborn Deportivo La Coruna side 3-2 in their La Liga opener at the Bernabeu thanks to goals from Raul, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lassana Diarra.

FOOTBALL 2009-2010 - Real Madrid - Kaka - Ronaldo - Marcelo - 0

With much of the focus on the performance of Real Madrid's new signings, it was left to all-time leading goal-scorer Raul to give Los Blancos the lead. The club captain tapped in from six yards following excellent build-up play from Kaka and Karim Benzema.

But, Real Madrid's Achilles heel for many a season has been its frail defence and this season may be no different. Former Real player Riki made no mistake to equalise when afforded far too much space to flick a Juca free-kick past a hopelessly stranded Iker Casillas.

Raul was imperious for the home side and having been slipped through by Diarra he drew a challenge from Daniel Aranzubia to win a penalty that Ronaldo dispatched in the 34th minute.

Following a relatively flat first half, the Santiago Bernabeu faithful were stunned back into the second as an expert finish from another veteran Juan Carlos Valeron levelled matters up once again.

The home side responded by taking the game to their visitors and it was Diarra who capped a passage of intense pressure with a consummate drive into the bottom corner of the net to make it 3-2.

That goal came just moments after Valeron had missed a gilt edged chance to put Depor in front at the other end.

Much of the debate surrounding Real in the close season has focused on how club coach Manuel Pellegrini will accommodate his array of superstars and question marks still remain.

With the exception of flashes of fluidity Madrid stuttered in the first half.

However, they were far more productive after the break - bar the first minute lapse in collective concentration for Valeron's leveller.

A combination of Madrid's compact midfield, tiring Deportivo legs and some exquisite passing put Madrid firmly on top. But for all their dominance the home side were short of clear-cut opportunities.

Those that did come were wasted. The best chance fell to Benzema but Aranzubia recovered well to tip his effort onto the bar. That was the Frenchman's last contribution before being substituted.

Ronaldo could also have doubled his personal tally but, after a lightning break, his near post effort was well saved.

Real Zaragoza 1-0 Tenerife.

Real Zaragoza marked their return to La Liga with a less than convincing 1-0 victory over fellow promoted side Tenerife at La Romareda.

Having started brightly but then faded the home side were lucky to be on level terms with the side from the Canary Islands at half-time.

The visitors had the lion share of possession and created a host of chances, but, having wasted them, were punished when Javier Arizmendi followed up his own rebounded effort to snatch victory for Zaragoza.

Nino could have levelled in stoppage time but handled the ball and was duly booked.

Marcus Foley / Eurosport

Comment 74 - 93 of 93

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  1. madSHIT madSHIT madSHIT..hate it or love it? ­ #$%@# hahaha

    From boY-TrGaNu, on Mon 31 Aug 7:45AM

  2. Blin,eta raznisa vo vremeni!U nas shas 4iy 4as no4i.Nu­ spasibo tebe,xot odin patsan na6elsa,kotoriy na russkom­ nakalakal 4e-to!

    From paparizou7, on Sun 30 Aug 10:53PM

  3. Ti toje nenavidi6 Ronaldo,kak drugie?ya ego­ uvajayu:otli4no igraet,pravda kak pere6el v Madrid­ tormozit na4al.Azerbaijan podelen na 2 lagera:v odnom­ za nego sdixayut,a vo vtorom materat vi6e kri6i.Ay­ bala,sidite spokoyno football smotrite,net vse­ oskorblayut vsex podrad,xota ya toje inogda tak­ delayu.:-}

    From paparizou7, on Sun 30 Aug 10:49PM

  4. Jal',Ya dumal,4to ti ili tvoi roditeli jili v­ Baku.Vo vremena SSSR mnogo arman jili u nas.

    From paparizou7, on Sun 30 Aug 10:41PM

  5. YA koneshno Armenin, no Ne Sluchayno )))
    ne, v­ Baku nikogda ne jil.

    From artakjan2001, on Sun 30 Aug 10:30PM

  6. Ex,ludi,Football nado smotret,a ne materit' vsex­ podrad!

    From paparizou7, on Sun 30 Aug 8:05PM

  7. Artakjan,mojno vopros?Ti ne armenin slu4ayno?I ti v­ Baku ne jil?

    From paparizou7, on Sun 30 Aug 7:58PM

  8. ey,ti e6e zdes?Spasibo za poderjku!

    From paparizou7, on Sun 30 Aug 7:56PM

  9. theres nooooo way madrid cam compete agianst barca...­ barca just keeps on claiming more trophies!! i lost­ track!!

    From marcos, on Sun 30 Aug 4:57PM

  10. Real madrid within Robben do nthg this year!! ronaldo­ is a idiot player...

    From andrewserhal, on Sun 30 Aug 3:36PM

  11. well done ronnie your a united legend all the best in­ spain mate unless you play against us in the champs­ league

    From DAZGGMU-RED-LEGEND-OF-YAHOO, on Sun 30 Aug 3:18PM

  12. HALA MADRID!! HALA MADRID!! Hate it or love it!

    From chechenr, on Sun 30 Aug 1:54PM

  13. and the same time what have Barcelonas'­ ''smart'' managment''­ done?
    They Just gave, not sell, GAVe there best asset­ in last 5 years to Inter,
    plus 40 million in cash so­ Inter could buySnider,Milito, Motta LOOOOL
    VEEEEERY­ SMART THING TO DO BARCELONA,and what have Ibrakadabra­ done for Barca
    yet ? NOTHING !!! I bet if he wasnt so­ expansive, he would be 3th choice
    at the position­ that he plays...Just Simple Facts Guys, JUST FACTS )))

    From artakjan2001, on Sun 30 Aug 12:22PM

  14. Im so sorry for the Great Club of AC Milan, but more­­ for

    there fans, they deserve better than this,­ better­ than Leonardo

    , and more than a Huntelaar­ calibr­ strikers...Look what Madrid

    have done, they­ dont have­ home grown superstars, so ? so they

    spend­ money and­ buy players, they return the money which­ comes from­ the funs back to the

    fans, in the way of­ a good­ players, success and enjoyable game....take an
    ­­ example from MADRID
    Halla MADRID!!!!!!

    From artakjan2001, on Sun 30 Aug 12:05PM

  15. Da ne Ti che, yest' zdes' pravda paara­ izvrashencev, i paara
    fanatikov, no vosnovnom vse­ normalno, Ti pishi, v obidu ne
    dadim brat ) ­ HALLA MADRID ))))

    From artakjan2001, on Sun 30 Aug 11:39AM

  16. Ludi,vam nelzya 4e-to pisat.Srazu sojrete!

    From paparizou7, on Sun 30 Aug 11:16AM

  17. hahaha.. for all you UTD fans who think ronaldo is­ nothing without UTD.... its the other way round... now­ UTD miss ronaldo so much that they need players from­ other team to score for them and win....
    HALA­ MADRID!!!!

    From ibrahims52, on Sun 30 Aug 11:06AM

  18. GET THIS THING OFF MAN UNITED'S PAGE SERIOUSLY
    WE­ DONT CARE ABOUT REAL MADRID OR RONALDO

    From Zaphenath, on Sun 30 Aug 10:43AM

  19. I think Ronaldo doesnt even equal to 10 m euro!!! he­ is lost on the pitch i think he will struggle with­ Madrid , he is nothing without UTD . I think Sneijder­ did very well with Inter from the same Min , Madrid got­ a mistake by buying Ronaldo and selling Robben &­ Snejder . they will suck belive me and Ronaldo will be­ the key ,

    From hasan a, on Sun 30 Aug 9:59AM

  20. I think Ronaldo doesnt even equal to 10 m euro!!! he­ is lost on the pitch i think he will struggle with­ Madrid , he is nothing without UTD . I think Sneijder­ did very well with Inter from the same Min , Madrid got­ a mistake by buying Ronaldo and selling Robben &­ Snejder . they will suck belive me and Ronaldo will be­ the key ,

    From hasan a, on Sun 30 Aug 9:58AM
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