A 26th minute header from recent Deportivo signing Mista put the home side ahead and although Ruud Van Nistelrooy leveled the score two minutes into the second half, some poor defending from Madrid saw Albert Lopo score the definitive goal with another header, four minutes later.

Madrid worked hard to get back on level terms, but never lookedlike scoring and coach Bernd Schuster will be hoping the club can sign another striker before the Monday night transfer deadline.

However, Madrid were not the only big-name side to disappoint on the opening day of the campaign.

Pep Guardiola's new-look Barcelona got their season off to a dreadful start losing 1-0 away to newly promoted Numancia. Mario fired Numancia ahead after 14 minutes and Barcelona were unable toreply.

Guardiola's men controlled the ball, but failed to create clear-cut chances, until injury time when Leo Messi hit the post with a free-kick.

Meanwhile the optimism is still high at the Vicente Calderon, where Atletico Madrid showed another Malaga, no mercy.

Diego Forlan scored twice as Atletico romped into a 3-0 lead bythe break and a forth added by Sinama Pongolle in the second half confirmed Atletico's status as title hopefuls.

Another side with title options, Sevilla, kicked their season off with a 1-1 draw away to Racing Santander.

Luis Fabiano must have thought he had given his side the pointswith a 71st minute goal. But Sevilla's lead lasted only four minutes before Juanjo leveled for the home side.

There was disappointment in Bilbao, where Athletic went down 3-1 to Almeria. The visitors took a 3-0 lead early in the second half, Ion Velez pulled one back and Fran Yeste could have given the visitors a tough last 20 minutes, but failed to convert a 71stminute penalty that would have made it 3-2.

Elsewhere a solitary first half goal from Adrian was enough to give Recreativo Huelva the points in the Andalucian derby played in Betis' Ruiz de Lopera Stadium, while Sporting Gijon lost 2-1 athome to Getafe on their return to the top flight. Goals from Albinand Javi Casquero gave Victor Munoz a win on his debut in the visitors' dugout.

Finally a 1-1 draw saw Osasuna and Villarreal share the points in a game where both sides finished with 10 men after the sending off of Migel Flano and Godin.

Saturday night saw Espanyol start the season with a 1-0 win over Valladolid, thanks to a 47th minute goal from striker Luis Garcia.

Title outsiders Valencia, meanwhile, put a difficult summer behind them to comfortably beat Mallorca 3-0.

Spain international David Villa opened the scoring for the homeside after 35 minutes and a second from Juan Mata two minutes later virtually killed off Mallorca's chances, before winger Vicente Rodriguez secured the points eight minutes from time.