Angulo strike sinks Real

Valencia got off to a flying start in the opening game of the Primera Liga by beating Real Madrid 1-0 on Saturday night.

Both teams had their reputations at stake, and went into battle right from the kick-off.

Real threatened from the outset but it was Valencia who took an early lead after seven minutes of end-to-end action.

Vicente Rodriguez fired a vicious shot that Real goalkeeper Iker Casillas could only parry back to the young winger, he found Miguel Angulo who fired home from close-range.

Real hit back almost immediately as Claude Makelele's 12th-minute header lashed against the Valencia bar.

The visitors struggled against a rampant opponent, whose defence effectively scotched every attempt which looked like succeeding.

Vicente proved a constant threat to Real's defence and nearly set up a second goal for the Che just before the half-hour mark, pulling the ball back from the touchline to Pablito Aimar, whose right foot shot was magnificently turned around the post by Casillas.

Referee Lopez Nieto reached for his yellow card five times during the first 45 minutes amid as both sides fought for supremacy.

Valencia took the game to Real Madrid in the second half and were unlucky not to extend their lead with Ayala, Aimar and Angulo all going close during the first 15 minutes.

Guti, on for the luckless Morientes, missed a golden chance to level the score after 75 minutes, glancing a header wide from a Geremi corner.

Worse was to come, Luis Figo was handed his second yellow card two minutes into extra-time and will miss Real Madrid's next league game against Malaga.