Deportivo take commanding lead

Spanish champions Valencia were humbled 3-0 by King's Cup winners Deportivo Coruna in the first leg of the Super Cup on Sunday.

Depor tore through an under-strength Valencia side with three goals in the opening 32 minutes by Juan Carlos Valeron, who was outstanding in the first half, Victor and Nourredine Naybet.

Valencia will have the chance to turn the result round at their Mestalla ground in a week's time but it will be a major surprise if Deportivo do not take the first trophy of the new season.

The visitors did create the first clear chance of the match, with Francisco Rufete only fractionally wide from the edge of the box when a Miguel Angel Angulo effort was half-cleared.

Deportivo were quickly in control, though, and Valeron gave them a deserved lead on 13 minutes after slipping between the centre-backs to reach a long through ball from Lionel Scaloni.

The Spanish international midfielder controlled the ball with a neat header and poked a shot past Valencia keeper Santiago Canizares. Valeron created the second nine minutes later, beating three players near the left touchline before setting up Fran to cross into the area. Canizares managed to reach Roy Makaay's first-time effort but the keeper spilled the ball and Victor reacted first for a simple tap-in.

Valencia could find no way to combat Valeron and the Depor player was soon setting up the third. His spectacular through ball found Makaay on the left and the Dutchman beat Canizares and sent in a cross-shot that was finished by defender Naybet.

Deportivo started the second half in the same fluent style and Makaay forced a good save from Canizares with his snap shot five minutes after the break. Valeron's influence was being limited by the introduction of Ruben Baraja as a half-time substitute, though, and Valencia gradually got back into the game.

Baraja had three clear chances in the final 20 minutes but Valencia could not find a goal to ignite hope of a successful comeback in the second leg.

The Spanish league season kicks off on the weekend of August 31/September 1, when Valencia will begin the defence of their title with an away game at Real Mallorca.