Liga Wrap: Atletico Spike Barca, Betis Trounce Deportivo
a only had themselves to blame as Atletico Madrid came back to force a late 2-2 draw at Camp Nou.
Barcelona only had themselves to blame as Atletico Madrid came back to force a late 2-2 draw at Camp Nou.
Luis Enrique put the Catalan's ahead on four minutes only for Jorge Otero to equalise on the stroke of half-time for the visitors. Luis Enrique put Barca back in the lead in the 54th minute after superb linkup play with Javier Saviola, but the newly-promoted side drew level with a few minutes remaining when Fernando Correa found himself all alone in the box to blast home. Barca wasted enough chances in the first-half to have won the game by three or four goals.
Result of the weekend, though, goes to Betis who thrashed Deportivo 4-2 at the Riazor. Debutante Marcos Assuncao gave the southern side the lead after 19 minutes and Alfonso doubled it shortly after from the penalty spot. Normal service looked to have been resumed a few minutes later when Roy Makaay netted but Betis went in 3-1 up at the break thanks to Arzu. Joaquin made it 4-1 for Victor Fernandez' men before Diego Tristan scored a 75th minute penalty for Depor.
Valencia began the defence of their title with a 2-0 win at Real Mallorca thanks to goals from Gonzalo De Los Santos and Ruben Baraja.
In the Basque derby Valeri Karpin scored on his debut as Real Sociedad beat Athletic Bilbao 4-2. The Russian scored after 28 minutes only for Gurpegi to equalise. Turkish international Nihat then restored Sociedad's lead and the same player made it 3-1 in the 62nd minute. Gurpegi reduced the deficit but Darko Kovecevic made sure of the points.
New-boys Recreativo Huelva found out the harsh realities of Liga life as they threw away a 2-0 lead to lose 3-2 at home to Malaga. Molina and Viqueira put them ahead but a Kiki Musampa hat-trick won the day for the islanders.
Celta Vigo, under the stewardship of Miguel Angel Lotina, secured a fine 1-0 win at Sevilla thanks to a 39th minute goal from Gustavo Lopez.
Losing Intertoto Cup finalists Villarreal were held at home by Osasuna despite two Victor goals putting them 2-0 ahead at the break. Lopez and Pablo Garcia equalised in the second-half for the side from Pamplona.
In the day's other match Rayo Vallecano drew 2-2 at home win Alaves. Julio Alvarez Mosquera gave Rayo the lead only for Ivan Alonso to equalise before half-time. Mosquera scored again for Rayo but Magno earned the Basques a point with a 71st minute goal.