Real go seven-up but Tristan takes Deportivo to the top

Real Madrid warmed up for Tuesday's Champions League date with Marseille in style, swamping Real Valladolid 7-2 at the Bernabeu - but it wasn't enough to claim pole position in the Primera Liga as Deportivo La Coruna won 2-1 at Seville to keep their 100 percent record intact.

Diego Tristan, on as a substitute, had had to watch from the sidelines as Uruguayan striker Walter Pandiani, who claims his fellow striker doesn't respect him, put Javier Irureta's men in front seven minutes before the break with his third goal in three games.

But after another Uruguayan, Dario Silva, had levelled six minutes after the restart, on came Tristan to net his first goal of the new league campaign from close range on 77 minutes and show there is life without last season's league top scorer Roy Makaay, who has joined Bayern Munich.

Deportivo thus lead Real by two points with a maximum nine-point haul to date.

But David Beckham's madrilenos showed their class is by no means of the second-rate variety in crushing Valladolid - even if their visitors did at times embarrass their leaky defence.

Real president Florentino Perez said beforehand what matters is winning and in style - and his team were as good as his word.

A Beckham pass over 40 metres, which Zinedine Zidane smacked home on the volley early in the second half for their fourth goal, was the icing on a cake laden with grace and skill.

In addition, Spanish international striker Raul notched a hattrick to add to two goals in midweek for his country in the Euro 2004 win over Ukraine and become Real's fourth all-time top scorer with 158 afer leapfrogging Hungarian legend Ferenc Puskas.

At this rate Raul will overtake Mexican Hugo Sanchez, 164 goals in his career with the meringues, before the end of October.

Ronaldo swept Real in front on 20 minutes, former Real defender Julio Cesar deflecting in his effort with his head for an own goal.

Luis Figo then set up Raul for a nonchalant flick before Roberto Carlos fed the striker for number three as visiting keeper Albano Bizzarri found himself helpless once again in front of Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar, who made his name in politics in Valladolid.

Aznar had to applaud after Beckham's brilliant pass found Zidane's left foot for 4-0.

Valladolid did not lie down and promptly pulled one back from the penalty spot after Beckham, working hard in defence as well as attack, handled in the area in moving to block a point blank cross.

Roberto Losada fired home the spot kick.

Julio Cesar then had a rush of blood to the head as he wrestled Figo to the ground and the Portuguese international clipped in that penalty for 5-1, only for Jose Chema to head in at the other end for 5-2.

But Beckham found Ronaldo with an astute pass and the Brazilian curled home for Real's sixth before Raul made it seven from close range in the 74th minute.

Real's evening finished with bad news, however, as Argentine defensive midfielder Esteban Cambiasso picked up an ankle injury.

Elsewhere Saturday, Raynald Denoueix's Real Sociedad, who take on Greek side Olympiakos on Tuesday in the Champions League, thanked Oscar De Paula for their first win, 1-0 at Racing Santander, which took the Basque side third.

Real Betis meanwhile shocked Vigo 2-0 away as Marcos Assuncao swept in a long-range freekick and then Fernando netted from the spot after a foul by French midfielder Peter Luccin.

Barcelona, who took four points from their opening two games, travel to little Albacete on Sunday while Valencia face Malaga.