Slow starting Real kick off with 2-0 win

A glancing header from Ivan Helguera and a cool finish from substitute Steve McManaman gave slow-starting Real Madrid a 2-0 win over Espanyol in their opening league game of the season at the Bernabeu on Monday.

Kicking off the Spanish season a day later than most of their rivals because of their participation in the European Super Cup on Friday, Real looked as if they too had become distracted by the arrival of new signing Ronaldo in the capital.

And with the Brazilian striker looking on from the stands it was Espanyol who took the early initiative as Real appeared to find it difficult to motivate themselves following their brilliant Super Cup victory against Feyenoord.

But Real woke from their slumber just before the half hour mark as first Luis Figo and then Zinedine Zidane found their way past the Espanyol defence and the Helguera goal followed almost immediately.

The Spanish international got his head to a Figo corner and sent the ball spinning past Espanyol keeper Sergio Sanchez and into the net 10 minutes before the break.

Real took control after the break as Figo cut loose on the wing but with last season's leading scorer Fernando Morientes sitting on the bench and brooding over the club's attempt to sell him as part of the Ronaldo deal they needed someone to add the finishing touch.

Guti headed on to the bar midway through the second half and was then denied a goal by a sharp save from Sanchez, while Raul spurned several good chances to open his account for the season.

Morientes and McManaman came on in the last 10 minutes and it was the English midfielder who put the match beyond doubt with a classy finish.

Exchanging a neat one-two with Raul, the former Liverpool man shuffled into the area before slotting the ball neatly past Sanchez to score in the 89th minute.

Reigning league champions Valencia opened the defence of their title with an impressive 2-0 win away to Real Mallorca on Sunday, but last season's runners-up Deportivo Coruna were dealt a comprehensive 4-2 home defeat by a sparkling Real Betis.

Louis van Gaal's Barcelona can count themselves unlucky to have only taken one point after they were held 2-2 by promoted Atletico Madrid at the Nou Camp, also on Sunday.