Zidane gets his first goal but Real Madrid misery continues

If fairy tales come true then Zinedine Zidane's debut goal for Real Madrid would have led the club to their first Spanish league victory of the season on Saturday, and sparked eulogies about how his summer signing for a world record 66-million-dollars was worth every peseta.

Instead, his 14th minute strike will be merely a footnote in statistics books as Real Madrid lost 3-1 at Real Betis, and now have only one point from three matches this season.

However, the Spanish champions have only themselves to blame for their demise.

Real Madrid coach Vicente Del Bosque decided to rest several of his first choice players prior to Wednesday' Champions League match against Lokomotiv Moscow, and it proved to be a suspect decision.

Newcomers Ivan Campo and Albert Celedes, despite both being Spanish internationals, were clearly out of tune with their team mates.

Real Madrid captain Fernando Hierro had a nightmare of a game at the back and was directly responsible for two of the Seville side's goals, while several other players seemed to have left their abilities in the dressing room at half time as Betis attacked at will.

Argentine striker Gaston Casas got Betis quickly off the mark, and got his fourth goal of the season, after picking up a poor pass between the Real Madrid defenders Ivan Campo and Hierro.

Hierro almost fell over the ball, leaving Casas the easy task of taking it from him before blasting it past Cesar Sanchez in the Madrid goal, standing in for Iker Casillas after several nervous performances by the Spanish international.

Only a minute elapsed though before Zidane started to repay his huge wages.

An excellent pass from Jose Maria 'Guti' Gutierrez across the edge of the box went straight to Zidane and the World Player of the Year fired home with his right foot.

Real Madrid's best spell came late in the first half when Roberto Carlos hit the post, Guti shot against the upright and Betis goalie Toni Prats was called upon to make several good saves.

However Betis came out fighting in the second half and took just two minutes to go ahead again when Capi took on, and went round, Hierro before scoring from the edge of the box.

Joaquin's goal after 57 minutes proved to be Betis's last although they went close on several other occasions.

Real's hopes were briefly raised when Raul Gonzalez found the net ten minutes from the end but the goal was ruled offside and Real Madrid's ambition seemed to peeter out.

Alaves lost their one hundred percent record but go temporarily to the top of the league after their 0-0 draw at Real Mallorca.
Mallorca were without their influential Argentine playmaker Ariel Ibagaza, who the club announced on Saturday, will be out for six weeks and miss the entire Champions League first phase after suffering a torn hamstring in Tuesday's match against Arsenal.

Deportivo La Coruna lost their chance of leading the Spanish first division after losing 2-1 at home to an impressive Athletic Bilbao, whose two victories this season have come away at home.

Athletic's victory in La Coruna was their first since 1964 and came thanks to goals from Julen Guerrero and Ismael Urzaiz before Spanish international striker Diego Tristan got one back just after the hour.

Barcelona had to settle for a 0-0 draw at Osasuna but the point for the Pamplona club has briefly lifted them off the foot of the Spanish first division.