The Spanish football season kicked off on
Saturday with a tight 1-0 home win for Espanyol over Valladolid.
The only goal came in the 48th minute, when former Spain playmaker Ivan
de la Pena set up international striker Luis Garcia down the left. Garcia
skipped through the Valladolid defence and scored with a right-foot drive.
The exquisite De la Pena, now 32, came close to making it 2-0 just four minutes
later.
Valladolid - who never looked capable of forcing a draw - are probably facing
another relegation-threatened season.
The debut win will boost Espanyol's self-confidence, after a difficult week in
which key players Albert Riera and Pablo Zabaleta left for Liverpool and
Manchester City respectively.
Later on Saturday Valencia, who have managed to hold on to Euro 2008 heroes
David Villa and David Silva, take on Mallorca.
The big game on Sunday will see champions Real Madrid - without want-to-leave
Robinho - up in La Coruna, where they have not won since 1991.
Barcelona, meanwhile, will be away to newly-promoted Numancia,
while Villarreal take on Osasuna and Atletico Madrid play hosts to Malaga, dpa reported.
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