MADRID: David Beckham scored three minutes into his first league match, a 2-1 win over Real Betis on Saturday, to cap a dream start to his Real Madrid career.

The England captain was on hand to sidefoot home a Ronaldo pass after the Brazilian and fellow striker Raul had exchanged a neat one-two to carve open the Betis defence.

The goal, the first to be scored by any player in this season's Spanish league, was Beckham's second in two games at the Bernabeu.

Like league champions Real, a new-look Barcelona also got off to a encouraging start with a 1-0 away win over Athletic Bilbao, in a game that marked the league debut of Brazilian playmaker Ronaldinho.

Dutch midfielder Philip Cocu scored the only goal of the game with a glancing header after a free kick from fellow countryman Giovanni van Bronckhorst 12 minutes into the match at San Mames.

Ronaldinho produced some classy touches, but did not shine as much as he had done during the pre-season fixtures and the Catalans had to dig deep to claim their victory.

Last season's runners-up Real Sociedad, who were pipped to the title by Real on the final day of the season, were held to a 1-1 draw by Espanyol at Montjuic.

Striker Darko Kovacevic poked in a second half equalizer after Cameroon defender Pierre Wome had given the home side the lead with a deflected free kick on 23 minutes.

Modest Navarran outfit Osasuna have the honour of topping the fledgling table after a 2-0 win over newly promoted Albacete.

Flying start

Real got off to a flying start at the Bernabeu with Beckham's early goal and the midfielder, who had also scored in his team's midweek Super Cup victory over Mallorca, went close to adding a second when he sent a dipping free kick just over the bar from the edge of the area after 15 minutes.

But Betis soon recovered from their early setback and began to play some fluent football as the half wore on.

New signing Martin Palermo rattled the crossbar with a bullet header on 28 minutes and it was not long before the Andalucians got back on level terms with the league champions.

Betis defender Joaquin got in front of Real midfielder Esteban Cambiasso to fire home a sharp header following a fine corner from Joaquin on 34 minutes.

But Real came to life once more after the break and Beckham came within a whisker of sending his side into the lead again when he smashed a dipping shot against the bar after checking inside a Betis defender on the edge of the area.

A little over 10 minutes later he initiated the move that led to Real's winner.

Just inside his own half, he swept a raking pass to the feet of Zinedine Zidane, who clipped in a perfectly weighted cross into the area for Ronaldo to strike home on the half volley.

Betis refused to throw in the towel, though, and had several clear chances to earn a draw, but were unable to work their way past the ever-alert Iker Casillas.

The Real keeper reacted sharply to save a drilled shot from Joaquin on 70 minutes and denied the Betis winger once more when he got his fingertips to another goal-bound effort soon after.

Agencies via Xinhua

(China Daily 09/01/2003 page8)