Raul leaves it late as Real open with a win

AN 85th minute winner from Raul secured a 2-1 win for Real Madrid over Cadiz in their opening La Liga match of the season last night.

Ronaldo opened the scoring in the 4th minute, but Pavoni levelled in the 68th minute and it took Raul to score the winner just five minutes from time to give Madrid an excellent away win to kick-start to their domestic season.

Reigning champions Barcelona got off to an unimpressive start when they were held to a 0-0 draw by newly-promoted Alaves on Saturday.

To add to the frustration of Barca coach Frank Rijkaard, the man responsible for denying the Spanish giants victory, Alaves’ Argentine international goalkeeper Roberto Bonano, was told 20 months ago that he was not wanted at the Catalan club.

Bonano pulled off a series of spectacular saves to deny Barca victory.

Athletic Bilbao found the net three times in the second half to win 3-0 over rivals Real Sociedad in the Basque derby.

Francisco Yeste got the first goal from close range two minutes after the break. Fernando Llorente then put Athletic in control, moving quickly onto a loose ball and chipping it over Sociedad goalkeeper Asier Riesgo five minutes later.

Ten minutes from time, Athletic defender Luis Prieto clinched victory with his first goal in six years, sneaking in unmarked by the far post to slot home a Tiko Martinez free kick.

Pablo Aimar got the only goal, six minutes into the second half, in Valencia’s 1-0 win over Real Betis.

However, Betis’ first-choice goalkeeper Toni Doblas is facing a race against time to be fit for their Champions League clash with holders Liverpool on September 13. Doblas injured his left shoulder and collarbone in an accidental collision late in the first half with Valencia striker Mista.

In Italy Brazilian Adriano hit an opening day hat-trick to help Inter Milan beat Treviso 3-0 and champions Juventus also made a winning start with a David Trezeguet header earning a 1-0 win over Chievo Verona.

The biggest surprise was AC Milan being held to a 1-1 draw at promoted Ascoli, and there was a confident 3-0 win at Reggina for AS Roma.

Portuguese winger Luis Figo, signed from Real Madrid during the close season, was the centre of attention at the San Siro as he made his full debut for Inter but it was the more familiar face of Adriano that provided the joy for the home fans hoping to end their 16-year title wait.

Juve had little trouble against Chievo after Trezeguet put them ahead in the 36th minute with a glancing header from a Zambrotta cross.

Andriy Shevchenko’s stunning strike rescued AC Milan’s blushes at newly-promoted Ascoli where the driving rain prevented the visitors from playing their normally fluent passing game.

Defender Mirko Cudini put Ascoli ahead in the 58th minute, bundling in from close range after Nelson Dida had failed to hold onto Fabio Quagliarella’s point blank header.

But Shevchenko drilled home an equaliser five minutes later, finding the bottom corner with a fierce 20-yard shot.

Udinese won 1-0 at home to Empoli, while Roma, the 2001 champions, started their campaign with a resounding 3-0 victory at Reggina.

Roma’s city rivals Lazio also won, Macedonian striker Goran Padev grabbing the only goal at home to Messina.

Enrico Chiesa scored twice as Siena defeated Cagliari 2-1, while Palermo drew 1-1 away to Parma.

On Saturday Fiorentina won 2-1 at home to Sampdoria and Livorno won by the same score at home to Lecce.

In Germany Bayern Munich opened up a two-point lead at the top of the Bundesliga after crushing Hertha Berlin 3-0.

In the 47th minute German captain Michael Ballack watched his free-kick take a wicked deflection off international team-mate Arne Friedrich and loop into the net.

Hertha pushed for an equaliser but Bayern struck twice in the final five minutes to take their goal tally to a staggering 11 in three games.

Schalke 04 and Werder Bremen, two of the main contenders for Bayern’s throne, were both held to 1-1 draws.