Beckham enjoying Madrid fairytale

DAVID BECKHAM made a fairytale Primera Liga debut for Real Madrid with a second-minute goal as the champions beat Real Betis in their opening match of the season, and then admitted he is relishing life in the Spanish sun after a difficult end to his Manchester United career.

The England skipper tapped in a Ronaldo cross to open his league account, shook the bar with a thundering long-range drive, and played a part in the Brazilian's winning goal.

And although he was sometimes quiet, his first league appearance in Madrid's white is already being hailed a success.

Beckham was obviously thrilled by his performance, and said: "I'm happier now than I've been in the last year and a half or two years. You have your ups and downs in life and I'm glad to be over mine now."

He recently admitted that there had been no contact between himself and United manager Alex Ferguson since the Premiership champions' final game of last season against Everton.

That suggested Ferguson was happy to see Beckham leave United, who will earn £25million from the transfer should all the clauses be met.

Beckham has now scored twice for Madrid a header and a tap-in, and the goals are bonuses for a player who has been bought for his creative rather than predatory qualities.

He is well aware of the pressure on him to prove his worth as a midfielder, and after having his debut goal laid on by Ronaldo, Beckham promised he would soon be returning the compliment.

His goal, unofficially timed at two minutes and six seconds, was the first of the Primera Liga season and the perfect way to get the sometimes fickle Bernabeu crowd on his side.

"It's probably the quickest goal I've ever scored and it's nice to do it on the first day of the season," said Beckham.

"Hopefully Ronaldo will keep crossing for me and I will do the same for him. The important thing is to score goals."

Despite his dream start, Beckham accepts it will take him several games before he is bedded down in his new team.

It took Ronaldo several months, and he was even booed in some matches before hitting top form as his goals carried Madrid to the Spanish title last season.

"I know what my problems are, and I'm trying to deal with them on the pitch, but if there are doubters out there, it's up to me to try and silence them," Beckham added.

Beckham's headed goal came in the 3-0 Spanish Supercup win over Real Mallorca on Wednesday night, and went a long way to giving him time to settle on his first league start.

"I said there was no chance of me scoring another goal with my head, but it is nice to score," he said.

Madrid coach Carlos Queiroz declared himself impressed by Beckham's display in the win.

Queiroz, assistant to Ferguson at United last season, said: "Beckham was good in the first half, he scored the goal, made things happen and created chances.

"In the second half he made a big sacrifice and worked hard for the good of the team."

However, although he was content with Beckham's performance, Queiroz was clearly unhappy with his side's inability to finish off Betis. "We suffered and it was our fault," he added.

"When you miss as many chances as we did there is always a chance you will pay for it.

"The most important thing is to start with a win at home, but I think we wouldn't have struggled if we had taken more of the chances that we had."

Betis coach Victor Fernandez reckoned Zidane and not Beckham had been the architect of his side's downfall.

"The differences were made by a player who doesn't have blonde hair Zidane was the one who really hurt us," said Fernandez, who was not surprised by the influence enjoyed by Beckham.

"He scored a goal, had a shot against the bar and he played well, but he's one of the best players in the world and the surprise would have been if he played badly."

Betis equalised through Juanito but Beckham who also hit the bar from distance began the flowing move which saw Ronaldo net the winner by picking out Zinedine Zidane who crossed for the Brazilian to score.

"He's getting a taste for the Santiago Bernabeu," observed the leading sports newspaper Marca in a glowing report on Beckham's Primera Liga debut.

"Two geniuses two goals," headlined sports paper Diario AS yesterday, one of several papers to carry photographs of a beaming Beckham.

"Madrid won thanks to two details from their Galacticos." said Diario.

"With his goal, Beckham confirmed the fascination Madrid supporters feel towards him. They have accepted him with surprising enthusiasm," wrote the paper's match reporter.

"If in the first half his contribution was more statistical than real one goal, a good pass and a good free-kick in the second half his presence served to give order to the team and gave them a way out. (But) he still had enough to send a thunderbolt against the bar."

Another newspaper, Marca, decided Beckham and Ronaldo were forming a 'ponytail club.' "Yesterday he was an important player for his team, because he contributed and at the end of the day, he was decisive."