Owen makes debut in Real win

Real Mallorca 0 Real Madrid 1

Michael Owen made an instant impression on his Real Madrid debut, setting up the only goal for Ronaldo to ensure the capital club got their Primera Liga season off to a winning start at Real Mallorca.

The England player, who arrived earlier this month from Liverpool, started the game on the bench but replaced the injured Raul after 25 minutes.

And he did not waste the opportunity, producing an excellent cross in the 52nd minute that Ronaldo only had to divert into the net with his chest from barely a yard out.

Owen was the only one of Madrid’s summer signings to play, with defenders Walter Samuel and Jonathan Woodgate both out injured.

He could, and perhaps should, have scored on his first appearance, but Owen will nevertheless be content with the way he began life with his new club.

New coach Jose Antonio Camacho, meanwhile, will be hoping Samuel and Woodgate are back as soon as possible as Madrid displayed all their old defensive insecurities and relied on Iker Casillas to preserve their lead on more than one occasion.

The game was untidy at the beginning, with both teams struggling to find the rhythm of competitive football again following their pre-season preparations.

Madrid created the first chance after 16 minutes. Ronaldo fed Luis Figo on the right, who beat his marker and fired in an angled shot that debutant Mallorca goalkeeper Miguel Moya stopped with his legs.

Ronaldo just failed to reach David Beckham’s cross seconds later.

David Cortes, surging forward from right-back, was Mallorca’s chief attacking threat and caused numerous problems for the Madrid defence.

First he sent a swerving effort just wide of Casillas’ goal after 20 minutes and, a minute after Owen had replaced Raul, his penetrating run and cross was well cleared by Francisco Pavon with Juan Arango lurking.

Figo also looked sharp on Madrid’s right, his fine run, turn and cross setting up Owen in the 34th minute, whose near-post header flashed just wide.

Roberto Carlos drilled a venomous free-kick wide after 39 minutes, and Ronaldo was thwarted by Moya a minute later after Zinedine Zidane’s clever flick had set him up.

Seven minutes into the second half, Owen displayed the kind of creativity that is sure to see him pushing hard for a regular place in the starting XI.

After outwitting his marker, the England man sent a perfect chip to the far post and Ronaldo was on hand to bundle the ball over the line with his chest.

But on the hour mark, Owen showed one of the weaker points of his game.

Sent clear by a Beckham through ball, Owen beat the square Mallorca back four for pace but then mis-kicked completely with only Moya to beat.

Madrid were almost made to pay for their profligacy, but luckily for Camacho’s side Mallorca were feeling equally charitable.

Substitute Andrija Delibasic headed straight at Casillas seconds after Owen’s miss, and the Madrid goalkeeper was forced into an alert double save six minutes later, keeping out Delibasic’s far-post header and then seizing on the follow-up from Marcos Vales.

Beckham had a quiet first game of the season but he almost created a goal for Ronaldo after 70 minutes.

The England captain crossed perfectly to the far post, but the Brazilian mis-timed his header and Mallorca survived.

Zidane produced an even more bizarre miss three minutes later. Set up beautifully by Ronaldo, the Frenchman had only to pick his spot but somehow blazed over the bar from 12 yards.

Mallorca had their chances and Casillas excelled again in the 84th minute, pushing away a fierce 20-yard drive from substitute Jorge Lopez.

Fellow replacement Delibasic made a big impact after coming on at half-time, but his shot on the turn in the final minute was also saved by the outstanding Casillas.