© EuroFootball.com
The European champions, defending their title, "Barcelona," needed just 36 minutes at home to prove their undeniable superiority against Pamplona's "Osasuna," who finished fourth last season.
In the "Camp Nou" stadium, the Catalonia superclub surged ahead in just the first minute of the match when the Cameroonian Samuel Eto'o scored after excellent play by Deco and Ronaldinho. This player doubled the lead after 25 minutes, taking advantage of a defensive error, while young Argentine Lionel Messi scored a goal in the match after ten minutes.
Although Barcelona failed to increase their lead in the second half, neither did their opponents manage to score, so the Catalans celebrated a confident victory.
In a duel of two "summer spenders" in Madrid, "Valencia" celebrated a 0-1 victory over the local "Atletico." The only goal of the match was scored in the seventh minute by Spanish national team forward David Villa, after a pass from Vicente from the left wing.
Atletico tried to equalize the result but lacked success. In the 66th minute, the hosts gained a numerical advantage on the field when "Valencia" left-back Emiliano Moretti was sent off, but after ten minutes, the strengths were leveled as "Atletico" star Fernando Torres received a red card.
It is worth mentioning that both teams had to play without several key players in this match: "Valencia" were without Spanish national team left-back Asier del Horno, right-back Joaquin, and former national team forward Fernando Morientes.
Meanwhile, "Atletico" saw the appearance of the young Argentine star Sergio Aguero and Argentine national team defender Maxi Rodriguez only after a substitution.
Statistics
Pamplona 3 - 0
1' [1 - 0] Samuel Eto'o
26' [2 - 0] Samuel Eto'o
36' [3 - 0] Lionel Messi
Madrid 0 - 1
7' [0 - 1] David Villa
66' Emiliano Moretti sent off ("Valencia")
76' Fernando Torres sent off ("Atletico")
Sunday matches
Villarreal - Recreativo
Real Sociedad - Sevilla
Betis - Athletic Bilbao
Mallorca - Deportivo
Levante - Real
Gimnastic - Celta
Getafe - Racing Santander
