2-1:The Whites Start La Liga with a Win!



Ra?l made this statement right ahead of the encounter: we are not 100% yet and our concern now should be just to win the points in these first matches. That’s what they did, with the expected difficulties, playing one of the most powerful squads this season. Scorer Beckham hit first thanks to an assist from Ronaldo, who later scored the winning goal (he only has 33 to go now). Queiroz’ boys have begun the tournament just like they finished the last one: at the top position.



The logic of football was upside down tonight. Beckham, who is supposed to be the best ‘passer’ and Ronaldo, assumedly the best striker, seem to have swapped parts. The Englishman has become the provisional top scorer of the white team thanks to the fantastic assists from the Brazilian. After last Wednesday’s target, today’s opened the score in the second minute against one of the toughest rival this season.



The move set off on the left flank, which was the weakest point of the opponent both in the first and second halves. Varela failed to stop the constant charges by Figo, who came up with two clear opportunities, though Ra?l and Zidane’s shots eventually went too high. Roberto Carlos also find some gaps, just like Zidane and Ronaldo, who wasted another opportunity ruined by the visiting goalie. Betis did not give much hassle, so the game went a bit flat without much excitement about it, as if everything was already decided right from the beginning.

THE MATCH:
2 - REAL MADRID: Casillas; Salgado, Helguera, Rubén Bravo, Roberto Carlos; Cambiasso, Beckham, Figo, Zidane (Portillo, min. 86); Ra?l (Solari, min. 77) and Ronaldo (Morientes, min. 86).
1 - BETIS: Contreras; Mingo, Lembo, Juanito, Varela (Ito, min. 85); Arzu, Assunçao, Joaqu?n, Capi, Ismael (Fernando, 59); Palermo (Maldonado, min. 73).
REFEREE: Fernando Carmona Méndez, Extremadura Referees Association. Yellow cards to Varela, Palermo, Arzu, Capi and Ronaldo.
GOALS:
1-0: Min. 2: Ronaldo’s assist to Beckham, who scores close-up.
1-1: Min. 33: Juanito, header.
2-1: Min. 61: Ronaldo, from Zidane’s pass.
OTHER FACTS: Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, almost full. Liga Matchday 1.