Real kicks off with win

Slow-starting Madrid defeats Espanyol 2-0 in opener

MADRID (Reuters) -- A glancing header from Ivan Helguera and a cool finish from substitute Steve McManaman gave slow-starting Real Madrid a 2-0 win over Espanyol in their opening league game of the season at the Bernabeu on Monday.

Kicking off the Spanish season a day later than most of their rivals because of their participation in the European Super Cup on Friday, Real looked as if they too had become distracted by the arrival of new signing Ronaldo in the capital.

And with the Brazilian striker looking on from the stands it was Espanyol who took the early initiative as Real appeared to find it difficult to motivate themselves following their brilliant Super Cup victory against Feyenoord.

But Real woke from their slumber just before the half hour mark as first Luis Figo and then Zinedine Zidane found their way past the Espanyol defence and the Helguera goal followed almost immediately.

The Spanish international got his head to a Figo corner and sent the ball spinning past Espanyol keeper Sergio Sanchez and into the net 10 minutes before the break.

Real took control after the break as Figo cut loose on the wing but with last season's leading scorer Fernando Morientes sitting on the bench and brooding over the club's attempt to sell him as part of the Ronaldo deal they needed someone to add the finishing touch.

Guti headed on to the bar midway through the second half and was then denied a goal by a sharp save from Sanchez, while Raul spurned several good chances to open his account for the season.

Morientes and McManaman came on in the last 10 minutes and it was the English midfielder who put the match beyond doubt with a classy finish.

Exchanging a neat one-two with Raul, the former Liverpool man shuffled into the area before slotting the ball neatly past Sanchez to score in the 89th minute.

Reigning league champions Valencia opened the defence of their title with an impressive 2-0 win away to Real Mallorca on Sunday, but last season's runners-up Deportivo Coruna were dealt a comprehensive 4-2 home defeat by a sparkling Real Betis.

Louis van Gaal's Barcelona can count themselves unlucky to have only taken one point after they were held 2-2 by promoted Atletico Madrid at the Nou Camp, also on Sunday.

Spain calls up Salgado and new cap Varela for Greece

MADRID (Reuters) -- Spain coach Inaki Saez has called two new players into his squad for their Euro 2004 qualifier against Greece on Saturday after defender Carles Puyol and midfielder Pablo Orbaiz were ruled out through injury on Monday.

Real Madrid right back Michel Salgado will replace Barcelona's Puyol and uncapped defender Fernando Varela of Real Betis has been drafted in to cover for Orbaiz of Athletic Bilbao.

Spain open their group six campaign against Greece in Athens. They also meet Ukraine, Northern Ireland and Armenia.

Salgado, who has won 18 caps but was not included in Spain's World Cup squad, showed he is on fine early season form with an impressive performance in Real's European Super Cup victory over Feyenoord in Monaco on Friday.

Former under-21 international Varela is known to Saez from his time as Spain's youth coach, and played in Betis's 4-2 destruction of Deportivo Coruna in Sunday's opening league match.

Contra joins Milan exodus to Atletico Madrid

MADRID (Reuters) -- Romania defender Cosmin Contra became the latest AC Milan player to join Atletico Madrid when he signed a five-year contract with the Spanish club for an undisclosed fee on Monday.

Contra is the fourth player to move directly from Milan to promoted Atletico in recent months, following Spaniards Jose Mari and Javi Moreno and Italian Demetrio Albertini.

Argentine defender Fabricio Coloccini, who played on loan at Alaves last season but is owned by Milan, also joined the club in the close season.

Right back Contra, signed from Alaves last season, will return to Spain after just a year at the San Siro.

Contra was unable to win a regular first team place at Milan and the recent arrival of Croat defender Dario Simic pushed him further down the pecking order.

Madrid's Munitis joins Racing on loan

MADRID, Spain (AP) -- Real Madrid international winger Pedro Munitis has joined former team Racing de Santander on loan for the season, the two clubs confirmed Monday.

The 27-year-old, who has fallen out of favor since joining the Spanish powerhouse from Racing two years ago, made the starting lineup in just six league matches last season.

Munitis, capped 21 times, was one of three players who made loan moves to the newly promoted club ahead of Spain's transfer deadline Monday. The others were Valencia striker Diego Alonso and Flamengo midfielder Mesias Conceicao.

Israeli international Idan Tal joins Rayo Vallecano

MADRID, Spain (AP) -- Rayo Vallecano has signed Israeli international Idan Tal from Everton, the Spanish club said Monday.

Rayo declined to give details of the fee paid to the Premier League club for the left-sided midfielder.

It will be Tal's second spell in Spain. He played for Merida during the 1999-2000 season before moving to Everton.

Capped 28 times, he was previously with Israeli teams Maccabi Petach-Tikva and Hapoel Tel Aviv.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.