New players shine in Real, Barca win
(Agencies)
Updated: 2004-08-31 06:10

Michael Owen provided the inspiration for Real Madrid in a 1-0 victory over Real Mallorca, while Barcelona cruised to a 2-0 win away to Racing Santander as Spain's big two made solid starts to the new season on Sunday.

Owen came off the bench to set up Ronaldo with an eye-catching run and cross seven minutes into the second half of his debut for Real at Son Moix.

Barcelona kept pace with their historic rivals thanks to goals from two of their new recruits against Racing.

French forward Ludovic Giuly turned in a Juliano Belletti cross after 68 minutes and Samuel Eto'o stroked in a penalty after Xavi had fallen on the edge of the area seven minutes later to complete a convincing win for the Catalans.

Real Zaragoza took provisional top spot with a 3-1 win at home to debutants Getafe, while Atletico Madrid won 2-0 at home to Malaga on Saturday.

Deportivo Coruna, who finished in third place last season, lost a little early ground with a 1-1 draw with Espanyol on Saturday. Champions Valencia host Villarreal today.

Owen's intervention, after replacing the injured Raul in the first half, was the only moment of class in Real's opening victory under new coach Jose Antonio Camacho.

The England international collected the ball outside the area and ran at the defence before supplying a deft cross to the far post for his Brazilian strike partner to chest in.

"The best thing is to score goals but if you can't, it's good to help your teammates to," said Owen.

Liverpool beaten

A first-half strike by Kevin Davies and some sterling defence earned Bolton Wanderers a 1-0 home win over a disjointed Liverpool, lifting them into third place in the Premier League on Sunday.

Bolton have won three matches and lost one for nine points, three less than leaders Arsenal, who won 4-1 at Norwich City on Saturday, and Chelsea, 2-1 winners at home to Southampton.

Liverpool, going down to their second successive defeat after losing 1-0 at home to Graz AK of Austria in the second leg of their Champions League qualifier in midweek, remain equal 10th on four points after three matches.

Davies struck in a quick counter-attack in the 38th minute.

Henrik Pedersen crossed low from the left, goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek failed to cut the ball out and it reached Davies beyond the far post, who shot right-footed into the net.

Spanish debutant Luis Garcia steered what would have been a Liverpool equalizer past Dudek from a chip over the defence, but a goal was ruled out in an offside decision that looked dubious in television replays.

Davies said of the decision: "I don't think it's luck. We've limited them today, I don't think Jussi (Jaaskelainen) had to make a save."

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