Barcelona held by ten-man Racing

FC Barcelona began the new Primera División campaign by being held 0-0 at ten-man Real Racing Club Santander while Valencia CF, who had two players sent off, were beaten 3-0 at home by local rivals Villarreal CF.

Barcelona frustrated
With reigning champions Real Madrid CF and Sevilla FC having beaten Club Atlético de Madrid and Getafe CF respectively on Saturday, Barcelona were keen to match them but could find no way past Racing. That was despite Thierry Henry coming on for a competitive club debut on 62 minutes to link up with Ronaldinho and Samuel Eto'o and newly-signed Racing striker Euzebiusz Smolarek being sent off six minutes later.

Villarreal prevail
It was an even more unhappy opening for Valencia. Villarreal struck on 16 minutes when Jon Dahl Tomasson ran on to Javi Venta's through pass and beat Santiago Cañizares. Before half-time Valencia lost David Villa as he was booked first for dissent and then for simulation and it was 2-0 just past the hour as Villarreal substitute Matías Fernández was fouled in the box by Carlos Marchena; ex-Manchester United FC forward Giuseppe Rossi converted the penalty. A few minutes later Joaquín Sánchez received a straight red card for dissent and another summer Villarreal arrival, Santi Cazorla, made it three with a quarter-hour left.

Almeria elation
Promoted Real Murcia CF defeated Real Zaragoza 2-1 on Saturday and that was emulated by fellow newcomers UD Almeria as they won 3-0 at RC Deportivo La Coruña thanks to debutant Álvaro Negredo, Fernando Soriano and Albert Crusat. Segunda División champions Real Valladolid CF also stepped up superbly as they won 1-0 at RCD Espanyol thanks to Joseba Llorente's goal. CA Osasuna's trip to Athletic Club Bilbao was goalless, RCD Mallorca overcame UD Levante 3-0 and RC Recreativo de Huelva's game with Real Betis Balompié finished 1-1.