Super Cup delight for Deportivo

Spanish champions Valencia CF were humbled 3-0 by Copa del Ray winners RC Deportivo La Coruña in the first leg of the Super Cup on Sunday.

Major surprise
Deportivo tore through an under-strength Valencia side with three goals in the opening 32 minutes from Juan Valerón, who was outstanding in the first half, Víctor Sánchez and Nourredine Naybet. Valencia will have the chance to turn the result round at their Mestalla stadium in a weeks' time but it will be a major surprise if Deportivo do not take the first trophy of the new season.

Valerón opener
The visitors did create the first clear chance of the match, with Francisco Rufete only fractionally wide from the edge of the box when a Miguel Angulo effort was half-cleared. Deportivo were quickly in control, though, and Valerón gave them a deserved lead on 13 minutes after the Spanish international midfield player controlled the ball with a neat header and poked a shot past Valencia keeper Santiago Cañizares.

Goal rush
Valerón created the second nine minutes later, beating three players near the left touchline before setting up Fran to cross into the area. Cañizares managed to reach Roy Makaay's first-time effort but the keeper spilled the ball and Victor reacted first for a simple tap-in. Valencia could find no way to combat Valerón and he was soon setting up the third. His spectacular through-ball found Makaay on the left and the Dutchman beat Cañizares and sent in a cross-shot that was finished by defender Naybet.

Baraja introduced
Deportivo started the second half in the same fluent style and Makaay forced a good save from Cañizares with his snap shot five minutes after the break. Valerón's influence was being limited by the introduction of Rubén Baraja as a half-time substitute for the visitors, though, and Valencia gradually got back into the game.

Big kick-off
The Spanish league season kicks off on the weekend of August 31/September 1, when Valencia will begin the defence of their title with an away game at RCD Mallorca.