Beckham opens league account as Ronnie saves Real's day

David Beckham made a goalscoring debut in the Spanish League but it was a Zinedine Zidane-Ronaldo combination which prised three points from battling Real Betis in a 2-1 success at the Bernabeu stadium.

Caught by Beckham's sucker punch just two minutes into the opening league game of the season, modest Betis thereafter gave as good as they got and could count themselves unlucky not to have earned a point after exposing Real's rickety defence on several occasions.

Beckham stunned the visitors, and perhaps even himself, as he found himself in centre forward territory barely six yards out to prod home a low left-wing cross from Roberto Carlos in the second minute, the goal almost a carbon copy of Real's opener in Wednesday's Super Cup success over Real Mallorca - except that Raul bagged that one.

Beckham had scored in that match too - with a rare header - and here only the crossbar prevented him from adding to his tally shortly after the break.

But the wild applause which greeted his goal died to a whimper after 34 minutes when Joaquin levelled for Betis with a powerful header, outjumping Argentine defender Cambiasso following a corner on the right.

Real, reigning league champions, have allowed the title to slip from their grasp four times in the past eight seasons - though they have added three European Cups in that time in stacking up a continental record of nine.

But this season with Beckham in their ranks they have vowed to land trophies at home and abroad to give substance to their boast that the 'meringues' are now the biggest club in the world.

However, the occasionally frenetic nature of their play in a midfield stuffed with creative talent lacked a calming foot on the ball to draw the sting from enthusiastic rivals.

Claude Makelele provided such an influence over the past three seasons but following his bust-up with the club over a salary some five times lower than some of his more glamorous colleagues, Real earlier confirmed he is being sold to Chelsea for 24 million euros.

Just before the break Beckham sent a freekick from out on the left just over before smashing a long-distance effort in open play against the bar for his first significant contribution of the second half.

But it was mercurial Frenchman Zidane who unlocked the door as his run and cross from the left found Ronaldo, who buried a first-time volley from the edge of the box to steal the points, somewhat fortuitously, for the hosts.

In another early match, Espanyol and last season's runners up Real Sociedad drew 1-1.