Villarreal hold expensive Real

Hot-shot summer signing Bale scores on debut; Barca win thriller

Gareth Bale had a bitter-sweet start to his Real Madrid career when the world's most expensive player scored on debut but Real dropped their first points of the La Liga campaign in a 2-2 draw at promoted Villarreal on Saturday.

The Wales winger, who joined from Tottenham Hotspur for a record fee of 100 million euros ($133 million) earlier this month, struck in the 38th minute at the Madrigal to make it 1-1 after Cani had put the home side ahead in the 21st.

Playing in a three-pronged attack with Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema, Bale sped into the area and clipped a Dani Carvajal cross into the net with his right foot before being mobbed by his new team-mates.

The 24-year-old, whose pre-season training was disrupted by the protracted negotiations over his move, was replaced by Angel Di Maria on the hour.

Ronaldo, the 94-million euro man who Bale succeeded as the most valuable player in soccer, netted a bizarre goal to put Real ahead in the 64th minute when his own shot cannoned back off a defender onto his leg and ricocheted into the net.

It was hard on an impressive Villarreal side, who were denied by a string of brilliant saves from Diego Lopez, but they were level in the 70th minute when Giovani Dos Santos, another former Tottenham player, lashed in a shot that crept into the net off the Real keeper.

The draw spoiled Real's perfect start to the season and they have 10 points from four matches, the same as Villarreal and two behind champions Barcelona and Atletico Madrid.
Barca had Alexis Sanchez to thank for maintaining their winning start after he came off the bench to score in the fourth minute of added time and snatch a 3-2 victory at home to Sevilla earlier on Saturday.

Barca have yet to settle under new coach Gerardo Martino and it was another unconvincing performance at the Nou Camp as they let slip a two-goal lead and were seconds away from dropping their first points of the campaign.

Atletico had far too much quality for Almeria on a festive afternoon for their fans packing a sun-bathed Calderon, scoring a 4-2 win.

David Villa, Diego Costa,  Tiago and Koke scored for Atletico.