Ronaldo saves Real, Laudrup nets first win

Ronaldo's fortuitous goal proved decisive as Madrid picked up their second victory in three games at the start of the Primera Division season to put them on top of the table, with Atletico Madrid and Valencia set to play on Sunday.

After a goalless first half, Argentina winger Angel Di Maria gave the visitors the lead when he cut in from the left and curled a superb shot into the far top corner.

Raul Tamudo equalised with his thigh from Antoine Griezmann's free-kick but Ronaldo's deflected free-kick 16 minutes from time sealed the points.

Real Mallorca picked up their first competitive win under new coach Michael Laudrup by seeing off Osasuna.

Gonzalo Castro's 25th-minute penalty put the home side ahead and Jonathan De Guzman sealed Mallorca's win with virtually the final kick of the match.

Athletic Bilbao fought back from two goals down to earn a share of the spoils against Sporting Gijon in entertaining 2-2 encounter at El Molinon.

Sporting, who lost their opening match of the season 4-0 to Atletico Madrid but bounced back with a 2-0 win over Real Mallorca, looked on course to make it back-to-back home victories as they netted twice through Miguel de las Cuevas and Gaston Sangoy in the opening 23 minutes.

However, Athletic quickly halved the deficit through Carlos Gurpegi and then ensured they would make the shortish trip back to Bilbao with a point when Fernando Llorente equalised just before the hour-mark.

Jose Maria Callejon's goal two minutes into the second half was enough to earn Espanyol their second Primera Division win of the season at the expense of Almeria.

Callejon, a product of the Real Madrid youth ranks, bagged the game's only goal in the 47th minute to settle a poor encounter at the Estadi Cornella-El Prat.

Source: espnsoccernet.com