Uruguayan substitute Walter Pandiani scored his second goal in two matches as Deportivo de La Coruna beat Athletic de Bilbao 2-0 Wednesday to move to the top of the Spanish league after two rounds.
Spanish international Juan Carlos Valeron also netted for Deportivo, which is the only team in the division with a 100 percent record this season.
Real Betis drew 2-2 with Espanyol, while Mallorca downed newly promoted Zaragoza 2-0. Atletico de Madrid gained a 1-0 win over another newcomer, Albacete.
PHOTO: REUTERS
Elsewhere, the third promoted team Murcia drew 1-1 with Racing de Santander in its first topflight match in the Spanish league in 14 years, while Valladolid defeated Malaga 1-0.
Deportivo has six points, two ahead of six teams -- Santander, Real Madrid, Valencia, FC Barcelona, Sevilla and Valladolid. Bilbao, Albacete and Zaragoza are the only sides without a point after two matches.
Deportivo midfielder Valeron opened the scoring in the 11th minute by spooning the ball over Bilbao goalkeeper Daniel Aranzubia after playing a wall pass with striker Diego Tristan.
Pandiani, who replaced Tristan in the 56th minute, staged a repeat of Sunday's game by heading home 60 seconds later for his team's second goal. Pandiani, back with Deportivo this season after a year's loan with Mallorca, also substituted for Tristan against Zaragoza on Sunday and headed the winning goal two minutes later.
Betis let a two-goal lead slip against Espanyol, with defender Alberto Lopo heading the equalizer four minutes into injury time.
Spanish international midfielder Joaquin Sanchez opened the scoring on the half hour with a volley from a delicate chip by Brazilian midfielder Marcos Assuncao.
Betis' Argentine striker Martin Palermo, playing his second game since his recent arrival from Villarreal, extended the lead by pushing the ball into an empty net from a pass by forward Fernando Fernandez. Substitute Raul Molina set Espanyol on the road to recovery in the 68th minute and, immediately after Lopo's leveler, Joaquin showed his frustration by being ejected. Betis' Brazilian international forward Denilson started his first league match in more than five months following a knee operation.
Zaragoza, back in the top flight after a year's absence, continued its poor start to the season against Mallorca, which gained its first points. Mallorca took the lead in the 43rd minute when Dutch striker Arnold Bruggink netted an angled drive for his first Spanish league goal since his summer move from PSV Eindhoven.
Cameroon international Samuel Eto'o added the second goal with a 54th-minute penalty, the striker's second spot kick of the season, after Zaragoza defender Carlos Cuartero was adjudged to have handled. Atletico made a nervous start against a limited Albacete side but improved after halftime to obtain its first victory -- and its first goal -- of the season.
Midfielder Jorge Larena broke the deadlock with a low, curling free kick in the 50th minute. Murcia delighted 12,000 fans at its La Condomina Stadium by netting after just nine minutes when striker Richi Perez pushed the ball past former Manchester United goalkeeper Ricardo Lopez from a pass by Luis Garcia.
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