Cash-strapped Valencia started the new season on the right note with a 2-0 home win over rivals Sevilla, who were reduced to 10 men following the dismissal of Frederic Kanoute.
Mali international Kanoute was sent off close to halftime for two dangerous aerial challenges and Valencia took full advantage with second half goals from Juan Mata and Pablo Hernandez.
Valencia were poor at home last season, so this was the perfect start against one of their direct rivals for a Champions League spot.
David Villa was expected to be one of the big name exits this summer, with Valencia’s financial troubles well-documented.
Villa saw potential moves to Barcelona and Real Madrid fall through, however, and appears to be focused on Valencia.
A cut-up Mestalla pitch meant neither side could play their fluid passing game, but Valencia coped better with the conditions and were given a helping hand with the sending off of Kanoute.
Seconds before halftime the former Tottenham Hotspur striker collected a second yellow card for crashing into Carlos Marchena having already been booked for catching Bruno with a stray elbow.
“He should never have been sent off,” Sevilla coach Manolo Jimenez said. “My player [Kanoute] got to the ball and Marchena got there late.”
Mata, a Barcelona target this summer, netted with a swing of his left boot two minutes after the break and Hernandez wrapped up the points with a fortunate shot that flew into the top corner.
Earlier, Atletico Madrid came down off their Champions League cloud, crashing to a 3-0 opening day league defeat at Malaga.
Atletico had qualified for the Champions League, drawing Chelsea in the group stages, but their inconsistency suggests it will be another roller-coaster season.
Nabil Baha put Malaga ahead on 34 minutes and defender Manu added a second on his full league debut, before Xavi Torres netted late on.
Villarreal will expect to challenge Atletico for third spot, with Barcelona and Real Madrid expected to be first and second, and the post-Manuel Pellegrini era started with a 1-1 draw against Osasuna on Sunday.
Ernesto Valverde has taken over the reins from Pellegrini, who jumped ship for Real Madrid, but could not start with a win.
Valverde handed Brazilian forward Nilmar, who cost 12 million euros (US$17 million), his debut in attack.
Winger Santi Cazorla put Villarreal ahead on 31 minutes, but the lead was short lived as Walter Pandiani equalized six minutes later.
“I thought we were going to win the match, but we have to accept the point because at times Osasuna were better,” Valverde said.
In other matches, Roberto Soldado scored a sensational hat-trick to fire Getafe to the top of the table with a thumping 4-1 win at Racing Santander.
Elsewhere, Athletic Bilbao got over their Spanish Super Cup loss to Barcelona with a 1-0 home victory over Espanyol.
Japan international midfielder Shunsuke Nakamura, a free transfer from Celtic, made his Espanyol bow, but it ended in defeat as Gaizka Toquero struck a 78th-minute winner.
Xerez’s first ever game in the Spanish top-flight — 62 years after their foundation — ended in a 2-0 reverse at Real Mallorca.
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