Reigning champions Real Madrid and its rivals Barcelona, both kicked off their La Liga season with disappointments.
Madrid started the defense of their title with a 2-1 defeat to Deportivo La Coruna at the Riazor, a place which Real had not won for seventeen years.
Mista, making his debut for Depor, headed in from six yards out after 27 minutes to put the home side ahead.
Ruud Van Nistelrooy leveled the score just two minutes after the break, hitting a neat volley inside the area.
The home side restored the lead within five minutes when Alberto Lopo headed a definitive goal past Iker Casillas from a corner.
In Numancia, new Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola got his league debut off to a terrible start, losing 1-0 to newly promoted Numancia.
The second division champions took a 13th-minute lead through Mario and Barça were unable to reply.
The visitors controlled the ball but failed to draw level, Samuel Eto'o and Lionel Messi going closest as they both hit the woodwork.
Meanwhile, Atlético Madrid following up their 4-0 win over Schalke in the Champions League qualification by trashing newly promoted Malaga.
Netherlands defender John Heitinga headed in a corner after 20 minutes before Uruguay striker Diego Forlan scored twice in six minutes just before half-time, the second from the penalty spot.
Substitute Florent Sinama Pongolle added a fourth ten minutes from time.
Last season's runners-up Villarreal shared for an opening point at Osasuna in a match where both sides finished with 10 men.
Marcos Senna's free-kick gave the visitors the lead just after the break before Iranian international Javad Nekounam leveled the score from the penalty spot.
Villarreal's Diego Godin and Osasuna's Miguel Flano were both sent off during the match.
Another title contender, Sevilla, were also held to a 1-1 draw at Racing Santander.
Luis Fabiano opened the scoring for Sevilla in the 71st-minute, but the lead lasted only four minutes as substitute Juanjo leveled for the home side.
The scoreline elsewhere, Athletic Bilbao crashed 3-1 at home to Almeria, Getafe won 2-1 at Sporting Gijón, and Real Betis went down 1-0 at home to Recreativo Huelva.
In Saturday night matches, Espanyol earned a 1-0 win over Valladolid, and Valencia beat Mallorca 3-0.
Madrid started the defense of their title with a 2-1 defeat to Deportivo La Coruna at the Riazor, a place which Real had not won for seventeen years.
Mista, making his debut for Depor, headed in from six yards out after 27 minutes to put the home side ahead.
Ruud Van Nistelrooy leveled the score just two minutes after the break, hitting a neat volley inside the area.
The home side restored the lead within five minutes when Alberto Lopo headed a definitive goal past Iker Casillas from a corner.
In Numancia, new Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola got his league debut off to a terrible start, losing 1-0 to newly promoted Numancia.
The second division champions took a 13th-minute lead through Mario and Barça were unable to reply.
The visitors controlled the ball but failed to draw level, Samuel Eto'o and Lionel Messi going closest as they both hit the woodwork.
Meanwhile, Atlético Madrid following up their 4-0 win over Schalke in the Champions League qualification by trashing newly promoted Malaga.
Netherlands defender John Heitinga headed in a corner after 20 minutes before Uruguay striker Diego Forlan scored twice in six minutes just before half-time, the second from the penalty spot.
Substitute Florent Sinama Pongolle added a fourth ten minutes from time.
Last season's runners-up Villarreal shared for an opening point at Osasuna in a match where both sides finished with 10 men.
Marcos Senna's free-kick gave the visitors the lead just after the break before Iranian international Javad Nekounam leveled the score from the penalty spot.
Villarreal's Diego Godin and Osasuna's Miguel Flano were both sent off during the match.
Another title contender, Sevilla, were also held to a 1-1 draw at Racing Santander.
Luis Fabiano opened the scoring for Sevilla in the 71st-minute, but the lead lasted only four minutes as substitute Juanjo leveled for the home side.
The scoreline elsewhere, Athletic Bilbao crashed 3-1 at home to Almeria, Getafe won 2-1 at Sporting Gijón, and Real Betis went down 1-0 at home to Recreativo Huelva.
In Saturday night matches, Espanyol earned a 1-0 win over Valladolid, and Valencia beat Mallorca 3-0.
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