By DPA
Madrid : Tight home wins for big boys Real Madrid and Valencia against newly promoted teams and a draw for troubled Athletic Bilbao marked the start of the weekend action in the Spanish Primera Liga.
Wesley Sneijder led Real to a 3-1 defeat of Almeria, while Valencia needed a helping hand from Lady Luck to beat Valladolid 2-1 Saturday night.
In the day’s third match, Bilbao were held to a disappointing 1-1 draw by Zaragoza.
This is the first time since 1991 that Real won their first three La Liga matches and are comfortably on top of the table with nine points.
Javier Saviola, playing as Ruud Van Nistelrooy was rested, put Real ahead in the 36th minute.
Almeria had what looked like a good goal disallowed, saw a good penalty claim turned down and then had midfielder Albert Crusat harshly sent off.
In the 68th minute, Sneijder made it 2-0 with a classy free kick, his fourth goal so far.
Kalu Uche pulled a late goal back for Almeria, but supersub Gonzalo Higuain made it 3-1 for Real in the 86th minute.
“Almeria played a good game, but we helped them with some poor passing,” said Real coach Bernd Schuster. “I am more content than ever, because it is very important to win this kind of game.”
The only bad news for Real was the left calf muscle injury suffered by defender Gabriel Heinze, which makes him doubtful for Tuesday’s UEFA Champions League debut against Werder Bremen.
Valencia, meanwhile, were struggling to turn the tables on lively Valladolid, and needed a streaky David Silva goal in the 89th minute to win.
Valladolid didn’t deserve to lose. They had gone ahead in the 10th minute through Daniel Kome, only for Fernando Morientes to quickly level for Valencia.
Valladolid had the better chances in the second half, and the Valencia fans responded by jeering their own team.
With just one minute remaining in regulation time, a speculative shot from Sevilla was deflected by a Valladolid defender past his own goalkeeper.
“Sometimes you need a bit of luck in football,” said a delighted Silva.
The fortunate win takes Valencia up to second with six points.
Saturday’s midnight-finisher was a colourful 1-1 draw between Athletic Bilbao and Zaragoza, both of whom have yet to win.
Teenager Markel Susaeta gave Bilbao an early lead with a powerful free-kick, and Diego Milito quickly levelled for Zaragoza after being put through by Gabi Fernandez.
Bilbao had the better chances at the end but were foiled by veteran Zaragoza keeper Cesar Sanchez.
Both teams have just two points out of nine. Bilbao could be facing another grim relegation struggle, and Zaragoza are shaping up to be the big under-achievers of the season after spending heavily during the summer.