BARCELONA: A bullet header from Karim Benzema and a late Cristiano Ronaldo strike allowed Real Madrid kick off their La Liga campaign with a 2-0 victory over newly promoted Cordoba.

Benzema struck on the half-hour with a badly needed goal, having only scored once in the previous 15 games.

Cordoba did unsettle Real in the second half but Ronaldo hit a trademark 25-yard drive into the corner to settle the game in the final minute.

While they beat Sevilla to win the UEFA Super Cup earlier this month, Real were poor during pre-season and were outplayed by Atletico Madrid in the domestic Super Cup, losing 2-1 on aggregate last week.

It was a more attacking Real line-up than then one that took the field against Atletico in the Super Cup with new signing James Rodriguez starting ahead of Xabi Alonso in midfield.

After a scrappy start Real began to increase the pressure with Ronaldo and Toni Kroos having shots from the edge of the area which Cordoba keeper Juan Carlos Martin dealt with comfortably.

The pressure eventually told when Benzema opened the scoring, with Mike Havenaar going close at the other end from a corner.

The visitors made it difficult for Real after the restart and Xisco thought he had found an equaliser midway through the second half but was called offside, before Ronaldo ended any thoughts of comeback late on.

Meanwhile, champions Atletico Madrid made a sluggish start to the defence of their La Liga title with a 0-0 draw against Rayo Vallecano while a header from Karim Benzema and a late Cristiano Ronaldo strike helped Real Madrid beat promoted Cordoba 2-0.

Mario Mandzukic missed two clear chances in the first half for Atletico, whose Spanish Super Cup victory last Friday over Real appeared to take its toll as the players looked fatigued in the second half.

Simeone was absent from the touchline due to a ban from last season and he has been given a further eight-match sanction on Monday for his dismissal and angry reaction in the Super Cup.

Published in Dawn, August 27th, 2014