BARCELONA: A late goal gave Leganes a winning debut in La Liga with a 1-0 victory at Celta Vigo, while Las Palmas roared back for a 4-2 win at Valencia to complete the opening round of matches on Monday.

Leganes, who earned promotion to Spain’s top flight for the first time in the 88-year history of the Madrid club in June, held their own with Celta throughout the match and took the lead when Victor Diaz volleyed in a headed pass in the 75th minute.

“You can’t ask for more,” Diaz said. “A debut in the first division and a goal for me.”

Las Palmas stunned Valencia at the Mestalla with Croatian striker Marko Livaja netting a brace.

Santi Mina headed Valencia into a sixth-minute lead, but Livaja equalised before Jonathan Viera converted a penalty and Kevin-Prince Boateng stretched the visitors’ advantage on his Las Palmas debut.

Mina struck again to make it 3-2 after just 34 minutes but Livaja rounded out a famous victory late on.

On Sunday, a Gareth Bale brace and a Marco Asensio lob helped Real Madrid make light work of Real Sociedad, running out 3-0 winners at the Anoeta while Atletico Madrid had to settle for a 1-1 draw at home to promoted Alaves.

Barcelona also won their season-opener, a 6-2 rout of Real Betis on Saturday, but Atletico fell two points behind the powerhouses right out of the gates of what it hopes to make a three-way championship race for a fourth straight year.

Published in Dawn, August 24th, 2016