Valencia, Real Sociedad kick off with narrow wins
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E-mail Xinhua, August 15, 2022
With Real Madrid not kicking off their La Liga campaign until 22:00 local time, there were two matches played in Spain on Sunday afternoon.
Gennaro Gattuso began his spell as Valencia boss with a 1-0 win at home to newly-promoted Girona.
Carlos Soler scored the only goal of a tight game from the penalty spot on the stroke of half-time after a free-kick struck Valary Fernandez's outstretched arm.
Valencia had Eray Cormet sent off early in the second half for a dangerous challenge, but Girona failed to create any real chances of note in the game.
Takefusa Kubo's debut goal gave Real Sociedad a 1-0 win away to Cadiz. The Japanese forward ran onto Mikel Merino's through-ball and volleyed home the only goal of the game as the home side had keeper Jeremias Ledesma to thank for not conceding more goals.
Saturday saw FC Barcelona kick off the new La Liga season with a 0-0 draw at home to Rayo Vallecano.
A new-look Barca impressed in brief spells, but Rayo keeper Stole Dimitrievski only had to make two difficult saves all night, from Ansu Fati and Sergio Busquets.
Busquets was then sent off in injury-time after catching Rayo's Radamel Falcao with a flying elbow to complete a disappointing evening for Barca in a full Camp Nou.
Villarreal spoiled Real Valladolid's return to the top flight, with second-half goals from Nicolas Jackson and Alex Baena giving Unai Emery's side a 3-0 win in the Jose Zorrilla Stadium.
Joselu's 98th-minute penalty saved a point for Espanyol away to Celta Vigo, who had led 2-0 through Iago Aspas and Goncalo Palencia, only for Edu Esposito to pull a goal back in the 72nd minute penalty, before Oscar Mingueza's late foul allowed the former Alaves striker to complete the fightback.
The new season began on Friday night with Osasuna winning 2-1 at home to Sevilla thanks to Chimy Avila's ninth-minute header and Aimar Oroz's 74th-minute penalty, with Rafa Mir scoring for the visitors.
The opening round of matches ends with three games on Monday as Athletic Bilbao face Real Mallorca, Getafe entertain Atletico Madrid and Real Betis play Elche.
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