MADRID, Aug. 19 -- Real Madrid gave new coach Julen Lopetegui a much needed win their league debut in the Liga Santander when they beat Getafe 2-0 in the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium on Sunday night.
Lopetegui left Luka Modric and new signing Thibaut Courtois on the bench, with Dani Ceballos starting in midfield and Keylor Navas continuing in goal despite conceding 4 goals in the European Supercup last week.
In front of a disappointing turnout in the Bernabeu, Gareth Bale hit the bar with a header before full back Dani Carvajal's opened the scoring with a rare header in the 20th minute.
Bale scored Madrid's second of the game in the 52nd minute after a good pass from Asensio, who was unlucky to hit the woodwork himself a few minutes later.
Although it was far from a vintage Real Madrid display, the points rarely looked in doubt against a rival whose only shot on target came in the 91st minute.
Alejandro Gallar made history for newly promoted Huesca as he scored two first half goals to give them a 2-1 win away to Eibar in their first ever match in the Spanish top-flight.
The win makes Huesca just the third side ever to win away from him in their Primera Liga debut.
Portuguese striker Andre Silva scored a hat-trick on his debut for Sevilla as they won 4-1 away to Rayo Vallecano to ruin the Madrid side's return to the Liga Santander.
Fran Vazquez opened the scoring for Sevilla, who also had former Girona coach Pablo Machin making his league debut in the dugout, and Silva then scored his three goals before Adrian Embarba scored a late penalty for Rayo.
Leo Messi was back to his best as FC Barcelona kicked off their defense of the Spanish Liga Santander with a 3-0 win at home to Deportivo Alaves on Saturday night.
Messi scored twice in what was eventually a comfortable win after a difficult first hour for Barca, who were denied time and again by a tight Alaves defense and a series of saves from keeper Fernando Pacheco.
However, once Messi opened the scoring with a clever 64th minute free kick, Barca found more space; Phillipe Coutinho scored their second with seven minutes left to play and Luis Suarez them put Messi in to round off the scoring in injury time.
Defense errors from Villarreal helped gift Real Sociedad forwards Willian Jose and Juanmi goals to give the side from San Sebastian a 2-1 in the Estadio de la Ceramica.
Gerard Moreno had put Villarreal ahead with an excellent solo goal, but after that the best news for the home side was Santi Cazorla's return to action in Spain after his long struggle with what had threatened to be a career ending ankle injury.
Saturday began with a 1-1 draw between Celta and Espanyol: Mario Hermoso's 45th minute shot gave Espanyol the lead, but Celta claimed a point after David Lopez was unfortunate to deflect a cross into his side's goal seven minutes after the break.
The season started on Friday night with a dull 0-0 draw between Girona and Valladolid, while Jose Luis Morales scored twice as Levante shocked Betis with a 3-0 win in the Benito Villamarin Stadium.
The first round of games ends on Monday with Atletico Madrid travelling to face Valencia while Eduardo Berizzo makes his debut as Athletic Club Bilbao boss when his side entertain Leganes.