Three teams have won their first two matches and are early leaders in the league. Two of them are to be expected, Real Madrid and Barcelona, but the third, Rayo Vallecano, have surprised everyone winning consecutive matches against two teams who classified for Europe last season, Atlético de Madrid and now Mallorca. Playing at mid-day in intense heat which at times reached 40ºC, Rayo were given a helping hand by referee Pérez Lasa who sent off Siviero inexplicably for a second bookable offence halfway through the first half, possibly for something he said. Despite playing with 10 men, Mallorca took the lead when Carreras headed Djorkaj's cross past Keller four minutes before half time. In the second half however the numerical advantage finally took its toll, with Rayo scoring twice, firstly from an excellent shot from Luis Cembranos which left second choice keeper Leo Franco no chance, and then two minutes from time from debutant Canabal, on loan from Real Madrid. This was the third match in a row that Mallorca have thrown away the game in the last couple of minutes, and new manager Mario Gómez has some sorting out to do. Before the match fans voted to rename the New Vallecas stadium, which will now be named after Rayo's president Teresa Rivero, wife of controversial businessman of Rumasa fame, José María Ruiz Mateos.

Numancia played for the first time in their history in the Santiago Bernabeu stadium, and they brought 2,000 fans with them to celebrate the occasion. They started off as underdogs, logical given that their total budget for the year, including new signings, salaries, running costs etc. was only a quarter of the amount Madrid spent on one player, Nicolas Anelka. However, they held out for the first 45 minutes, keeper Alvaro Nuñez stopping everything that Real Madrid could throw at them (although he was lucky not to be sent off for a foul on Anelka outside of the penalty area). Toshack decided a change was needed, and brought on Steve McManaman for Guti at half time. Within a minute of the restart they were ahead, although the goal had nothing to do with the substitution. Roberto Carlos's long ball into the penalty box was met by Numancia defender Iván Rocha, who incredibly headed past his own keeper with nobody near him. Rocha had a night he will surely want to forget - he was sent off near the end of the match. A second substitution for Madrid lead to a second goal, Savio coming on for Anelka and scoring almost immediately after a good move with Morientes, his shot taking a deflection off a defender. McManaman added a third after Raúl's cross left him with a tap-in twenty minutes from time, and Hierro converted a twice taken penalty ten minutes later after Octavio had brought down Michel Salgado. Numancia got a late consolation goal in injury time from Caco Moran, and their fans went wild.