Deportivo 2 - Real Madrid 1

Deportivo: Aranzubia; Laure, Lopo, Zé Castro, Filipe Luis; Sergio, De Guzman; Pablo Alvarez (Juan Rodríguez 79'), Verdú, Guardado; Mista (Riki 61', Omar Bravo 73'). 4-2-3-1.
Madrid: Casillas; Sergio Ramos, Pepe, Heinze, Marcelo; Diarrá, Guti (De la Red 80'); Higuaín, Raúl (Drenthe 80'),Robben; Van Nistelrooy. 4-2-3-1.

Goals:
1-0. 26. Mista. Got free in area to head Guardado cross down past Casillas.
1-1. 47. Van Nistelrooy. Drove volley past Aranzubia after Raúl shot blocked.
2-1. 51. Lopo. Ran in to head Guardado corner into far corner of net.

Real Madrid couldn't have had a bigger challenge on the opening weekend, visiting a Riazor stadium where they hadn't won in seventeen years. And they will have to wait another twelve months at least after losing 2-1 to Miguel Angel Lotina's Deportivo.

The Galicians started well, Mista hitting the bar before opening the scoring, heading a cross from Guardado down past Casillas. Madrid's reply was an effort from Robben which Aranzubia kept out, and a Marcelo cross which took a deflection off the head of Sergio and ballooned on to the crossbar.

Two minutes after the restart Madrid were level, Van Nistelrooy firing a shot into the net after an effort from Raúl came off the back of a defender. But their joy only lasted four minutes before Lopo restored the lead, getting above the defence to head Guardado's corner wide of the keeper.

With Saviola injured and Robinho left at home pending a possible move, Schuster had nothing left in reserve. The jinx continued, and Madrid were off to a losing start.