DPA © Real Madrid kicked off their league campaign in sumptuous style on Sunday with a 6-0 romp at Zaragoza, three of the goals coming from a rampant Cristiano Ronaldo.
The Portuguese hitman, who broke all the Spanish scoring records last season, made it 10 in the 25th minute with a calm left-foot finish after being set up by Mesut Oezil.
Just four minutes later Ronaldo had a scissors kick block, but left-back Marcelo took advantage to make it 2-0.
Zaragoza already looked like a beaten side, and the only question was how many goals would Real score. Zaragoza only avoided relegation last season on the last day, and will surely face a similar ordeal this season.
Xabi Alonso made it 3-0 in the 65th minute with a powerful long shot, Ronaldo added the fourth seven minutes later after being set up by Angel Di Maria.
Kaka then came off the subs' bench and made it 5-0 with another handsome strike. Real have been trying to sell off the Brazilian all summer, but no club has been prepared to pay Madrid's asking price of around 50 million euros (72.5 million dollars).
Ronaldo completed the slaughter two minutes from time after over-worked Zaragoza keeper Roberto had failed to hold a shot from Kaka.
The impressive win makes Ronaldo and company the first leaders of the season, on goal difference above a Valencia side that came from behind to beat Racing Santander 4-3 on Saturday.
Earlier on Sunday, Mallorca made a good start with a 1-0 home defeat of inoffensive Espanyol.
The only goal in Palma came in the 62nd minute, when Jonathan de Guzman broke the deadlock with a powerful drive from outside the penalty box, after being set up by Tomer Hemad.
Espanyol fought manfully for an equalizer but without Pablo Osvaldo, sold last week to AS Roma, lacked penetration in attack.
Meanwhile, Levante were battling out a 1-1 draw at Getafe, who went ahead in the 62nd minute through Miku, after good work by Mehdi Lacen.
However, Juanlu made it 1-1 for Levante 13 minutes from time. His first shot was blocked by Getafe's Juan Rodriguez but he made no mistake with his second drive.
Also on Sunday, Rayo Vallecano managed to battle out a 1-1 draw away to Athletic Bilbao on Sunday in an encouraging return to the first division for the Madrid club.
Rayo, who have not been in the top flight since 2003, went a goal down in the 56th minute when Ander Iturraspe took a pass from Iker Muniain and made it 1-0 with a precise low drive.
But just seven minutes later Movilla - at 36 one of the oldest players in La Liga - equalized with a powerful left-foot drive from the edge of the penalty area.
Rayo then had few problems in holding out for a valuable draw.
"We have made a fairly good start," said Movilla. "We did make a few mistakes today, but we were able to correct them during the game. All in all, this is not a bad result at all."
For the first time ever, there are four Madrid teams in the top flight this season: Rayo, Getafe, Real and Atletico.
Atletico made a disappointing start to their league programme on Sunday, being held 0-0 at home by defiant Osasuna.
Sunday's late game was due to bring together southern rivals Sevilla and Malaga.
