Real Madrid and FC Barcelona lost their opening matches of the new Spanish league season yesterday.

Defending champion Madrid was defeated 2-1 at Deportivo La Coruna and has not won at Riazor Stadium since 1991.

Miguel Angel "Mista" Ferrer and Albert Lopo scored Deportivo's goals, while Ruud van Nistelrooy scored for Madrid.

Barcelona lost at promoted Numancia 1-0 in a major disappointment for new coach Pep Guardiola.

Numancia midfielder Mario Martinez decided the game in the 13th minute at Los Pajaritos Stadium with a fierce shot past goalkeeper Victor Valdes.

"It was a big slip-up. We attacked badly. We have to improve and keep going," Guardiola was quoted as saying by news agency Efe.

Villarreal, last season's runner-up, drew its first match at Osasuna 1-1 with both teams ending with 10 men.

Also yesterday, it was: Atletico Madrid 4, Malaga 0 Sporting Gijon 1, Getafe 2 Racing Santander 1, Sevilla 1 Athletic Bilbao 1, Almeria 3 and Real Betis 0, Recreativo Huelva 1.

Madrid lacked Robinho, who was left out by coach Bernd Schuster due to uncertainty about his future. The Brazil forward made a public appeal to the club earlier yesterday to let him join Chelsea before the transfer window closes on Monday.

Schuster's team, which is aiming for a third straight title this season, was also without suspended recent Dutch signing Rafael van der Vaart and his compatriot Wesley Sneijder, who is injured.

Madrid received an early warning when Mista hit the post from Pablo Alvarez's cross from the right in the second minute.

Mista, who joined Deportivo from Atletico in the offseason, made no mistake in the 27th when he met Andres Guardado's center with a downward header which bounced slowly into the net.

Madrid came close to an equalizer just before halftime when Marcelo's cross took a slight deflection off Deportivo midfielder Sergio Gonzalez and hit the bar.

Van Nistelrooy had better luck with a volley from Raul Gonzalez's pass which drew Madrid level in the 47th, although defender Lopo won the game for Deportivo five minutes later with a header from Guardado's corner.

Barcelona began the match with only one of its five offseason signings - former Sevilla right back Daniel Alves - although Guardiola brought on former Arsenal midfielder Alexander Hleb in the 56th and former Sevilla midfielder Seydou Keita in the 64th.

Barcelona attacked Numancia's goal after falling behind, with striker Samuel Eto'o coming closest in the 17th when he curled a shot that hit the bar four minutes later.