Spanish international Diego Tristan netted the winning goal as Deportivo de La Coruna beat Sevilla 2-1 in a third-round game Saturday and continued as the only team in the Spanish league to boast a 100 percent record.
Deportivo's victory lifted it two points clear of Real Madrid which earlier crushed Valladolid 7-2, with star striker Raul Gonzalez grabbing a hat trick.
Raul, who netted twice last Wednesday in Spain's 2-1 win over Ukraine in a Euro 2004 qualifier, took his tally to five goals in three days with strikes in the 32nd, 34th and 75th minutes.
The other goals in Madrid's overwhelming victory came from Zinedine Zidane, Luis Figo, Ronaldo and an own goal by Brazilian defender Julio Cesar. Other results Saturday were Racing de Santander 0, Real Sociedad 1; and Celta de Vigo 0, Real Betis 2.
Deportivo has nine points from three games, two more than second-place Madrid. Betis and Real Sociedad are joint third with five points. Deportivo substitute Tristan netted from close range off a pass by another replacement Fran Gonzalez with 12 minutes remaining to continue his team's fine start to the season.
Uruguayan striker Walter Pandiani put Deportivo in the lead from a pass by Alberto Luque in the 39th minute of the game, which came four days before its Champions League game at AEK Athens in the Champions League. The goal was Pandiani's third in three matches.
Another Uruguayan, Dario Silva, leveled for Sevilla in the 51st minute with a volley from a narrow angle after a pass by Spanish international Jose Antonio Reyes. Despite having right back Hector Berenguel ejected in the closing stages for a foul on Reyes, Deportivo clung on to its victory. Sevilla, which lost its unbeaten record this season, stays with four points.
Raul stole the limelight as Madrid warmed up in spectacular fashion for its Champions League match against Olympique Marseille on Tuesday.
"Today, Raul gave a fantastic display," Madrid coach Carlos Queiroz said after the game.
The Spanish striker's successful evening began just before kick off when he received the league trophy Madrid won last season from Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar.
It took 21 minutes for Julio Cesar, who left Madrid for Valladolid in the summer, to begin the goal rush by heading a shot by Ronaldo past his goalkeeper Albano Bizarri, another former Madrid player.
Raul's first goal arrived 11 minutes later when, with his back to the goal, he turned home a cross from the right by Luis Figo with a deft flick. Raul netted again with a perfectly flighted chip over Bizarri two minutes later after chesting down a long ball by Brazilian left back Roberto Carlos.
David Beckham, who gave a confident display on his second league appearance at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, drilled a long ball from the left in the 53rd minute for Zidane to volley home Madrid's fourth goal.
Beckham then played a part in Valladolid's opening goal by deflecting Argentine midfielder Pablo Ricchetti's free kick with his arm two minutes later. Striker Roberto Losada netted the resulting penalty.
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