MADRID, Sept 12 (AFP) - England captain David Beckham and former Celtic favourite Henrik Larsson warmed-up for this week`s Champions League openers by scoring the winning goals as Real Madrid and Barcelona went joint top of the Spanish league on Saturday.
Atletico Madrid later Sunday joined the two giants on top of the table with a 2-0 win at Albacete.
Beckham scored the only goal of the game as Real Madrid struggled past promoted Numancia 1-0 while Swedish international Larsson grabbed the second in Barcelona`s 2-0 win over Seville.
Beckham scored with a trademark curling free-kick from 30 metres after 17 minutes of the match at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium to hand his team their second win in two matches.
It was also a confidence-boosting victory ahead of Wednesday`s Champions League opener against Bayer Leverkusen in Germany.
But it was an unconvincing display by Real who struggled to impose their silky skills on the La Liga newcomers who have the smallest budget in the top flight.
The visitors even forced more corners than their illustrious hosts and would have counted themselves unlucky not to have come away with at least a draw.
To add to their problems, Real, who had to play without inujured defenders Walter Samuel and Jonathan Woodgate also lost Francisco Pavon with an injury.
"The match was very difficult, more than we thought it would be. The two weeks we spent with our national teams meant we did not perform as well," admitted Beckham.
"We played well in the first half but we went off a little bit after the break.
"I think I scored a really good goal and I`m happy about that and I hope to score as many goals as I can in a Real Madrid shirt this season. It was also special because my wife and kids were watching me at the game."
Beckham`s England teammate Michael Owen again started on the bench but came on as a second half substitute for Raul to make his home debut.
Barcelona, who take on Larsson`s former club Celtic in the Champions League in Glasgow on Tuesday, faced Seville without injured Brazilian star Ronaldinho but he was hardly missed at the Nou Camp.
French international Ludovic Giuly, who moved to Spain from Monaco in the summer, scored his second goal in two games for the Catalan giants in the 35th minute.
Larsson made sure of the three points in the 77th minute with a superb volley from a pass from Deco.
"We need to fight together and make sure everybody gets involved," said coach Frank Rijkaard.
"We must keep finding a way to move into the opposition half without giving them too much space."
Barca`s celebrations were cut short when Brazilian midfielder Thiago Motta suffered a serious knee injury which will sideline him for at least six months.
Defending champions Valencia, who begin their Champions League campaign at home to Anderlecht on Tuesday, drew 2-2 at Athletic Bilbao after being 2-0 down at one stage.
Ismael Urzaiz and an Igor Iraola penalty gave Bilbao a 2-0 lead inside the opening 20 minutes.
But Marco Di Vaio, signed from Juventus in the summer, pulled one back in the 66th minute before Migeul Angel Angulo levelled in the 78th minute after being superbly set-up by Argentinian international Pablo Aimar.
On Sunday, Deportivo La Coruna suffered an embarrassing home defeat losing 3-1 to Osasuna.
Uruguayan international Walter Pandiani had given Deportivo a 19th minute lead before a penalty from Australian striker John Aloisi brought the teams level ten minutes after the interval.
Veteran Serbian stiker Savo Milosevic then added two more goals for the three points to pile on the misery for Deportivo, just three days before their Champions League opener against Olympiakos.
In Sunday`s late match, Atletico Madrid earned a share of top spot when Fernando Torres and Ariel Ibagaza scored in the last five minutes to earn the three points at Albacete.