Roberto Soldado struck twice as Valencia defeated Racing Santander 4-3 on the opening day of the season.

Soldado had put Los Che ahead in the first minute, but he put through his own net to level things up six minutes later and Lautaro Acosta added a second goal for Racing in the 14th minute.

Adrian Gonzalez made it 3-1 to the visitors 10 minutes after the break, but Adil Rami reduced the deficit almost immediately and then Soldado's late brace settled the topsy-turvy encounter in the hosts' favour.

Real Sociedad won 2-1 in the first game of the new Spanish season thanks to an impressive performance at Sporting Gijon.

Imanol Agirretxe scored with neat headed finishes either side of the break to give the Basque side a 2-0 lead, but Sporting replied almost immediately through Miguel De Las Cuevas' penalty.

In the late kick-off, an 88th-minute header from Ruben Castro earned promoted Real Betis a 1-0 win at fellow top-flight new boys Granada after substitute Jonathan Pereira had capitalised on a mistake by defender Manuel Lucena.