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MADRID. — Real Madrid got their season up and running when Gareth Bale and James Rodriguez struck twice in a 5-0 drubbing of Real Betis on Saturday while La Liga champions Barcelona edged Malaga 1-0 to maintain their perfect start.

New coach Rafa Benitez restored James to the starting line-up against last season’s second division winners after he was controversially left out in the 0-0 draw at another promoted side, Sporting Gijon, on the opening weekend. The Colombian was in scintillating form at the Bernabeu and crossed for Bale to head home in only the second minute.

James smashed in a superb free kick before halftime and Bale crossed for Karim Benzema to make it 3-0 two minutes into the second half. Playmaker James then fired in an acrobatic overhead kick three minutes later as Real put Seville-based Betis to the sword.

Betis had a chance to pull a goal back when Raphael Varane conceded a penalty for a foul on substitute Jorge Molina but Keylor Navas saved Ruben Castro’s weak 61st-minute effort. Bale, who overshadowed an out-of-sorts Cristiano Ronaldo, sealed a resounding win with a long-range effort a minute from time that cannoned in off a post.

Earlier, Thomas Vermaelen scored his first goal for Barca in their laboured win over Malaga at the Nou Camp, a second consecutive 1-0 victory for the European champions after they beat Athletic Bilbao by the same score last weekend. Gijon spoiled Asier Illarramendi’s return to Real Sociedad’s midfield after rejoining from Real Madrid this week when they held the Basque club, coached by Scot David Moyes, to a 0-0 draw in San Sebastian. — Reuters.