Kluivert is in striking form

Patrick Kluivert broke his barren spell in impressive fashion by getting both of Barcelona's goals in their 2-1 away victory at newly-promoted Sevilla yesterday.

Kluivert scored 18 league goals for the Catalan club last season but the Dutch international's form dipped in the last two months and he failed to score in the final eight games.

However, in Seville, he refound his touch and was unstoppable.

A devastating second-half display from Deportivo Coruna helped last season's Spanish league runners-up to an impressive 4-0 win over Valladolid in their opening match yesterday.

The Galicians scored three goals in a magical seven-minute spell that stunned the visitors, the only team to snatch a league win at the Riazor stadium last season, and in the process made it clear that big spenders Real Madrid and Barcelona will not have it all their own way this season.

Real Madrid got their title defence off to a poor start as they were beaten 1-0 at Valencia on Saturday. Luis Figo was sent off in injury-time for a second bookable offence.

Italian champions AS Roma were held to a 1-1 draw at Verona as title hopefuls Juventus and Inter Milan got off to winning starts on the opening day of Serie A yesterday. And, in the surprise of the day, Chievo celebrated their first ever game in Serie A with a 2-0 win at Fiorentina.

Chievo, who are based in a tiny suburb of Verona and have risen from the amateur ranks, added to the problems facing cash-strapped Fiorentina.

Inter beat Perugia 4-1 but there was disappointment for Lazio, held 1-1 at home by promoted Piacenza, and AC Milan, who had to come back from two goals down to earn a 2-2 draw at Brescia.

Of the contenders for Roma's crown, it was Juventus who made the best first impression. French striker David Trezeguet and Alessandro Del Piero both scored twice as Juventus brushed aside Serie A newcomers Venezia 4-0.

English coach Roy Hodgson saw his new club Udinese fight back from 2-0 down at home to Torino thanks to second half goals from Roberto Muzzi and Roberto Carlos Pavon, while Parma were held to a 1-1 draw at Lecce.