Ronaldo leads Real's Spanish title charge

Ronaldo scored twice on his debut to lead Real Madrid to a 5-2 victory over Alaves in the Spanish league on Sunday and overshadow the exploits of joint-leaders Celta Vigo and Real Sociedad.

Celta replaced defending champions Valencia at the top of the standings after a late strike from Vagner earned them a 1-0 win over their rivals at Mestalla.

Real Sociedad also claimed a narrow win, 2-1 at home to Valladolid, to stay level at the top on 13 points from five games.

There was no matching the drama at the Bernabeu, though, as Ronaldo and Luis Figo both struck twice after Zinedine Zidane had set the ball rolling with a classy goal in the second minute.

After five games, Celta and Real Sociedad lead the standings, two points clear of Malaga after their 3-1 stroll past Atletico Madrid, who finished the game with eight men.

Real, the European champions, moved up to fourth with 10 points, their goal difference taking them ahead of Valencia.

Deportivo Coruna slipped to sixth on nine points after a surprise 2-0 defeat at home to Racing Santander.

Barcelona also had a disappointing home result, the Catalans twice having to come from behind to clinch a 2-2 draw with Osasuna.

They moved down to eighth on eight points, behind Real Betis on goal difference after the Andalucians drew 1-1 in a scrappy local derby at Sevilla.

Celta's victory at Valencia, a tale of three penalties, was arguably the performance of the day.

Valencia midfielder Ruben Baraja twice saw spot-kicks saved by Pablo Cavallero before Celta were awarded a penalty of their own in injury-time.

Santiago Canizares saved the original shot from Vagner but the Brazilian kept his cool to win the race for the rebound and hand Valencia a first defeat of the season.

ALL-OUT ATTACK

While that game was all about steely defence, Real Madrid and Alaves were engaged in all-out attack at the Bernabeu.

Zidane set his side on their way with a goal right from the top drawer.

Just 75 seconds had gone by when the Frenchman took a long ball forward from Roberto Carlos, turned inside the covering defender and beat Richard Dutruel with an arrowed right-foot shot.

Real looked a bit fortunate to get their second on 32 minutes, Javier Portillo going down under little or no pressure from Abelardo and Figo putting in the penalty.

Magno got one back on 37 minutes, heading in unmarked after Ivan Alonso's effort was palmed straight to him.

Alaves should have equalised on the hour as Tellez won a penalty but Casillas was able to save a weak Alonso shot.

Then followed the heroics from Ronaldo, who came on after 64 minutes and struck his first within 60 seconds, leaning back to control a Roberto Carlos cross on his chest and smashing in.

Figo made it 4-1 with a swift break from midfield before Ronaldo - twice World Footballer of the Year - grabbed his second thanks to Steve McManaman's accurate pass.

Alonso grabbed a second for Alaves before Ronaldo came close to marking his debut with a hat-trick, swiping a shot just wide with what proved to be the last kick of the game.

Real will have an eye on joining the leaders on 13 points when they play the remaining 47 minutes of a match away to Real Betis that had to be suspended because of floodlight problems.

Betis will have a 1-0 advantage when the match resumes thanks to a Capi strike 35 minutes into the original game.