MADRID - Champions Atletico Madrid made a sluggish start to the defence of their La Liga title with a 0-0 draw against Rayo Vallecano while a header from Karim Benzema and a late Cristiano Ronaldo strike helped Real Madrid beat promoted Cordoba 2-0.

"The team played very well, they could have scored in the first half and later what happened is normal," Atletico coach Diego Simeone said.

"We were better in the first half and had three clear chances and Rayo improved in the second half and caused us problems."

Simeone was absent from the touchline due to a ban from last season and he has been given a further eight-match sanction for his dismissal and angry reaction to it in the Super Cup last Friday.

Atletico were missing in-form Raul Garcia in attack through suspension while midfielder Arda Turan was still injured.

It was a more attacking Real lineup with James Rodriguez starting ahead of Xabi Alonso in midfield and they failed to gel in a scrappy opening spell.

"We need to speed up the play more," coach Carlo Ance- lotti said. "The most important thing was to start with a win, which we did, even though we had to suffer." - Reuters