4 questions answered as Liga new season kicks off

The opening round of the Spanish Liga new season gave answers to four questions:

1. Real Madrid go marching on

Real Madrid kicked off the new season as they ended the old one: taking what was eventually an easy win. Zinedine Zidane's side may have benefitted from some wayward finishing from Deportivo, who would have pushed them harder had they taken their chances, but in the end there were few doubts over the merits of the win.

There was no Ronaldo, but Gareth Bale silenced critics with his first goals on the summer, while Karim Benzema and Lucas Vazquez also produced intelligent displays in attack to show the suspended Ronaldo may be important, but he is by no means vital to Real Madrid.

Zidane was also able to give a debut to midfielder Marcos Llorente, who many believe may go out on loan on what was another day of 'business as usual' for the champions, from their three goals to Sergio Ramos' sending off.

2. Messi is still Barcelona's main man

Neymar has gone, Luis Suarez is injured and the squad looks to be thin as the club tries desperately to make signings, but at least Barca coach Ernesto Valverde has still got Leo Messi.

Messi may not have scored as Barca kicked off their season with a 2-0 win at home to a revamped Betis, but he was at the heart of most of his side's best move, hitting the woodwork twice into the bargain.

Barca's technical secretary Robert Fernandez explained after the game that the club and the player had a "total" agreement for the Argentinean to sign a new contract, which would good news for fans and coach after what has been a painful summer.

3. Atletico may find it tougher

Although they showed their traditional personality to come back from 2-0 down away to Girona to claim a point, there were some worrying signs from Atletico Madrid against a team playing its first ever game in the Liga Santander.

Antoine Griezmann may have signed a new contract, but looked very much out of sorts as he was sent off in Girona, while the rest of the side seemed to lack sharpness.

With no players able to come in until January, Diego Simeone's side lacks new blood and maybe run the risk of getting stale. New faces (hopefully Diego Costa, Atletico fans will say) will provide a boot in the New Year, but by then the Liga train could have left the station and be halfway up the line.

4. Long season for Las Palmas

Last season kicked off with Las Palmas handing out a lesson in football as they won 4-2 away to Valencia; this season began with them losing 1-0 in the same ground in a game they never looked like winning.

Although they have made signings this summer, Las Palmas have lost key players such as Kevin Prince Boetang, Roque Mesa and Jese, while coach Quique Setien has left to join Betis.

The second half of last season saw Las Palmas fall away badly and Manolo Marquez, the former B-team coach surprisingly named a Setien's replacement has a job on his hands with a squad that looks weaker than a year ago.