The defending champions were at their fluent best with new signing Wesley Sneijder particularly prominent.

The Holland midfielder, signed from Ajax in the close season, netted twice to add to efforts from Raul, Ruud van Nistelrooy and Guti.

The win sees Bernd Schuster's men go to the top of the table having also won their opener, against city rivals Atletico last weekend.

Ronaldinho shrugged off the speculation surrounding his Barcelona future by scoring twice as the Catalan giants eased past Athletic Bilbao 3-1.

The Brazil playmaker was linked with a move to Chelsea before Friday's transfer deadline but showed his commitment to the Barca cause with a virtuoso display which proved too good for Athletic.

Ronaldinho's double - the second coming from the penalty spot - gave the hosts a commanding half-time lead and although Markel Susaeta pulled one back, Yaya Toure's first goal for Frank Rijkaard's side settled the contest.

Both sides finished with 10 men with Barca's Rafael Marquez and Athletic's Lertxundi Koikili seeing red.

Valencia bounced back from their humbling by Villarreal last weekend with a 2-1 win at newly-promoted Almeria.

Atletico Madrid are still searching for their first win of the season after coming from behind to earn a 1-1 draw with Real Mallorca.

Deportivo La Coruna had to come from behind twice to avoid a second consecutive reverse at the hands of promoted opponents, this time against Real Valladolid.

Manu del Moral came off the bench to grab a 90th-minute equaliser for 10-man Getafe in a 1-1 draw with Recreativo Huelva.

Espanyol remain without a league win after letting slip a two-goal advantage in the last seven minutes against Real Betis, drawing 2-2 in Seville.

Yesterday, Real Murcia gained a creditable goalless draw away to Levante.

Real Zaragoza and Racing Santander shared a 1-1 draw. Oscar Serrano opened the scoring for Racing but then Ricardo Oliveira equalised for Zaragoza who have had a poor start to the season.