MADRID — Atletico Madrid got its La Liga campaign up and running in less than convincing fashion when Antoine Griezmann's deflected free kick secured an edgy 1-0 win at home to promoted Las Palmas Saturday. Valencia, which like Atletico is hoping to challenge heavyweights Barcelona and Real Madrid for the title, also failed to shine in its opening game of the season and was held to a 0-0 draw at Rayo Vallecano.
Griezmann's strike clipped the Las Palmas wall on its way into the net in the 17th minute at the Calderon but Atletico struggled to create further chances and the visitor, back in Spain's top flight for the first time in 13 years, made it sweat in the second half.
Las Palmas defender David Simon was left unmarked at the far post and headed against the crossbar and Atletico goalkeeper Jan Oblak had to make an excellent save when the ball ricocheted towards goal at a corner 18 minutes from time.
Colombia striker Jackson Martinez, making his La Liga debut after joining from Porto in the close season, had a quiet night before making way for Fernando Torres midway through the second period. Valencia will need to up its game if it is to hold off Monaco and secure a lucrative berth in the group stage of Europe's elite club competition.
Espanyol joined Atletico, champion in 2014, on three points at the top when it won 1-0 at home to Getafe, while David Moyes' Real Sociedad side was held to a 0-0 draw at Deportivo La Coruna.
Lyon loses to Rennes Lyon fell to its first defeat of the season, losing 2-1 at home to Rennes Saturday as Mehdi Zeffane set up the opener before scoring the winner against his former club.
In the evening matches, Reims and Caen failed to maintain their perfect start to the season as they lost 1-0 at Nantes and 2-1 at Nice, respectively.
Nantes moved second along with Angers and Bastia, which won against Ajaccio and Guignamp. They are two points behind Paris Saint-Germain, which beat Montpellier 1-0 Friday.
Lyon is five points behind PSG.
“It's a difficult day because we weren't up to it and we fell into the trap that Rennes had set for us with their game plan,” Lyon coach Hubert Fournier said. “They had two shots and two goals. We were lacking too much to have a hope of winning the match.”
Elsewhere, Monaco failed to boost its confidence ahead of the second leg of its Champions League playoff against Valencia — where it trails 3-1 — as it drew 1-1 at Toulouse.
Roma held 1-1 at Verona oma was held to a 1-1 draw at Hellas Verona on the opening day of the Serie A season Saturday, while Lazio beat newly-promoted Bologna 2-1.
Bosko Jankovic volleyed Verona into the lead on the hour but its advantage lasted barely five minutes before Alessandro Florenzi leveled with a long-range strike.
“They are a difficult team to face at home and it will be like that for the others too,” Roma coach Rudi Garcia said. “We can say that it was an OK draw, looking at the chances.”
Roma finished second last season, 17 points behind Juventus, which kicks off its bid for a fifth successive league title against Udinese on Sunday. Roma hosts Juventus next week. — Agencies
