Football: David Beckham's Real Madrid Dream..

David Beckham's Real Madrid dream continues apace.

If his debut goal against Mallorca could not have been better scripted, not even the most audacious Hollywood scriptwriter would have dared write what happened after only two minutes of his league debut.

Madrid's new 'Galactico' was on hand to finish off a flowing move by sidefooting home from inside the six yard box to score the first goal of the new Spanish Primera Liga season.

If last Wednesday won over the crowd, tonight's goal put them in his pocket and the England captain almost assured himself hero status on 51 minutes with a shot which rattled the Betis crossbar.

However, Beckham will have also discovered it will not be a stroll for his star-studded side this season as Betis gave as good as the got and were unlucky not to come away with a point following some entertaining attacking football of their own.

Following last Wednesday's convincing 3-0 win over Mallorca, Real Madrid coach Carlos Queiroz made no changes to his side to start the league against Betis.

Beckham duly took his place on the right of midfield while Raul Bravo kept his place alongside Ivan Helguera in central defence.

Betis, meanwhile handed debuts to Martin Palermo and Uruguay international Lembo, while Joaquin Sanchez was entrusted with feeding Palermo with the crosses on which he thrives.

Hardly had the stage been set when Beckham has scored.

Zidane fed Ronaldo, who picked out Raul. The Madrid captain played a neat return pass along the inside left channel, Ronaldo cut into the box and hit a low cross for Beckham to sidefoot into an empty net from close range - his second touch of the game.