Honoring victims of attacks, FC Barcelona wins La Liga opener

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Wearing shirts honoring victims of the recent attacks in Spain, Barcelona opened its Spanish league season with a comfortable 2-0 win over Real Betis on Sunday.

Players had the word "Barcelona" instead of their names on the back of their shirts, and the Catalan hashtag "TOTSSOMBARCELONA" (We are all Barcelona) was on display around the Camp Nou stadium. The message was also shown on the stadium's large screens, as well as on many banners carried by fans.

An emotional minute's silence was held before the game as the music of Catalan cellist Pau Casals played in the background.

Before the minute was up, the more than 55,000 fans at the stadium broke into a round of applause and began chanting "No tinc por" (I'm not afraid), a chant which has become a symbol of people's reactions to the attacks that killed 14 people and injured more than 120 in Barcelona and the nearby seaside resort of Cambrils.

Extra security was implemented in and around Camp Nou.

There was a minute's silence before every Spanish league match this weekend.

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Without Neymar and the injured Luis Suarez, Barcelona got off to a winning start in the league after consecutive losses to rival Real Madrid in the Spanish Super Cup final.

It scored two goals three minutes apart near the end of the first half — an own-goal by Betis defender Alin Tosca and a close-range shot by Sergi Roberto. Both goals came after plays started by Gerard Deulofeu, one of the players expected to try to replace Neymar after his world record transfer to Paris Saint-Germain.

"We lost depth with Neymar's departure and we have to find a way to overcome that," Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde said.

Lionel Messi looked lively but wasn't able to score his 350th goal in La Liga. He came close, though, being denied by the woodwork three different times.

BALE LEADS WAY

Gareth Bale made the most of the absence of Cristiano Ronaldo by scoring one goal and setting up another to make sure Madrid got its title defense off to a winning start.

It was also an important opportunity for Bale to show that he should keep his spot in the starting 11 after Ronaldo completes the remaining three matches of his suspension for pushing a referee in the Spanish Super Cup. Francisco "Isco" Alarcon and Marco Asensio had superb performances to lead Madrid to both the European and Spanish Super Cups and they are putting pressure on Bale for his spot in the lineup.

After withstanding Deportivo's early surge, Bale provided the opening goal in the 20th when he tapped in a rebound.

Casemiro added a second goal seven minutes later, and Bale assisted Toni Kroos to round off the victory in the 63rd.

Madrid's easy win was only marred by Sergio Ramos being sent off in stoppage time when he picked up his second booking.

DISAPPOINTING START

Athletic was held by Getafe to a 0-0 draw despite playing nearly 30 minutes with an extra man at its San Mames Stadium.

Getafe midfielder Alvaro Jimenez was sent off with a second yellow card in the 66th minute but Athletic was not able to take advantage.

Getafe claimed a first-half goal but the referee ruled that the ball did not cross the goalline.

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