Barca begin title defence with goalless draw

Getafe, Aug. 15:  Spanish champions Barcelona began their La Liga title defence with a frustrating 0-0 draw at Getafe on Sunday, with both sides reduced to 10 men in a bad-tempered clash.

Barca winger Raphinha was sent off for an elbow in the first half and Getafe's Jaime Mata was dismissed early in the second for two yellow cards.

Xavi Hernandez earned a red card himself for touchline complaints as his Barcelona side battled to find a late winner but, like last season, they started their domestic campaign with a goalless draw.

The Catalans had failed to score in their three previous visits to the Coliseum Alfonso Perez and Getafe got into Barcelona's faces from the start.

Elsewhere Real Betis snatched a late win at Villarreal through Willian Jose's stoppage-time strike. Ayoze Perez put the visitors ahead after fine work by Luis Henrique, but Jorge Cuenca pulled the Yellow Submarine level before Jose's late winner.

Last season's Copa del Rey runners-up Osasuna won 2-0 at Celta Vigo, inflicting defeat on the Galicians in veteran manager Rafa Benitez's first game at the helm.

Chelsea, Liverpool stalemate 

Chelsea and Liverpool had to settle for a 1-1 draw to start their Premier League season on Sunday as Tottenham also drew 2-2 at Brentford as they began life without Harry Kane.

After a week of battling to land the signing of Brighton midfielder Moises Caicedo for a Premier League record transfer fee, both Chelsea and Liverpool's need for the Ecuadorian was exposed in an explosive encounter.

Liverpool's bright start was rewarded when Luis Diaz prodded home the opening goal, but debutant Axel Disasi earned Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino a point on his first game in charge.

Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou said his side had shown there is life after Kane despite failing to get the Australian's reign off to a winning start.

Cristian Romero headed Spurs ahead on 11 minutes from James Maddison's wicked delivery. Brentford were also without their talismanic number nine as Ivan Toney began an eight-month ban for breaking betting on football rules. Bryan Mbeumo took over penalty duties in his absence to slot home the equaliser after a VAR review spotted a trip by Son Heung-min on Mathias Jensen inside the box.

Moments later Yoane Wissa's shot deflected in off Spurs new boy Micky van de Ven. Emerson Royal was the unlikely scorer of Tottenham's equaliser four minutes into 10 added at the end of the first half when he blasted home a loose ball from outside the box. (AFP)