A lavish Real Madrid side was made to sweat before grinding out a 2-0 win at home to newly promoted Cordoba as both sides began their 2014-15 La Liga campaign.
French striker Karim Benzema calmed the nerves at the Bernabeu when he put Real in front with a powerful header off a Toni Kroos cross on the half-hour mark.
Former Newcastle United player Xisco had the ball in the Real Madrid goal in the second half but his effort was ruled out for offside.
The points were sealed for Real in stoppage time when Cristiano Ronaldo opened his account for the season with a speculative long range effort.
The result sees Real behind early pace-setters Barcelona and Celta Vigo on goal difference at the top of the league.
Barça eased to a 3-0 win over Elche despite playing half of the match with 10 men after Javier Mascherano got sent off, while Celta Vigo got a 3-1 win at home to Getafe.
Defending champions Atletico Madrid meanwhile played out a goalless draw at city rivals Rayo Vallecano in La Liga’s other Monday night fixture.
Atletico played the match without manager Diego Simeone who began his eight-match ban imposed by the Spanish football federation following an incident during the second leg of the Spanish Super Cup against Real Madrid.