Real Madrid started their 2014-15 campaign off against newly-promoted Cordoba at The Bernabeu on Monday evening, as they looked to impress with their new star players on show.
Title rivals Barcelona had won their opening game with a comfortable 3-1 win over Elche, Lionel Messi scoring a brace in that match so it was over to the Madrid rivals (Real and Atlético) to show what they could do.
Ancelotti showed his faith in Iker Casillas to start him in goal for the game, with doubters expecting a tough battle for the number one spot due to new signing Costa Rican goalkeeper Keylor Navas. He was one of the best in the league last season with Levante and also impressed in the World Cup for his country.
Cristiano Ronaldo started the match aswell, despite fears over a potential injury knock that he suffered in the first leg against Atlético Madrid in their Spanish Super Cup final last week. And for all of his world-class talent as one of the best players in the world, the Portuguese forward was lucky to have even been on the pitch after he was seen to punch defender Diego Godin during the second-leg game in an off-the-ball incident.
Angel di Maria was not on-show, as he said his goodbyes before flying into Manchester to finalise his £63.9 million move to Manchester United to break the British transfer record before the transfer window closes next Monday.
As the game began, it was clear to see that Madrid were dominating in-front of their home supporters in the first period and Cordoba were doing their utmost with a hard-working defensive effort to try and stop them from scoring. This was reiterated in the 20th minute with a well-worked set-piece routine from the hosts, as Modric faked a costless-kick delivery to pass the ball across to the edge of the area where Ronaldo hit a stinging shot towards goal, only for the goalkeeper Juan Carlos to parry away the danger.
Cordoba were doing their best to keep the scoreline even, but Real eventually took their chance and broke the deadlock in the 29th minute thanks to a bullet header from French striker Karim Benzema, who used his neck muscles to power through a corner delivery from new team-mate Toni Kroos to bounce in off the post - the goalkeeper could only look as the headed effort flew past him into the net.
Madrid continued with their unrelenting search for more goals, with James Rodriguez and Ronaldo both coming close within minutes of Benzema's opener - but for the duo to be denied by the goalkeeper and the offside flag respectively.
Silky maestros Kroos and Modric linked up well together in the midfield, creating chances out of nothing and making space for passes in the area.
Cordoba striker Havenaar narrowly missed a chance from close range, as Casillas looked nervy when a corner was taken on the stroke of half-time after getting nowhere near the ball.
The referee blew the whistle for half-time, with Real holding a slender 1-0 lead despite all of their domination going forward having tested goalkeeper Juan Carlos on numerous occasions. Cordoba still had a chance of getting a result out of the game, but they needed to be more clinical and take their chances otherwise they would get punished on the break.
As the second-half began, Cordoba made a substitution with Pinillos being replaced by Nicolás Cartabia. It seemed as though it was a completely new team in the second period; Cordoba were going forward quickly from the kick-off and got Real on the backfoot within the opening minutes of the second 45.
Centre-back Sergio Ramos had to react quickest to deny a close range effort on-goal with a last-ditch block, whilst goalkeeper Casillas dived low to his right to save Matos' shot. Havenaar was close to being set through with a defence-splitting pass into the area, but Casillas did well again, this time to react quickly and come out of his box to smother the danger as Real regained possession.
James Rodriguez came close to scoring his first league goal for his new club after a corner delivery fell into his path from 10 yards out, he hit a left-footed power strike towards goal but Juan Carlos did well to parry his initial shot as a goal-kick was awarded when he struggled to keep the ball at his feet.
Former Newcastle striker Xisco came on with just over 20 minutes to play, as the visitors looked for an equaliser. That equaliser came in due course in the 70th minute only for it be ruled offside, as Casillas struggled to get to an initial shot from substitute Fidel and the rebound was pounced on by Xisco, but the linesman spotted that the striker was offside.
In the end, it was the correct decision - but a warning sign for Madrid. A triple substitution for the hosts, as Rodriguez, Arbeloa and Benzema all came off.
An interesting change for Real; with German midfielder Sami Khedira coming off the bench for Benzema with 15 minutes to play. He received both cheers and boos from the supporters in the ground, with his future still uncertain and reports suggesting that he had left club training last week without consent - having rejected a contract extension amid speculation he is unhappy with his first-team minutes.
Real went on the counter attack, with Ronaldo crossing an inviting delivery into the area having spotted the run of team-mate Gareth Bale who jumped high to head the ball towards goal, but goalkeeper Juan Carlos again made another comfortable catch to keep his side in the game.
And after being frustrated again with another offside call late on, Cristiano Ronaldo doubled the lead to kill off the game and make it 2-0 to Real in the last minute of normal time. His swerving strike bounced right in the path of goalkeeper Juan Carlos who was unable to parry as it beat him into the bottom corner of the net.
The referee eventually blew the whistle to end the game, in which Cordoba were unlucky not to even get a goal for their troubles but Real took their chances and got a 2-0 victory on their opening match of the new season.