Spanish Super Cup: Rodriguez scores as Real held by Atletico

New signing James Rodriguez scored his first goal for Real Madrid but a late Raul Garcia equaliser for Atletico Madrid saw the first leg of the Spanish Super Cup end level at 1-1. 

Former Monaco striker Rodriguez, the Golden Boot winner in the World Cup, slotted home in the 80th minute.

But Garcia scrambled the ball home from a corner as the La Liga champions levelled before Friday's second leg.

Real's Cristiano Ronaldo came off at half-time with a suspected back injury.

The world player of the year was replaced by Rodriguez as the Colombia international made his first appearance at the Bernabeu Stadium, where supporters had paid tribute to club legend Alfredo Di Stefano before kick-off.

And the Champions League winners, who added the Uefa Super Cup to their collection by beating Sevilla in Cardiff last week, were a more potent force after the break.

The James Rodriguez story
Born in Cucuta, Colombia, 12 July, 1991
Played in Colombia and Argentina before signing for Porto in 2010, scoring 32 goals in 105 games and winning three Portuguese titles and the Europa League
Joins Monaco in 2013, scoring 10 times in 38 appearances
Scored six times for Colombia in the 2014 World Cup finals to win the golden boot
Signs for Real Madrid on a six-year contract for a fee reported to be £65m, making him the fourth most expensive player in history

Gareth Bale twice went close for Carlo Ancelotti's side, first seeing an angled drive saved by Miguel Angel Moya and then testing the keeper again with a fiercely-struck free-kick.

Moya was unable to hold the Welshman's effort but new Real signing Toni Kroos was unable to convert the rebound.

However, World Cup winner Kroos was involved in the opening goal as the Germany international played in Daniel Carvajal to cross low into the box.

Karim Benzema's shot was then blocked but the ball fell for Rodriguez to steer the ball home from eight yards out on 80 minutes.

That looked likely to give Real the advantage going into the return leg at the Vicente Calderon stadium but Atletico again showed their resilience to hit back.

Diego Simeone's side, who have lost the services of Diego Costa, Filipe Luis, David Villa and Thibaut Courtois since losing to Real in the Champions League final, were unbeaten against both Real and Barcelona last season.

And they extended that record when Garcia flicked the ball past Iker Casillas from inside the six-yard box.