Primera Liga / Barcelona 1 Real Madrid 2: As the final whistle blew at the Camp Nou on Saturday night, Roberto Carlos sprinted across the turf to David Beckham, wearing a smile almost as broad as his thighs.

Locked in an embrace, they jigged up and down, celebrating Real Madrid's first league victory in Barcelona for 20 years.

The Brazilian's choice of dance partner was no coincidence. If any last doubts lingered over David Beckham's ability to succeed in Spain they had just been laid to rest in the toughest, most hostile arena.

Thousands of fans lined up on the grandstand-like steps leading to the Camp Nou to welcome Madrid's team coach with abuse, cans and stones. Inside, the welcome was louder still, an ear-bleeding whistle from nearly 100,000 cules.

And although the reception was hottest for Luis Figo, Beckham quickly discovered what the home fans think of him. The first time he got near the ball was on the far touchline in the second minute. Immediately a banner unfurled behind him, saying, in English: "Beckham is a wanker." Yet he relished the challenge, the atmosphere and the crunching midfield battle with Barca's hot-headed Brazilian midfielder Thiaggo Motta, whom Beckham caught with an elbow.

Increasingly Madrid got the upper-hand and the Camp Nou grew quieter, frustrated with their side's lack of ideas in a disappointing first half. A Patrick Kluivert shot spoke volumes as it sailed out for a throw, and when Roberto Carlos scored a deflected first the ground deflated. It may have been Madrid's only chance but it was deserved. With their second opportunity in the 73rd minute Ronaldo added another. Kluivert's header seven minutes from time could not rescue the home side

"Coming here as a Madrid player in front of 98,000 and beating Barcelona is just as sweet as winning the European Cup," Beckham said. It was also, he might have added, a watershed - the end of the beginning, the successful overcoming of his greatest test.

It mattered little that Madrid's goals were scored by Roberto Carlos and Ronaldo. Nor that their goalkeeper, Iker Casillas, made a string of saves as Barcelona came steaming back late on, led by substitutes Marc Overmars, Ricardo Quaresma and Javier Saviola.

This was as much Beckham's triumph. Not because it was the England captain who picked out Zinedine Zidane to create the first; it was rather that, as the latest galactico, this season belongs to him as last year belonged to Ronaldo and the year before to Zidane. Each year at Madrid is defined by its newcomer. This is Beckham's year: all Madrid's successes this season will forever be defined as his successes.

It began so differently. In the summer, commentators saw Beckham as a limited player, who delivered lethal free-kicks and crosses but little else. He was, many reckoned, overrated - an ineffectual, far from dedicated pretty boy propped up by his off-field marketing machine. They said he had only come to sell shirts - which he has, a million of them.

But Beckham had other ideas. "The one thing I had to prove was that I could actually play football," he said. He has succeeded admirably, topping the league in passes, plays and assists.

And yet it is not his ability that truly endears Beckham to the Spanish. Rather it is his spirit, work-rate, athleticism and attitude. He is David the Lionheart. His team-mates mention his mileage in hushed, almost reverential tones. The full back Michel Salgado says: "I think we've discovered a new Beckham - one who runs, who battles, who never backs down."

Coach Carlos Queiroz agrees: "David brings intensity, that 90 minutes of complete concentration that characterises English football.Every game David takes another step forward. He is gaining knowledge and experience in the middle. But his commitment, aggression and attitude are always fantastic."

BARCELONA: Valdes, Gabri (Quaresma, h-t), Reiziger, Puyol, Van Bronkhorst, Cocu, Xavi, Motta (Saviola, 77), Gerard, Luis Garcia (Overmars, h-t), Kluivert

REAL MADRID: Casillas, Salgado, Raul Bravo, Pavon, Roberto Carlos, Figo, Helguera, Beckham, Zidane, Raul (Solari, 85), Ronaldo (Portillo, 76).

Guardian Service