David Beckham's Real Madrid debut pulled in big audiences for ITV2 at the weekend, according to early ratings figures.

Coverage of the match, against the China Dragons in Bejing, pulled an average of 350,000 viewers and a 9.6% share in multichannel homes from 1pm on Saturday. Ratings peaked at 2.25pm with 492,000 (13.8%), making ITV2 the second most-watched channel in multichannel homes at the time, beaten only by ITV1 on an 18.93% share.

The game, coupled with ITV2's primetime lineup, helped the channel just pip rival Sky One on the all-day share, averaging 3.2% against 3.0%.

A Pop Idol special focusing on Will, Gareth and Darius drew 216,000 (2.3%) at 9.30pm, preceded an hour earlier by We Are The Cheeky Girls with 103,000 (1.2%). Saturday night movie The Untouchables averaged 429,000 viewers and a 4.5% share.