Lionel Messi back in scoring business in dream start for Koeman

Lionel Messi was again in scoring enterprise for Barcelona on Sunday, main them to a powerful 4-Zero win at dwelling in opposition to Villarreal in a near-perfect La Liga opener for the Catalans underneath new coach Ronald Koeman.

Teenage ahead Ansu Fati was in inspirational type for Barca, combining with Jordi Alba to side-foot dwelling first time into the online within the 15th minute after which putting once more 4 minutes later with one other ice-cool end.

Fati, the 17-year-old in his second season in Barca’s first group after a surprising rise final 12 months from the membership’s youth set-up, then received the penalty which captain Messi dispatched to attain the third within the 35th.

Villarreal defender Pau Torres scored an personal aim proper on the finish of the primary half to heap extra ache on Unai Emery’s aspect and Barca continued to dominate the sport within the second half with out managing so as to add to their hefty benefit.

Koeman, who succeeded Quique Setien in August after the crushing 8-2 defeat to Bayern Munich within the Champions League, may hardly have hoped for a greater begin after the chaotic shut season overshadowed by Messi’s try to go away the membership.

The Argentine had unleashed his newest assault on the membership’s hierarchy solely on Friday, criticising the style through which his former strike companion Luis Suarez had been compelled out of the membership.

Suarez loved an outstanding debut at Atletico Madrid earlier on Sunday however right here Barca didn’t appear to be lacking the Uruguayan as they performed with extra tempo and freedom than for a lot of components of final season, launching quickfire counters in addition to constructing from the again.

“It was a good game for us especially in the first half, we were much better than them, we created lots of chances and scored four goals,” mentioned Barca midfielder Sergio Busquets.

“We dropped our intensity a bit in the second half and they made things more difficult for us but overall we leave our first game with good sensations. We’re close to the team we want to be.”

The former Barca defender Koeman handed La Liga debuts to 17-year-old Pedri, Portuguese winger Francisco Trincao and Bosnian midfielder Miralem Pjanic within the second half.

Ousmane Dembele additionally got here on for his first aggressive look for Barca since final November after coming back from hamstring surgical procedure.

(Reporting by Richard Martin; enhancing by Ian Chadband)

Lionel Messi was again in scoring enterprise for Barcelona on Sunday, main them to a powerful 4-Zero win at dwelling in opposition to Villarreal in a near-perfect La Liga opener for the Catalans underneath new coach Ronald Koeman.

Teenage ahead Ansu Fati was in inspirational type for Barca, combining with Jordi Alba to side-foot dwelling first time into the online within the 15th minute after which putting once more 4 minutes later with one other ice-cool end.

Fati, the 17-year-old in his second season in Barca’s first group after a surprising rise final 12 months from the membership’s youth set-up, then received the penalty which captain Messi dispatched to attain the third within the 35th.

Villarreal defender Pau Torres scored an personal aim proper on the finish of the primary half to heap extra ache on Unai Emery’s aspect and Barca continued to dominate the sport within the second half with out managing so as to add to their hefty benefit.

Koeman, who succeeded Quique Setien in August after the crushing 8-2 defeat to Bayern Munich within the Champions League, may hardly have hoped for a greater begin after the chaotic shut season overshadowed by Messi’s try to go away the membership.

The Argentine had unleashed his newest assault on the membership’s hierarchy solely on Friday, criticising the style through which his former strike companion Luis Suarez had been compelled out of the membership.

Suarez loved an outstanding debut at Atletico Madrid earlier on Sunday however right here Barca didn’t appear to be lacking the Uruguayan as they performed with extra tempo and freedom than for a lot of components of final season, launching quickfire counters in addition to constructing from the again.

“It was a good game for us especially in the first half, we were much better than them, we created lots of chances and scored four goals,” mentioned Barca midfielder Sergio Busquets. “We dropped our intensity a bit in the second half and they made things more difficult for us but overall we leave our first game with good sensations. We’re close to the team we want to be.”

The former Barca defender Koeman handed La Liga debuts to 17-year-old Pedri, Portuguese winger Francisco Trincao and Bosnian midfielder Miralem Pjanic within the second half. Ousmane Dembele additionally got here on for his first aggressive look for Barca since final November after coming back from hamstring surgical procedure.