The Tito Vilanova era at Camp Nou began with help from a familiar face, as talismanic forward Lionel Messi led Barcelona to a 5-1 win over Real Sociedad in their Primera Division season opener on Sunday.
While Real Madrid stumbled to an early 1-1 draw against Valencia earlier, the Blaugrana's new boss picked up where predecessor Pep Guardiola left off, dominating beleaguered Basque opponents from start to finish during an emphatic victory.
Carles Puyol's header gave Barca the lead after four minutes, only for Chory Castro to restore parity with an opportunistic finish moments later. But then Messi took over, scoring a pair of poacher's efforts in the 11th and 16th minutes to give the Catalans a lead they would never relinquish.
Pedro added the fourth just before half-time and Barca's perfect beginning to the season was completed by the return of David Villa from injury, with the Spain international marking his comeback with the home side's fifth and final goal, six minutes from the end.
Vilanova was not the only debutant for Barca, as Jordi Alba, the €14 million signing from Valencia, was handed a start at left-back. Sociedad’s own new recruit Chory Castro began up front, but fellow summer signings Carlos Vela and Jose Angel had to settle for a place on the bench.
It took the Catalans only four minutes to break the deadlock, though the goal came, for them, in somewhat unconventional fashion, with a corner from Xavi being thumped in by the head of Puyol to put the hosts in front.
Sociedad were straight back down the pitch, with a dangerous centre from Xabi Prieto coming within inches of connecting with Castro at the far post. However, the ball did find its way to the latter moments later - and he took full advantage.
Asier Illarramendi slipped a clever pass just in front of Dani Alves, putting Castro through on goal and he had the time to take a touch before burying his finish high into the roof of the net.
But just as Sociedad were able to hit back after conceding, so too did Barcelona, who regained the lead within two minutes of restarting the match.
Messi’s uncharacteristically poor touch spilled a decent cross from Tello, but Pedro worked the rebound back into the Argentine, who wriggled through his markers and slotted home.
Messi’s instincts came to the fore again moments later, the forward reacting quickest to a Tello centre to drill the Blaugrana into a 3-1 lead, all after 16 minutes.
With a two-goal cushion, the hosts settled into their typical monopolisation of possession, suffocating Sociedad in their own half with large periods of metronomic passing.
A sublime combination between Messi and Fabregas carved the visitors apart, with only the legs of Claudio Bravo denying the Argentine his hat-trick.
Sociedad only threatened intermittently on the counter, but an audacious lob from the halfway line by Gorka Elustondo would force Victor Valdes into a safety-first palm over the bar.
However, Barcelona were always in control and with four minutes to go until half-time, they added a fourth in emphatic and enthralling fashion.
Messi, Xavi and Fabregas were all involved in a build-up that split Sociedad in two, with the decisive ball worked to Tello on the left, who centred to Pedro to stroke into the far corner.
Sociedad set up for a damage-limitation exercise in the second half, though Antoine Griezmann snatched at an early opening as he fired wide from a good position.
However, the focus was always at the other end of the pitch, and an outstanding one-touch sequence between Messi and Pedro ended with the former blasting his finish into the side netting when he should have hit the target.
Xavi was next to try his luck, letting loose from 20 yards out with a strong arm from Bravo denying him a goal of his own.
The home fans were in jubilant spirits, which were kicked up a notch by the introduction of Villa for Pedro with a quarter of an hour to go, the Spain striker making his long-awaited return from the fractured tibia he suffered last December.
And Villa did not miss a beat, finishing a mazy run from Iniesta with aplomb in the 84th minute to round off a picture-perfect start to the new season for Barcelona, who must now turn their attention to thier midweek Super Copa clash with great rivals Real Madrid.
