Barcelona take all 3 points, Real Madrid settle for draw

Barcelona FC have drawn first blood, sending a message to rivals and critics that they mean business this season with a 5-1 victory over Real Sociedad. It was the first game of the La Liga season for them and they took advantage of the lethargic performance of rivals Real Madrid who drew their game at home to Valencia.

It was nice to see David Villa playing again after missing most of last season and the Euro Championships to injury. The little man from Argentina Lionnel Messi was his typical dangerous self in front of goal; netting a brace before Villa added the 5^th goal.

The match was the usual Barcelona display with four goals scored in the first 16 minutes of the match. Carlos Puyol gave Barcelona the lead in the 4^th minute when he converted Xavi’s corner but Gonzalo Castro equalized for the visitors 5 minutes later. Messi then silenced them by scoring two in 5 minutes. Pedro Rodriguez got the 4^th goal for Barcelona before half time.

Villa came in for Pedro with 15 minutes to go and proved that he still knew where the goal was after the visiting goal keeper had denied Messi a hat trick.

Real Madrid could not make their possession and home advantage count against a Valencia side who were their first opponents for the season. Jose Mourinho’s men took the lead through Gonzalo Higuain in the 10^th minute but could not increase their tally. They even had the officials to thank for wrongfully ruling out Roberto Soldado’s second half strike.

Di Maria found Higuain with a clever ball and his effort thundered into the Valencia goal but Valencia waited till 4 minutes before half time to get back into the game; Tino Costa’s freekick meeting the head of Jonas who beat Iker Casillas.

The officials then made a blunder when Costa found Roberto Soldado unmarked in his own half. Soldado raced through, rounding past Casillas in the Madrid goal only for the officials to call for an offside.

Madrid had to settle for a draw but surely need not be reminded of the threat their rivals Barcelona pose this season.