Barcelona midfielder Ivan Rakitic has expressed his delight after scoring his first goal for the club.

The Croatian found the net with a powerful strike as the Catalan giants cruised to a 5-0 win against Levante on Sunday evening.

Rakitic has admitted that his teammates had begun to tease him about his lack of goals, but he insists that helping the club to win matches is more important.

"We don't look at other teams. We care about what we do and we're on the right track," he is quoted as saying by Mundo Deportivo. "This is a very complicated place to play. It was important we got the second goal, it meant we could relax, and after [Lukas Vyntra's] red card it was easier.

"Thank God the goal went in! They'd begun to needle me in the locker room. It's important we push on. We know we have to keep fighting and fighting for everything.

"The important thing for me is to help the team. I am grateful for every minute I play. I'll do my best."

Barcelona are currently top of the La Liga table after winning their first four matches of the season.