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Result: Barcelona 5-0 Villarreal

Result: Barcelona 5-0 Villarreal
© PA Photos
Lionel Messi scores twice as Barcelona defeat Villarreal 5-0 at the Camp Nou.

Reigning La Liga champions began the new campaign with a 5-0 victory over Villarreal in the Camp Nou.

Young Spanish midfielder Thiago opened the scoring in the 25th minute, running unchallenged before firing low into the bottom left hand corner of the net.

The hosts doubled their advantage on the stroke of half-time courtesy of the returning Cesc Fabregas. Lionel Messi was the creator, sliding a pass through the Villarreal defence for Fabregas to neatly round goalkeeper Diego Lopez and tap into an empty net.

Another new signing, Alexis Sanchez, made it 3-0 two minutes after the re-start before Messi rounded off the scoring with a brace following assists from Andres Iniesta and Thiago.

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Written by
Liam Apicella
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Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Barcelona18122450203038
2Atletico MadridAtletico17115131112038
3Real Madrid17114237162137
4Athletic Bilbao1896327161133
5Villarreal177642928127
6Mallorca188371821-327
7Real Sociedad177461611525
8Osasuna176742225-325
9Real BetisBetis176652021-124
10GironaGirona176472325-222
11Sevilla176471823-522
12Rayo Vallecano175661920-121
13Celta Vigo176382528-321
14Las PalmasLas Palmas175482227-519
15Leganes174671523-818
16Getafe173771114-316
17AlavesAlaves174491928-916
18Espanyol1743101629-1315
19Real ValladolidValladolid1733111234-2212
20Valencia162591424-1011


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