Messi ‘chips’ in to guide Barca home

Aug 31, 2010 |

Reuters

Madrid, Aug. 30: Jose Mourinho’s La Liga adventure got off to a limp start on Sunday when Real Madrid were held to a 0-0 draw at Real Mallorca while champions Barcelona cruised to a 3-0 win at Racing Santander.

Snapped up after last season’s treble-winning exploits with Inter Milan, Mourinho’s arrival as coach at the Bernabeu has raised expectations he can end Barcelona’s two-year reign as champions.

While his new team were struggling to click in Mallorca, Pep Guardiola’s well-drilled outfit banged in three goals thanks to Lionel Messi, Andres Iniesta and David Villa.

Messi, who grabbed a hat-trick in the Spanish Super Cup last weekend, only needed four minutes to rip open the defence and score with a delightful lob.

Iniesta followed up with a volley from outside the area and new signing Villa headed his first league goal in a Barca shirt, after Victor Valdes had saved a penalty before the break.

“We still lack a little continuity in our play but this will improve as the season progresses,” Guardiola told reporters. Real Madrid’s Argentine striker Gonzalo Higuain was denied three times by home goalkeeper Dudu Aouate and Cristiano Ronaldo spurned a great chance as the visitors upped the pressure.

Mourinho’s new signings Mesut Ozil, Sami Khedira, Angel Di Maria, Sergio Canales and Ricardo Carvalho all featured but despite a frantic finish Michael Laudrup’s Mallorca were worth their point.

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