Summary

  • FT: Barcelona 3-0 Elche

  • Lionel Messi scores twice

  • Javier Mascherano is sent off

  • Munir on target on his debut

  • Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid play on Monday

  1. Postpublished at 21:31 British Summer Time 24 August 2014

    You know it's not your night when you struggle to even take a throw-in properly. That's what happens to hapless Elche defender Edu Albacar. The ball slips and slides out of his greasy grasp and the referee blows for a foul throw. Shameful. My under 10s manager used to make us do ten press ups for making such a schoolboy error.

  2. Stat attackpublished at 21:26 British Summer Time 24 August 2014

    Munir reacts after scoringImage source, AP

    Munir El Haddadi scored his first goal in La Liga with his first shot on target in the competition.

  3. SUBSTITUTIONpublished at 21:25 British Summer Time 24 August 2014

    But Munir won't be helping himself to another slice of the goal pie. The whole Nou Camp rises to its feet to acclaim the 18-year-old debutant - the latest in a long line of La Masia talent. Pedro races on in his place.

  4. Postpublished at 21:24 British Summer Time 24 August 2014

    The only question now is...how many do Barca want to score tonight? There's at least a couple more left in this one.

  5. GOALpublished at 21:20 British Summer Time 24 August 2014

    As soon as Lionel Messi was fed the ball from Dani Alves on the edge of the Elche box you knew - just knew - what was going to happen. The elusive Argentine skips past one away defender, cuts inside past three more then fires across keeper Tyton into the bottom corner. Textbook Messi.

    Barcelona's Argentinian forward Lionel Messi celebratesImage source, Getty Images
  6. Postpublished at 21:19 British Summer Time 24 August 2014

    Barcelona's head coach Luis Enrique gives instructionsImage source, PA

    Elche look well out of their depth here. They knock the ball around with little conviction in the Barca half before handing possession straight back to the dominant hosts. Comfortable evening for new Barca boss Luis Enrique.

  7. Postpublished at 21:16 British Summer Time 24 August 2014

    Seconds later, Barca's Marc Bartra - yes, the centre-half Marc Bartra - finds himself in the centre forward position. He races onto Ivan Rakitic's pass to be confronted by the whites of the eyes of Elche keeper Przemyslaw Tyton. The tall Polish keeper spreads himself to brilliantly block and stop a seemingly-certain third goal.

  8. Postpublished at 21:16 British Summer Time 24 August 2014

    But that change serves to leave Elche short in numbers at the back. Dani Alves is given acres of space down the right, whipping in a low cross that is eventually cleared.

  9. SUBSTITUTIONpublished at 21:13 British Summer Time 24 August 2014

    Elche gaffer Fran Escriba decides it is time for a change. Alvaro is the man given the nod replacing the ineffective Jose Angel in an attacking switch.

  10. Postpublished at 21:11 British Summer Time 24 August 2014

    I must remind you that Elche have a man advantage. Because if you were watching this then you would not be able to tell. Barca continue to dominate possession and territory as the visitors struggle to pin their hosts back.

  11. Postpublished at 21:08 British Summer Time 24 August 2014

    Wow. What a start to the second half to the 10 men of Barca. Now they have got to be home and dry....

  12. GOALpublished at 21:04 British Summer Time 24 August 2014

    Not heard of Munir El Haddadi? You have now. The 18-year-old youth team graduate impressed in the first half and now has a debut goal to cap a night he will never forget. Munir, as he is known, almost nonchalantly flicks Ivan Rakitic's lofted pass over Elche keeper Tyton with the outside of his boot and into the away net. Remember the name....

    Barcelona's Munir reacts after scoringImage source, AP
  13. KICK-OFFpublished at 21:03 British Summer Time 24 August 2014

    Back under way at the Nou Camp. And there's a murmur around the ground as they digest defender Marc Bartra coming on as a half-time replacement for attacker Rafinha.

  14. Join the debate at #bbceurofootypublished at 21:02 British Summer Time 24 August 2014

    John McEnerney, external: Let's see if "Nou Barca" can finish the minnows of Elche with 10 men! Test of character first time out for Luis Enrique's men!

  15. HALF-TIMEpublished at 20:59 British Summer Time 24 August 2014

    French Ligue 1

    Monaco fans will be breathing a little easier as their Colombian striker Radamel Falcao gives them the lead on the stroke of half time against previously unbeaten Nantes. Serge Gakpe missed an earlier penalty for the hosts.

    Monaco have lost their opening two league matches and, having lost James Rodriguez to Real Madrid this summer, it is about time they had a bit of good news. Still 45 minutes to go though.

  16. Eibar make historypublished at 20:59 British Summer Time 24 August 2014

    Despite that numerical disadvantage, Barca are still on course to become the fifth side to take maximum points on the opening weekend of the Spanish season.

    If they do bag all three, then they will stand alongside minnows Eibar, who earlier won the first La Liga match in their 74-year history. Javi Lara's brilliant free kick condemns visitors Real Sociedad to a 1-0 defeat, in front of little over 5,000 fans.

    Eibar - roughly the Spanish equivalent of Crawley - earned two consecutive promotions in as many years to rise from the third tier to the top flight.

  17. HALF-TIMEpublished at 20:56 British Summer Time 24 August 2014

    Bright spots for Barca? Messi is looking razor sharp. Munir appears to be an exciting prospect. Luis Enrique has got them passing crisply.

    Negatives? Those defensive frailties remain. And they still can't unlock packed defences with the ease that they used to.

  18. HALF-TIMEpublished at 20:51 British Summer Time 24 August 2014

    Barcelona 1-0 Elche
  19. HALF-TIMEpublished at 20:47 British Summer Time 24 August 2014

    Elche have an opportunity to make Mascherano and Barcelona pay even more, but then waste their free-kick by firing high into the stand behind Claudio Bravo's goal. And that's virtually the last action of the first half. Time for Luis Enrique to furiously scribble over the tactics board in the home dressing room.

  20. RED CARDpublished at 20:45 British Summer Time 24 August 2014

    Ah. Maybe it isn't going to be as straightforward as we thought. Seconds after Messi's opener, his Argentine compatriot Javier Mascherano is caught out by a long ball forward and cynically hauls down Elche striker Garry Rodrigues as he races through on goal. No option for referee Fernando Teixeira other than to brandish the red card. Bath time for Mascherano.

    Argentinian midfielder Javier Mascherano reacts after being sent offImage source, Getty Images