FC Barcelona have started the new 2012-13 Spanish La Liga campaign in style with a 5-1 rout of Real Sociedad while Jose Mourinho was left disappointed as Real Madrid drew 1-1 with Valencia.
Barca, in their first league game under new boss Tito Vilanova, started brilliantly with Carles Puyol putting them ahead early before further goals from Lionel Messi and Pedro made it 4-1 before the break.
David Villa returned after a broken leg as a substitute before adding the fifth on 84 minutes in a very positive night for last term’s runners-up.
“It’s important to start off on the right foot,” Vilanova said. “There are a lot of positive things to be learned from (the) match.
“We played 90 minutes with a lot of intensity. In the first 15 minutes we were strong and we reacted well to their equaliser. Furthermore, Villa returned and he scored a goal. (That) gives the player a lot of morale.”
Elsewhere, Mourinho says he expected more from his team as they drew 1-1 with Valencia on Sunday. Gonzalo Higuain had put Real ahead early, before Jonas levelled from Valencia who had keeper Diego Alves to thank after a string of fine late saves.
However, Mourinho was disappointed: “I expected more from my team. Last season it was Guaita and this year it was Diego Alves. We did not have a great game but we did more than enough to win,” Mourinho said in his post-match press conference.
“Alves was the best, he made some very good saves. If we had played better we would have created more chances. We always want to win. We are not content with draws. We could not lose this match because the opponent did not create chances.”
Meanwhile, Malaga’s 16-year-old Fabrice Olinga made history as La Liga’s youngest goalscorer in their 1-0 victory over Celta Vigo.