Luis Suarez scored a hat-trick and Lionel Messi added two more goals as Barcelona started their La Liga title defense in style by routing Real Betis Balompie 6-2 on Saturday.
Suarez, who led scoring in La Liga with 40 goals last season, helped to put the result beyond doubt before halftime and struck twice afterward to complete the demolition.
Even better for the Catalan club, Messi destroyed any hopes of title rivals that a difficult summer could have affected his game.
Messi was found guilty in June of tax fraud in Spain — he is appealing — and lost another Copa America final with Argentina, but he was his normal brilliant self at the Camp Nou.
With the score at 1-1, Messi restored Barcelona’s lead for good in the 37th minute with his first of two unstoppable strikes from the edge of the area. He was just as impressive as a playmaker, taking part in setting up three more goals.
Messi “is incredible. He is the best player in the world,” Suarez said.
“You have to enjoy playing with a player like that,” he said.
Arda Turan put the hosts ahead before Betis striker Ruben Castro equalized with the first of two goals.
For Suarez, the six-goal performance against Betis was a message that Barcelona is still the team to beat.
“Barca is always the favorite,” Suarez said. “Today’s game was to show why we have been the champion in recent seasons.”
Before kickoff, Messi and Andres Iniesta received the trophy for last season’s title.
After Iniesta, who is recovering from a leg injury, returned to the stands, Messi got down to helping Barcelona make their first step toward a third straight league crown.
Messi needed six minutes to catch Betis’ defense off-balance with a cross-field pass to Jordi Alba, who then found Turan to sidefoot in his assist.
Turan continued to make the most of Neymar’s Olympic duty for Brazil by scoring his third goal in as many matches. “Turan is talented and can play both as midfielder and forward, and now, on top of that, he is scoring goals,” Barcelona coach Luis Enrique said. “He is more integrated and happy.”
Elsewhere, Sevilla defeated RCD Espanyol 6-4.
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