Barcelona started their defence of the league title with an extremely comfortable 6-2 win over Real Betis at the Camp Nou.
Barcelona were overall favourites going into the game, but few would have imagined such an impressive score on the opening day. Suarez and Lionel Messi were at their imperious best in the game and they later received praise from manager Luis Enrique for their performances. This was also the 100th win for Enrique as the manager of Barcelona. After having been hugely successful in the last few years, one of the biggest task for Enrique was to maintain the motivation within the squad.
He seems to have achieved exactly this purpose, as the Spaniard felt that Barcelona could not have had more motivation for a win. The victory sets Barcelona on a strong part but they will be interrupted by the international break coming soon. Once the season resumes, the club will go up against the likes of Atletico Madrid, Deportivo Alavés, and Leganés in the month of September. One of the positive aspects for Enrique against Real Betis was the return to form for Lionel Messi. The Argentine superstar scored a brace, but he was overshadowed by Luis Suarez’ coming up with a hat-trick.
Last season’s top goal scorer Suarez is favourite to win the Golden Boot award once again. “The players were very motivated, and very active both in attack and defence. We were brave and very effective. A complete game. Sergi Roberto, down the same flank as always, very attentive in the defensive aspect of his game, and showed good anticipation. In attack, he was very good, looking for space and creating chances. Arda has a lot of quality and can perform in the two positions, both as an inside midfielder and as a forward,” said Enrique.