Madrid (AFP)
Ten days after the resounding departure of superstar Lionel Messi, FC Barcelona made a success of its comeback by outclassing Real Sociedad 4-2 on Sunday for the first day of La Liga, in a Camp Nou which finally found public after 18 months at huis closed.
A breath of fresh air is blowing over Catalonia: the supporters are back at the stadium, rookie Memphis Depay is already perfectly integrated, Antoine Griezmann seems more liberated than ever, Martin Braithwaite scores a double and it rains goals in a heatwave ...
Only one being is missing from this back-to-school festival: Lionel Messi.
The name of the legendary Argentine N.10 has been chanted by Camp Nou, twice.
As if to hold it back a bit and to make up for the lack of any tribute before kick-off.
But now Barça no longer needs him.
Because the post-Messi era has indeed started within the blaugrana club.
From the 19th minute, Gerard Pique cut with a header a millimeter corner served by Memphis Depay and celebrated his 50th goal at the club by kissing the club crest.
- Magistral Oyarzabal -
He who made a big financial effort to allow the club to register his recruits Memphis Depay and Eric Garcia for the start of La Liga was applauded by the Camp Nou audience.
And with good reason, so much he seemed to rejuvenate Sunday night alongside his new sidekick in central hinge Eric Garcia (20 years).
It is also the first time in 18 months that the largest stadium in Europe has reopened its doors to the public.
The first time since this 5-0 inflicted on Eibar on February 22, 2020, when a quadruple had been scored by ... Messi.
But even without the Argentine genius, Barça regaled: Ronald Koeman's men seemed unleashed, daring, daring.
They scored three goals, Braithwaite having deceived the Basque goalkeeper Alex Remiro twice (45th + 2 from the head, then 59th) before slacking off and conceding two goals in quick succession at the end of the match, by the young Julen Lobete (20 years old) and by captain Mikel Oyarzabal, author of a masterful free kick from 30 meters (85th).
Real Sociedad midfielder Mikel Oyarzabal scores the second goal against Barcelona from a free kick in their La Liga match on August 15, 2021 at Camp Nou Josep LAGO AFP
Sergi Roberto sealed the score at the end of the match, served by Braithwaite (90th + 1).
And we saw a mess of technical gestures, like this sombrero from Depay (4th), this acrobatic recovery from Griezmann (10th), or this little bridge from Jordi Alba (65th).
The joy of Barcelona defender Sergi Roberto, after scoring the 4th goal against Real Sociedad, in their La Liga match, on August 15, 2021 at Camp Nou Josep LAGO AFP
In short, without Messi, Barça can also seduce.
And all the Blaugrana people hope that it will be so throughout the season, to try to quickly turn the page of the reign of "Leo".
- The brawler Atlético -
Earlier in the evening, the reigning Spanish champion Atlético Madrid had to fight to snatch his first victory of the season on the lawn of Celta Vigo.
In the first sense of the word.
In additional time, at the end of the game, a fight broke out following a foul on Luis Suarez, and resulted in two red cards: one for Hugo Mallo (Celta) and the other for Mario Hermoso ( Atlético).
Luckily for the Colchoneros, their Argentine angel Angel Correa was there to seal the scoring before.
With a double, the small winger, winner of the Copa America with the Albiceleste alongside Lionel Messi this summer, saved the re-entry of the reigning champion.
The joy of the Argentine striker of Atletico Madrid Angel Correa (3rd d), after his goal scored against Celta Vigo, during their La Liga match, on August 15, 2021 in Vigo MIGUEL RIOPA AFP
He first concluded with a powerful strike the nice gap created by Thomas Lemar (23rd), then responded tit for tat (64th) to the 1-1 penalty converted by Iago Aspas for Celta (59th) to launch Diego Simeone's men's season.
On Saturday, Real Madrid set the tone with a broad and authoritarian 4-1 success on the lawn of Alavés, including a double from Karim Benzema.
© 2021 AFP