Barcelona have faced financial problems and one of the assistant team captains, Gerard Piqué, became a hero this week when he agreed to lower his salary so that the club could afford to register their new acquisitions.
It was fitting then that one of these new acquisitions, Memphis Depay, served just Piqué who could nod in 1-0 in the 19th minute.
But there would be more goals.
Just before the half-time whistle sounded at Camp Nou, a new nod came.
This time from the forehead of Danish Martin Braithwaite.
Frenkie de Jong stole the ball in the middle of the offensive half and sent in a post that Braithwaite could push in to 2-0.
Even 3-0 came from Braithwaite, who can expect more responsibility in the attack since Messi left.
But in the last ten minutes, everything turned upside down for the Catalans.
La Liga debutant Julen Lobete Cienfuegos was able to fool the Barcelona defense and send in 3-1 for Real Sociedad.
And just minutes later, team captain Mikel Oyarzabal sent in a free kick from the middle of the offensive half behind Neto to 3-2.
But Barcelona got the last word.
Substitute Sergi Roberto sent in 4-2 after a fine contribution from two-goal shooter Braithwaite. Barcelona thus begins, just like the expected top competitors Real Madrid, Atlético Madrid and Valencia, the La Liga season with three points.