Who needs Messi anyway? Barcelona strolled to a 4-2 win over Real Sociedad in their first match since the departure of their captain Leo. It was a strange sight and a weird atmosphere at a sparsely populated Camp Nou, but the team on the pitch did their job professionally and bagged the points on Sunday night.Barcelona did get the win they needed, but it left them with a bitter-sweet taste as the fans marked the tenth minute of the match with chants for the Paris Saint-Germain’s latest recruit.The first goal celebration of 2021-22: pic.twitter.com/Ie7fywXL6f— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) August 15, 2021 And who could Barca turn to? Of course, Gerard Pique. The man who took the pay cut so that Memphis Depay could be on the pitch. The long-serving defender headed in a freekick from the debut boy Memphis. In first-half stoppage time, Barcelona doubled their lead as Frenkie de Jong provided a great cross for Martin Braithwaite to head in at the far post just before the half-time whistle.Danish striker, who is famous for being by far the wealthiest Barcelona player, smashed in his second and Barca’s third after goalkeeper Alex Remiro could only palm a Jordi Alba cross into the centre of the penalty area. He may not be better than Messi, but he did pounce to tuck the rebound into the net and seemingly put the game beyond the reach of Basque visitors.A new Barcelona 😅 Two goals coming from headers! pic.twitter.com/TAnpAhC7H7— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) August 15, 2021 Sociedad made it an interesting finish to the match as they scored two utterly unlikely goals through Lobete and a fine free kick from Mikel Oyarzabal, but Sergi Roberto finished off a terrific team move in injury time to end the contest. Oh, and guess who was it who provided the assist for the fourth goal. Yep – it was Braithwaite!Welcome to the post-Messi Barcelona. It’s surreal, but it’s working. So far.LA LIGA – Round 1FridayValencia – Getafe 1-0 (1-0)/Soler 11 pen/SaturdayOsasuna – Espanyol 0-0Mallorca – Betis 1-1 (1-0)/Olivan 25 – Reina (og) 59/Cadiz – Levante 1-1 (0-1)/Espino 90 – Morales 39/Alaves – Real Madrid 1-4 (0-0)/Joselu 65 – Benzema 48, 62, Nacho 56, Vinicius 90+2/SundayCelta – Atletico Madrid 1-2 (0-1)/Aspas 59 pen – Correa 23, 63/Barcelona – Real Sociedad 4-2 (2-0)/Pique 19, Braithwaite 45+2, 59, Sergi Roberto 90+1 – Lobete 82, Oyarzabal 85/23.15: (1.40) Sevilla (4.40) Rayo Vallecano (9.00)Monday21.00: (1.57) Villareal (4.00) Granada (6.00)23.00: (3.80) Elche (3.10) Ath.Bilbao (2.15)***odds are subject to change
