Tuesday 21 August 2012

Contrasting starts for Barca, Real

Barcelona thrashed Real Sociedad, 5-1, on Sundayas defending champions- Real Madrid could only manage a draw against Valencia, 1-1, in its season opener. 

While Cristiano Ronaldo was lackluster as Real Madrid opened its title defense, Barcelona's Lionel Messi picked up right where he left off after scoring a league-record 50 goals last season. 

With the score tied at 1-1, Messi scored two quick goals to decide the match at Camp Nou. 

"We started on the right foot," Barcelona midfielder Xavi Hernandez said. "We are lucky to have Messi - for us he is the best player in the world. The win is great, but Villa's news is the most important thing." 

It was Villa's first competitive match since breaking his shin bone in last year's Club World Cup. "This is a big step for me," he told Canal Plus television. "This is a triumph not just for me but for all the people who have helped me through this." 

After scoring, Villa lifted his jersey to reveal a T-shirt with the message: "Impossible without all of you." 

Villa, who missed this summer's European Championships while he healed, played limited minutes in Barcelona's preseason matches. 

Earlier Sunday in the Spanish capital, Real Madrid appeared set to carry on its winning ways from last season when Gonzalo Higuain scored in the 10th minute. But Jonas leveled for Valencia in the 42nd to give his manager, Mauricio Pellegrino, a hard-earned draw on his debut. 

Ronaldo, who set a club record with 46 league goals last season, was uncharacteristically subdued and failed to manage a shot on goal. 

Real Madrid Manager Jose Mourinho played down the result. 

"We didn't play well, but we played well enough to win," Mourinho said. "We had enough occasions to score, but throughout the season, you always draw some games." 

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