🇪🇸 LaLiga lowdown: Barcelona and Real Madrid record first wins | OneFootball

All eyes were on Ronald Koeman as he took charge of Barcelona for the first time on Sunday – and he couldn’t have asked for a better start.

Hosting an impressive Villarreal at Camp Nou, Barça were sharp from the first whistle and, already, the passive football we began to expect under Quique Setíen was fading.

Koeman lacked clarity in his managerial philosophies after mixed spells with Everton and the Netherlands national team, but this system suited his personnel perfectly.

As you always should at Barcelona: he centred everything around Lionel Messi. The Argentine floated around and offered a hub for others to feed off, with cute interchanges proving too much for their opponents.

Ansu Fati looks extremely promising and set for a breakthrough season – terrorising Mario Gaspár all evening – scoring twice and winning a penalty within the first 30 minutes.

Messi netted from 12 yards and an own goal to made it 4-0, but it was the deeper storylines that should encourage Culés moving forward.

Philippe Coutinho looked comfortable back in Blaugrana, Sergio Busquets led by example after deserved criticism last term, and there was even a glimpse into the future with Pedri and Francisco Trincão featuring.

There is a long way to go. Tensions with Messi rumble on, Antoine Griezmann remains an awkward fit in the puzzle and the heart of the defence needs work.

But everybody at the club needed three points on Sunday, and that is exactly what they got.

And elsewhere …

Real Madrid registered their first win of the season after beating Real Betis, but made hard work of things with Sergio Ramos (who else?) bailing them out again.

Federico Valverde was outstanding in midfield, but Zinedine Zidane will be hoping for improvement in Dani Carvajal and Ferland Mendy – with Luka Jović struggling again despite starting.

Atlético Madrid exploded into life against Granada, scoring six goals in a league game for the first time under Diego Simeone. Sevilla and Real Sociedad also recorded impressive away wins against Cádiz and Elche respectively.

It was honours even between Valencia and Huesca, as well as Real Valladolid and Celta Vigo, who both played out 1-1 draws.

😱 Goal of the Weekend

The first of Ansu Fati’s two goals against Villarreal was a peach.

Jordi Alba burst down the left in trademark fashion, before finding the teenager who side-footed home beautifully.

🏆 Player of the Weekend

This looks weird, doesn’t it? Luis Suárez is officially a Colonchero and wasted little time settling into his new digs.

El Pistolero played just 19 minutes but ended the game with two brilliant goals and an assist, as Atlético Madrid beat Granada 6-1.