Europe: Barcelona's superstar trio kick-off with victory

Lionel Messi, Andres Iniesta and David Villa struck as La Liga champions Barcelona picked up where they finished off last season with a 3-0 win at Racing Santander last night

Messi, who grabbed a hat-trick in the Spanish Super Cup last weekend, needed only four minutes to rip open the defence and score with a delightful lob. Iniesta followed up with a volley from outside the area and new signing Villa headed his first league goal in a Barca shirt, after Victor Valdes had saved a penalty before the break. Pep Guardiola's side appeared unruffled by the contentious exit of Zlatan Ibrahimovic to AC Milan and laid down the marker for Jose Mourinho's Real Madrid, who opened their campaign with a disappointing goalless draw at Real Mallorca last night.

In Italy, Juventus lost 1-0 at Bari in their first game of the Serie A season when their problems from last term were again exposed.

Last season's runners-up AS Roma drew 0-0 at home with promoted Cesena in their first league game of the campaign on Saturday. Champions Inter, chastened by Friday's European Super Cup defeat by Atletico Madrid, visit Bologna tonight.