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Gerard Piqué
Photo:
Andreu Dalmau / imago images / Agencia EFE
FC Barcelona have won the first competitive game of the era since Lionel Messi. At the start of the Spanish season, the Catalans won 4-2 (2-0) against Real Sociedad. Gerard Piqué (19th minute), Martin Braithwaite (45th, 59th) and Sergi Roberto (90th + 1) scored for Barcelona, Julen Lobete (82nd) and Mikel Oyarzabal (85th) for the opponent from San Sebastián. With the strong Memphis, the player who was intended as an addition to Messi in the summer, but who now has to replace him, stood out.
The story of the weekend was written by Gerard Piqué.
Barça announced on Saturday that Piqué had given up a "substantial" part of his salary in order to register summer additions Memphis and Eric García, who also started against Real Sociedad, with the league.
The upper salary limit in Spanish football had already made it impossible for the heavily indebted club, which was groaning under horrific salary costs, to extend with Messis.
Ironically, the preparer of Piqué's opening goal, which he scored after a free kick with a head (19th), was then also Memphis.
In a sense, the central defender, who has been playing at the club since 2008, prepared his own goal himself.
The fans then chanted the name Piqués.
But not only Memphis, but the entire offensive of Barcelona played strong.
Antoine Griezmann had already missed an earlier lead before taking the lead with a sideways puller past the goal (10th) and picket header (12th).
In between, the around 20,000 admitted fans at Camp Nou had started chanting Messi after ten minutes, the former shirt number of the superstar who had emigrated to Paris.
It didn't take Messi moments
Because the guests disappointed over long stretches, there was no need for Messi moments for two more goals: Braithwaite once headed after a cross from Frenkie De Jong (45th), then he dusted off after a blocked cross from Jordi Alba (59th) .).
However, Barcelona missed other great opportunities such as Alba (50th), so Real Sociedad made it back into the game with a goal from Julen Lobete (82nd).
After a fantastic free-kick from Mikel Oyarzabal, the game was even on the brink (85th), Roberto decided the game after strong preparatory work from Braithwaite (90th + 1).
Barcelona follow their title rivals Real and Atlético Madrid with a win in the new season.
Real had won 4-1 at CD Alavés in David Alaba's debut on Saturday night.
Atlético scored three points in a heated 2-1 win at Celta Vigo, after a pack formation in stoppage time, there had been two dismissals.
All results and tables for the Spanish Primera División can be found in the SPIEGEL Sports Center.
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