Real Betis 0-5 Barcelona: 5 Talking Points
Final scoreline: Real Betis 0 - 5 Barcelona
Goalscorers: Ivan Rakitic 59', Lionel Messi 64' 80', Luis Suarez 69' 89'
La Blaugrana shushed any voices that sprang out after the first defeat of the season against Espanyol with a thumping 5-0 victory over Real Betis.
And it was as signature Barca as they come. Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez scored a brace each after Ivan Rakitic motored into the final third and squeezed the ball past Antonio Adan.
It was a dominant Barcelona display and 11th-placed Real Betis never looked like they packed enough quality to be in it to win it.
Let's take a look at the 5 talking points from the game:
#5 That Copa del Rey defeat was a one-off
When a team performs as dominantly as this Barca side have this season, you always wonder whether or not they could be stopped. And if they could be, who will rise to the occasion and spring a surprise.
It was Espanyol last week, in the Copa del Rey, that showed Barca what defeat feels like for the first time this season. As pundits and cynics gathered around to spot the cracks that show in Valverde's unit, Leo Messi and Luis Suarez pummelled them back into their rabbit holes.
Showing no hint of having been slowed down, Barcelona took the game to their opponents with swift passing movements and some individual brilliance. Leo Messi was at his best in the second half, and towards the end of the game, there was one particular moment where Messi slid past 4 defenders and the home fans could do nothing but applaud.
Such is the man's brilliance.