No Neymar, no Suarez, no Iniesta…no problem for Barcelona, who were far too good for Real Betis as they started their league campaign with a comfortable win to put their recent problems to one side.

Two goals in three minutes shortly before the break – an own goal from Alin Tosca and a simple finish for Sergi Roberto – did the damage, and it was no more than the home team deserved for a confident and purposeful performance.

There was never any doubt about the outcome after the deadlock was broken, with disappointing Betis not even mustering a single shot on target all night, and although Barca will face tougher challenges this at least gives them something to build on.

Despite their poor form coming into the season, Barca started well following a minute’s silence to remember the victims of last week’s terror attack in the city, and they should have taken the lead after just two minutes when Roberto advanced to cut back a low cross which Gerard Deulofeu could only stab wide.

An opening goal for the hosts was starting to look inevitable as Betis struggled to escape their own half, and Deulofeu had a shot blocked from ten yards before Messi came within inches with another curled strike midway through the opening period.

Eventually the pressure paid off as Messi advanced to feed Deulofeu, and his prompt first-time cross took an unfortunate deflection off Tosca to slide into the far corner.

Betis were nearly level immediately when striker Leon raced clear only to be denied by Javier Mascherano’s superb recovery challenge, and within seconds it was 2-0 as Deulofeu did well to win possession and deliver a precise cross to give Roberto a tap-in.

Here, Andy West delivers his player ratings from the Camp Nou.

BARCELONA

Ter Stegen 6

Semedo 7

Mascherano 7

Umtiti 7

Alba 7 (Digne)

Rakitic 6

Busquets 6

Roberto 7

Deulofeu 7 (Vidal)

Messi 8

Alcacer 5 (Denis)

REAL BETIS

Adan 6

Barragan 6

Mandi 6

Feddal 7

Tosca 6

Narvaez 6 (Garcia)

Guardado 6

Camarasa 5 (Ruiz)

Nahuel 4 (Francis)

Leon 6

Joaquin 6