Messi Scores in 1st Game since Transfer Dispute As Barca Thump Villarreal

As Ronald Koeman started his tenure as coach by overseeing a 4-0 Liga demolition of Villarreal on Sunday, Lionel Messi scored in his first game since attempting to leave Barcelona.

After an early double from the 17-year-old Ansu Fati had already put Barca in charge, Messi scored from the spot 10 minutes before half-time and then the Argentinian cross pressured Pau Torres into an own-goal, reports AFP.

This meant that the past, present and future of Barcelona were all among the goals on the same afternoon as Luis Suarez, whose departure on Thursday was confirmed, marked his debut at Atletico Madrid by scoring twice in a 6-1 win over Granada.

Messi took another dig at the Barca board in a farewell message to his best friend and former neighbor last week by saying he was not shocked by the sloppy way Suarez's departure had been handled.

His complaints raised questions about his state of mind going into the season and at the end of a tumultuous summer in which the greatest ever player in Barcelona admitted he was obliged to remain against his will.

On Saturday, Koeman insisted that Messi had been "leading by example" in training and his confidence was repaid at Camp Nou, where an excellent display was given by the striker and club captain.

Messi 's frustration at Suarez shows that he is still at odds with President Josep Maria Bartomeu of Barcelona and his long-term future remains unclear, but he delivered on the pitch.

Victories and goals could inspire him to remain, not to mention the talented Fati, who can be a huge help to the hopes of his captain to win back the title on this proof.

Earlier this month, Fati became Spain's youngest ever international scorer and the teenager, deployed to the left of Barcelona's attacking trio, made an explosive start to his club's season.

After Philippe Coutinho was allowed to bring the ball forward and spread it high, he fired Jordi Alba's pull-back into the top corner and then drove a second inside the post.

Then Fati won the penalty, his feet too fast for Mario Gaspar, and Messi slipped in his first goal of the season before Pau poked into Villarreal 's net with his cross aimed at Sergio Busquets.

- 'One bites, one hits' –

A few hours earlier, Messi may have been watching as Suarez scored twice and set up another for Atletico in a spectacular 20-minute debut.

Two minutes after coming on as a substitute, Suarez laid on a goal, his sumptuous pass finished off by Marcos Llorente, before scoring himself at the back post with a strong header.

He then added another in injury-time, following up his own shot to make it six for a rampant Atletico at the Wanda Metropolitano.

"Sometimes it is important to have a change as a player," said Suarez.

"I've come to a club that has given me a spectacular welcome, it shows in the atmosphere, you get a good impression from the beginning, and you can see that on the pitch."

Diego Costa said with a smile: "It's great. One of us bites, the other one hits."

Costa had earlier given Atletico the lead but it was the 31-year-old who made way for Suarez, and he raised doubts about his future after the match.

"I leave my future up to the club. I spoke with the club, with the coach, I made it very clear what was happening, that if I am here, I will fight," said Costa.

"If they see the possibility of me leaving, I'll accept it. I don't want to be a burden."

Angel Correa and Joao Felix scored the second and third points for Atletico to bring Granada out of reach. Before Suarez stole the stage, the 20-year-old Felix was the best player on the pitch.