First Division - Day 1

Barcelona 3 - Sporting Gijón 0

Barcelona: Víctor Valdés; Daniel Alves, Puyol, Piqué (Fontás 83'), Maxwell (Abidal 56'); Xavi, Busquets, Keita; Pedro, Ibrahimovic, Bojan (Jeffrén 80'). 4-3-3.
Sporting: Juan Pablo; Sastre, Botía, Gregory, Canella; Michel, Camacho (Bilic 56'); Miguel (Maldonado 71'), Rivera, Diego Castro (José Angel 76'); Barral. 4-2-3-1.

Goals:
1-0. 18. Bojan. Header in on far post after Keita headed on Xavi's corner.
2-0. 42. Keita. Got ahead of defence to head Dani Alvés cross past keeper.
3-0. 82. Ibrahimovic. Diving header on far post from Dani Alves cross.

Yellow cards: Barral 26', Rivera 70'.

Barcelona had no problems seeing off Sporting Gijón in a match which was postponed to Monday due to the Catalans' participation in the European Super Cup. Guardiola's side were missing several key players, including Messi who had already flown out to play the World cup qualifier for Argentina, but even so they ran out 3-0 winners.

After an early scare from Barral, Bojan headed the hosts in to an early lead after Keita headed on Xavi's corner. And Keita himself headed in the second from a Dani Alvés cross before half time. The heat and humidity slowed down the game after the break, but with eight minutes to go Ibrahimovic wrapped things up with his first goal for his new club. A relief for him, and Barça are already joint second in the league.