( CNN ) -- Barcelona began the defense of their La Liga crown with a convincing 5-0 win over Villarreal in the Nou Camp Monday night . Goals from new recruits Cesc Fabregas and Alexis Sanchez followed an opener from the promising Thiago Alcantara . Lionel Messi then added a double for Pep Guardiola 's all-conquering team who have already added to their trophy cabinet with victories in the Spanish Super Cup and European Super Cup before the start of their league campaign . Arch-rivals Real Madrid opened their title bid with a 6-0 rout of Real Zaragoza Sunday and Barca were just as impressive once youth team graduate and Spanish under-21 international Thiago had set them on the way with a 25th minute opener . Home goalkeeper Victor Valdes made a brilliant save to deny Giuseppe Rossi in a rare Villarreal attack before the champions stretched their lead . Fabregas , who combined superbly with Messi in midfield , used that understanding to latch on to a neat through ball from the Argentine ace and add the second just before halftime . Any hopes of a Villarreal comeback were snuffed out quickly after the break as Chile winger Sanchez used his pace to burst clear of the visiting defense and notch the third . Messi weaved his way to add the fourth and fifth to add the icing on the cake for the three-time defending Spanish champions .
Barcelona open La Liga campaign with 5-0 rout of Villarreal . Lionel Messi grabs a late double to round off scoring in Nou Camp . Thiago Alcantara and new recruits David Silva and Ivan Rakitic complete the attacking trident for Barca.