Barcelona off to flying start in La Liga without Messi: The players who stood out in 6-goal thriller

FC Barcelona started life post-Lionel-Messi with a thumping 4-2 home win against Real Sociedad. The Blaugrana raced into a 2-0 lead before half-time and added another goal by the 59th minute. Despite being pegged back by a resolute Sociedad side through 2 second-half goals to take the scoreline to 3-2, Barcelona saw the match off with a final goal in second-half added time. 

This would be the first competitive match Barcelona played since Messi completed his free transfer to Paris Saint-Germain. The Argentine playmaker has been the difference-maker for Barcelona for almost 2 decades and it was interesting to see which players would step up to the plate in his absence. 

The Barcelona squad lived up to the billing with former players like Martin Braithwaite, Sergi Roberto and Frenkie de Jong pulling the strings. New signing, Memphis Depay was also on song with an exquisite assist for Gerard Pique for his side's first goal in the 19th minute. The most influential player though was Martin Braithwaite who scored two goals and provided one assist to help his side over the finish line. 

Braithwaite is the only established striker available to Ronald Koeman at the moment. Sergio Aguero is on a 10-week injury layoff while Rey Manaj is yet to be tested in La Liga. Barcelona's coach, Koeman has called on the management of the club to sign a new striker for the club.