Messi shows Rooney how it's done: Inspires Barcelona, while Man Utd struggle

Lionel Messi and Barcelona are already up and running at full speed in the Spanish league. Louis Van Gaal's Manchester United is still stumbling out of the blocks in the Premier League.

Messi looked back to his best in scoring two goals in a comfortable win over Elche, while United still looking for its first victory of the season under its new manager after being held to a draw by Sunderland.

Here is a look at the action from Europe's top league on Sunday:


SPAIN

Lionel Messi scored twice to help 10-man Barcelona start the Spanish league with a 3-0 win over Elche in the debut of coach Luis Enrique, with the Argentina star looking eager to put last season's disappointments behind him.

Messi used a signature burst of speed to dribble free of a pack of opponents before slotting in Barcelona's first goal in the 41st.

Minutes later Barcelona lost Javier Mascherano to a direct red card when he fouled Elche's Garry Rodrigues with only goalkeeper Claudio Bravo to beat.

But Barcelona's 18-year-old Munir El Haddadi, starting for the injured Neymar, scored seconds after halftime before Messi got his second goal in the 63rd after again sidestepping a group of defenders.

Elsewhere, promoted Eibar beat Real Sociedad 1-0 for a winning debut in the first division, while Celta Vigo beat Getafe 3-1.
 

ENGLAND

The World Cup memories are fading fast for Louis van Gaal as the size of the Manchester United rebuilding task hits home.

A week after losing the season opener, United was held to a 1-1 draw at Sunderland, leaving the former Netherlands coach still searching for his first win in the Premier League. Juan Mata gave United the lead in northeast England but former Manchester City midfielder Jack Rodwell headed Sunderland level on the half-hour.

Meanwhile, Mauricio Pochettino's reign at Tottenham has begun with successive league wins as his team overwhelmed Queens Park Rangers with a stylish 4-0 rout.

In the day's other game, Stoke captain Ryan Shawcross equalized in the 84th minute to salvage a 1-1 draw against 10-man Hull.
 

FRANCE

Radamel Falcao scored in his first start of the season to give Monaco a 1-0 win over Nantes in the French league, the team's first victory of the season under new coach Leonardo Jardim.

Monaco overcame a lackluster performance as Falcao headed home a cross from leftback Layvin Kurzawa on the stroke of halftime.

The Colombia striker missed the second half of last season and the World Cup with a knee injury and seemed to be struggling for form as Monaco — last season's runner-up — opened its campaign with two losses.

Elsewhere, promoted Lens stunned Lyon 1-0 for its first win of the season while Rennes goalkeeper Benoit Costil stopped a penalty in a 0-0 draw with Saint-Etienne, which trails leader Bordeaux by two points after the first three games.
 

GERMANY

Mainz earned a 2-2 draw at promoted Paderborn with an injury time penalty to deny the home side a victory in its first Bundesliga game.

Koo Ja-cheol converted the spot kick in the 94th minute after Uwe Huenemeier brought down Shinji Okazaki in the area.

Okazaki opened the scoring in the 34th minute, when he was quickest to the rebound after Johannes Geis' free kick struck the left post.

Elias Kachunga equalized with his — and Paderborn's — first Bundesliga goal three minutes later, seizing upon a wayward back pass from Geis and firing past Mainz goalkeeper Loris Karius. Huenemeier thought he'd secured the win when he headed past Karius in the 87th, only for Paderborn to concede the penalty minutes later.

Also, Christoph Kramer's last-minute equalizer secured Borussia Moenchengladbach a 1-1 draw with visiting Stuttgart in the late game.

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