Defending Primera Liga champions FC Barcelona kicked off its league campaign with a straightforward 3-0 win over Sporting Gijon.

The game was played on Monday because of Barcelona having to play the European Supercup against Shakhtar Donetsk last Friday.

However, if the Barca players had tired legs after playing 120-minute football just three days earlier, they didn't show against a side expected to struggle this season.

Goals from Bojan Krkic, Seydou Keita and a debut strike from Zlatan Ibrahimovich gave Barcelona all three points against a rival that was content to defend for large periods of the game.

With Leo Messi back in Argentina to prepare for next weekend's World cup clash against Brasil and Thierry Henry rested, Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola gave starting places to youngsters Bojan and Pedro Rodriguez alongside recent arrival Ibrahimovich in attack.

With Sporting looking to defend deep, it took a while for the new look line-up to gel, but after 17 minutes, the reigning champions took the lead.

Xavi Hernandez took a corner, Keita got a touch and Bojan was on hand to score at the far post. It was the perfect present for the young striker, who had celebrated his 19th birthday just three days ago.

Barcelona continued to control the game, but without creating clearcut chances and Ibrahimovich's desire to open his account was obvious to anyone watching the game.

However, when the second goal finally arrived, just three minutes from halftime, it was Keita who scored it.

Another corner was taken short by Xavi to Dani Alves, who crossed for Keita to score the second headed goal of the night.

That score left Sporting with few options other than to attack in the second period, but it was Barcelona that started the brighter of the two sides as both Ibrahimovich and Bojan tried their luck.

It was Keita who came closest as he rattled the post following yet another Xavi corner after 67 minutes.

However, the fans in the Camp Nou had to wait until the 81st minute before they were able to celebrate the third goal of the night. Xavi hit another short corner for Alves to cross and Ibrahimovich produced a diving header to give the keeper no chance.

(Xinhua News Agency September 1, 2009)