Barcelona got their La Liga title defence off to the perfect start with a comfortable home win over Real Betis in which Lionel Messi scored twice and Luis Suarez grabbed a hat trick.

In windy conditions, the champions took only six minutes to make the breakthrough when ArdaTuran fired home a close-range finish from Jordi Alba’s cross.

Barcelona could have been two up with 10 minutes played when Messi and Alba combined to set up a chance for Suarez before Betis scrambled the ball away.

But they were stunned when Ruben Castro fired a free kick past Raul Bravo to level after a Sergio Busquets foul had presented him with the opportunity to take aim from the edge of the area.

That came after an improved spell from the visitors — but Barcelona swiftly took control again and, after Suarez had seen penalty appeals waved away after a challenge from AissaMandi, Messi thumped an effort against the bar.

The champions regained the lead after 37 minutes when Messi found room on the edge of the area to whip a low finish past goalkeeper Antonio Adan.

Three minutes before the break, Suarez put the result beyond any doubt as he steered Sergi’s cutback low into the bottom corner to make it 3-1.

Betis offered little in response as the home side monopolised possession, and two goals shortly before the hour mark, from Suarez — who turned in a low Messi cross — and Messi himself turned a victory into a rout.

Messi blasted a free kick over the top as he looked for a hat trick and then almost created a hat trick goal for Suarez when his low cross was scrambled clear.

With a quarter of an hour remaining, Messi was denied by Adan, but Suarez completed his treble when he fired a sumptuous free kick past Adan after being fouled on the edge of the area by Antonio Sanabria.

Betis managed to pull one back when Castro finished neatly — but they were powerless in the face of a dominant Barcelona display.