Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde has heaped praise on Lionel Messi's start to the La Liga season after the Argentine bounced back from a disappointing World Cup with two goals against Alaves on Saturday night.

Messi sent an audacious second-half free-kick under the jumping wall and into the net for the opener, and Barca's 6,000th La Liga goal, at the Camp Nou on Saturday before slotting in his second in injury-time after Philippe Coutinho had also scored in the 3-0 win. "With Messi, you can expect absolutely anything," Valverde said.