Being back-to-back Argentine champions counted for very little on Wednesday afternoon as Boca Juniors were easily dealt with by Barcelona at the Camp Nou.

Lionel Messi led the Catalan giants to the Joan Gamper Trophy for the sixth consecutive year after a 3-0 win over Boca, who never really looked like competing against far superior opposition.

It’s fair to say that Boca weren’t at their strongest with Cristian Pavón, Mauro Zárate and Pablo Pérez named among the substitutes but with Barcelona already looking threatening, from the moment Messi slipped in recent signing Malcom to fire past Esteban Andrada, the result looked in little doubt.

Julio Buffarini certainly didn’t cover himself in glory with the space he afforded Malcom in the opener but made an even greater mess for Barcelona’s second. Messi darted towards the penalty looking for one of his trademark quick one-twos and the Argentina captain received the ball back generously from Buffarini to dink it over Andrada.

Boca almost levelled before the break as Sebastián Villa hit the upright but Barcelona were playing at a canter.

Plenty of changes on both sides disrupted any fluidity to the game but Barça still added a third 23 minutes from time. Substitutes Rafinha and Luis Suárez combined and the Brazilian flicked the ball over Andrada before tapping into the open net.

Messi spoke to the Camp Nou before kick off to state the side’s drive to bring the Champions League back to Barcelona and the Blaugrana look in good shape ahead of the start of their league title defence.

While Boca, who have already made a winning start to theirs, will not read much into the defeat as they travel back for Monday’s Superliga clash with Estudiantes.