It was the hosts who had the game's first chance as early as the third minute when Haris Seferovic took an attempt on goal from outside the box, only to see it come back off the crossbar.

Two minutes later Barca were ahead thanks to Neymar's first goal in La Liga. Alexis Sanchez marched down the right and drilled in a cross that was deflected onto the path of the Brazilian, who made no mistake from just yards out.

Barcelona's Neymar is congratulated by teammates after scoring the opening goal against Real Sociedad during their La Liga match on September 24, 2013 © AFP

Neymar turned provider in the eighth minute when he floated in a cross that Lionel Messi headed home powerfully from close range.

Gerardo Martino's side continued to dominate proceedings at Camp Nou and made it 3-0 midway through the first half when Sergio Busquets found the target from 25 yards out.

Barcelona's Sergio Busquets is congratulated by teammates after scoring his team's third goal against Real Sociedad during their La Liga match on September 24, 2013 © AFP

Daniel Alves thought that he had added a fourth in the 38th minute when he chested home a cross, but the referee flagged it offside.

The home side continued to put pressure on the Sociedad defence in the second half with Messi and Sanchez both coming close, but it was the Basque giants who scored the evening's fourth goal.

Poor defending from Gerard Pique allowed Imanol Agirretxe's pass to reach Alberto de la Bella, who made no mistake from inside the Blaugrana box.

However, Barcelona scored the final goal of the evening at Camp Nou in the 77th minute when Messi sent Marc Bartra through for a simple finish.

Sanchez was unlucky not to etch his name on the scoresheet when he headed Alves's cross against the post in the second minute of injury time.