Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde was delighted with their thumping derby win over Espanyol.

Great performances from Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Ivan Rakitic saw the Blaugrana as deserved victors.

"We are at the beginning of the season and the distances are not significant but it is better to be ahead (of Real Madrid) than behind," Valverde said to the press after the game.

"It does not mean anything, but being ahead is always good."

New signing, Nelson Semedo, also played well again and is settling nicely into his right-back role.

"Semedo is a strong, fast player who plays well in attack and defensively he will help us a lot," he continued.

"He has needed an adaptation process, but he gets better every day."