Barcelona’s black cat pitch invader

Black cats are meant to deliver bad luck.

But Spanish football giants Barcelona have put that old chestnut to bed, winning their opening game of the La Liga season with ease - despite a feline pitch invader.

Hosting Elche at the Nou Camp, superstitious fans could have been forgiven for feeling anxious when a black cat appeared on the field in the second minute - no doubt delivered by a visiting fan.

Footage of the incident became an instant hit on social media, with fans giving the cat, reportedly known as "Pusscas, three Twitter accounts in its honour.

"Pusskas" shows typically nifty evasive skills during its several minutes on the pitch as it roams with impunity and avoids the attention of both sets of players - much to the amusement of Barca star Lionel Messi and manager Louis Enrique.

Elche goalkeeper Titon does his best to sweep the plucky feline into his arms, before it eventually runs out of puff and is corralled into a corner and captured by a ground staffer.

Of course, it's not the first time a black cat has invaded the Nou Camp, with another feline making an incursion in 2012, when the home side again prevailed - 2-1.

A cat also gained fame in the English Premier League when it was thrown onto the pitch during a Liverpool-Tottenham game in 2012, with the feline dubbed, "Anfield Cat", gaining over 54,000 followers through a Twitter handle @AnfieldCat.

Black cats are considered unlucky in Spain, like many European countries, and are associated with witchcraft.

But if anything they seem to bring good fortune to Barca, with Messi later scoring two goals in a 3-0 victory.