Messi scores 4 to send Guardiola off with victory
FC
Barcelon's coach Pep Guardiola, left, embraces Lionel Messi, from
Argentina, after scores during a Spanish La Liga soccer match at the
Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona, Spain on Saturday. FC Barcelona's coach
Pep Guardiola will not continue as coach of the Spanish club after this
season and assistant Tito Vilanova will take over. (AP/Manu Fernandez)Lionel Messi scored four times to take his season tally to an unprecedented 72 goals and give Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola a 4-0 win over cross-town rival Espanyol in his last home game at Camp Nou Stadium on Saturday.
Messi's scoring display was a fitting farewell for the coach who helped the Argentina forward become the world's best player and forged Barcelona into one of the best teams to have played football.
After scoring his Spanish league-record 50th goal late on, Messi went to the sideline to embrace Guardiola, who is leaving after 13 titles in four seasons.
The only other player to have scored 70 goals in a first-division season was Archie Stark of Bethlehem Steel in the American Soccer League in 1924-25.
Real Madrid, which clinched the league title in the last round, won 2-1 at Granada thanks to Cristiano Ronaldo's 45th league goal and David Cortes' own goal in stoppage time.
"Life has given me this gift during the past five years of being able to live with these players and enjoy this spectacle," Guardiola told the packed stands following his 97th win in 118 home games.
"I have been the privileged one, to feel so loved and admired during all these years. Many thanks to all."
Guardiola will coach Barcelona's last league game at Real Betis before having a chance at a 14th piece of silverware in the Copa del Rey final against Athletic Bilbao. Guardiola's assistant Tito Vilanova will then take over.
The stands were full of posters and signs in Guardiola's honor and a banner saying "Thanks Pep" hung on the outside of the stadium to greet the departing manager on arrival.
When Guardiola came out of the tunnel he was met by another enormous banner saying "We love you Pep!" and chants from the 89,044 fans.
