Barcelona fittingly marked Pep Guardiola’s last home game in charge with a 4-0 win over city rivals Espanyol at the Nou Camp on Saturday night.
Lionel Messi got all four goals, moving to 50 in La Liga this season, six ahead of pichichi rival Cristiano Ronaldo, and an incredible 72 in all competitions, but even still the night belonged to the departing Catalan coach.
There were emotional scenes as he took his seat on the bench before kick-off, with a huge banner unfurled saying ‘t’estimem Pep!’ or ‘We love you Pep’. Both the coach and Messi looked tearful as the game began.
Espanyol began in no mood to join the party and Javi Lopéz hacked down Sergio Busquets, while ex-Barca playmaker Joan Verdú tripped Thiago Alcántara.
Messi soon opened the scoring, taking the free-kick himself after being fouled 25 yards out and flighting the ball over the wall to the net. The 24-year-old celebrated with a wave to the coach under whom he has developed into the world’s best player.
With the game scrappy, Guardiola got to his feet to rouse his side. The crowd responded with more applause and his players with some attacks. Young right-back Martín Montoya (again preferred to Daniel Alves) crossed dangerously, but the visitors scrambled the ball clear.
Espanyol had yet to threaten and centre-forward Alvaro Vazquéz – likely to play in this summer’s London Olympics – miscued a long range effort. Then Pedro Rodríguez – returning to form ahead of Euro 2012 – fed Andrés Iniesta in the area but the linesman wrongly flagged.
With the second half beginning slowly Guardiola switched to his favoured three man defence, pushing Adriano forward and Iniesta more central. The two linked cleverly and only Víctor Sánchez’s last gasp intervention denied them.
On a rare visiting attack Raul Baena wanted a penalty for a Montoya push, but referee Fernando Teixeira Vitienes said no. The official soon spotted a handball by substitute Cristian Gómez at the other end, awarding a soft penalty which Messi converted via a post.
Espanyol were not happy and tried to hit back with Vladimir Weiss lobbing Barca keeper José Pinto – again playing ahead of the Copa del Rey final – who had charged dangerously from his goal, but Javier Mascherano cleared.
Messi was happy to exploit the opening spaces. His third goal only needed three touches to control a long pass, outpace Raúl Rodríguez and shoot past Espanyol keeper Cristian Alvaréz.
The fourth was another penalty, calmly converted after Busquets was tripped by Juan Forlín. This time the shared celebration was clear with the Argentine running the sideline to embrace Guardiola. It was a fitting end to the night, and to four record breaking seasons together.
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