Guardiola manages FC Barcelona for the last time at the Camp Nou in 4-0 victory for Espanyol (Photo: Getty Images)

A sensational four-goal performance from Lionel Messi ensured Pep Guardiola received a dream send off at the Camp Nou, as the winningest coach in FC Barcelona history paid an emotional farewell to the fans in a dominate 4-0 victory over city-rivals Espanyol.

A massive banner covering nearly one-fifth of the stadium was unfurled before kickoff, reading: “T’estimem Pep” (We love you Pep) in adoration of the revered Catalan leader.  With 13 titles in just four years at the helm, Guardiola’s reign has truly been glorious.  The Barca boss helped usher in the most successful era of the blaugrana’s storied history, while revolutionizing the way the game is played.  Under Pep, Barcelona became a style and a belief, a true embodiment of the club motto: “mes que un club.”  After all his accomplishments he will take his leave, holding the immense distinction of having shaped arguably the greatest club side in football history.

Would that it last forever, but fate ordains that dearest friends must part.  And on Saturday night, in front of a sell-out crowd of 90,000 plus, the Camp Nou looked on with biting admiration, as Guardiola’s golden incarnation of football played its last home symphony.

Leo Messi was magnificent again, as the Argentine scored a quartet of goals to carry the blaugrana to a well-deserved victory.  The little conductor netted his 50^th La Liga goal of the season with his final strike, bringing his tally to an unprecedented 72 goals in all competitions this season.  With a five-goal advantage over Cristiano Ronaldo and just one league match remaining, the Pichichi and European Golden Boot honors seem all but assured for Barcelona’s number 10, as Messi continues to pad his stats in what will unquestionably go down as the greatest single-season performance by any player in football history.

With conflicting emotions swirling through the stadium, it took the Catalans a bit of time to settle into the match.  A nervy atmosphere and makeshift lineup from the hosts lead to a choppy opening ten minutes before Messi stepped up and put Barcelona ahead with their first shot of the game.  After being fouled outside the area, La Pulga unleashed a stunning 25-yard free kick, bending his shot over the wall and curling past Cristian Alvarez’s fingers before settling in the upper-right corner of the net.

Joan Verdu tried his luck for the visitors three minutes later from a similar position, but lacked the magic touch, as his free kick drifted inches wide of Jose Manuel Pinto’s far-post.

Seydou Keita should have made it 2-0 on 29 minutes, as the Malian collected Messi’s slide-rule pass in the area and tried to round the keeper, only for Alvarez to go to ground and make a saving touch on the ball just as the Barca midfielder looked poised to score.

Alvarez was called upon again to deny Andres Iniesta at the stroke of halftime, as the Spain international curled a brilliant free kick to the far-post, which the Espanyol shot-stopper somehow kept out with an athletic diving save.

Barca started the second half on the front foot with the inspiring Iniesta firing wide in front of goal before referee Teixeira Vitienes awarded the hosts a penalty kick on 63 minutes for a handball on Cristian Gomez.

The substitute was harshly punished by match official Vitienes for accidently handling the ball in the area, as Messi attempted to scoop a pass over Gomez’s head from close range.  Despite Espanyol’s protests, Vitienes was unmoved and Messi the Merciless showed no sympathy, burying the spot-kick off the inside of the right-post and into the back of the net for the 2-0 advantage.

Vladimir Weiss, Espanyol’s most active player on the night, was then denied a sure goal on the other end thanks to the relentless hustle of Javier Mascherano.  A poor decision by Pinto to charge off his line saw the Slovakian blessed with an open goal, only for Mascherano to throw his body in front of the net and flick the shot over the bar with a glancing header to preserve the shutout.

From the resulting corner came Messi’s hat trick, as Thiago cleared the ball to Pedro on the right wing and the Canary Islander played a wonderful cross-field pass to Leo on the left.  The Argentine took a sumptuous first touch to play the ball out of the air and put himself in on goal before firing a shot under the glove of Alvarez and into the side right netting for his third of the night.

La Pulga would round out the scoring in the 79^th minute when Teixeira Vitienes adjudged Sergio Busquets to have been tripped in the area by Juan Forlin and awarded another spot-kick.  It was a 50-50 call and a little home-cooking officiating for the hosts, but Messi did not care, stepping up to blast his shot past Alvarez for his record-setting 50^th La Liga goal of the season and 72^nd in all competitions.

A touching celebration followed, with ringmaster Lionel leading the entire Barcelona squad over to the bench to embrace Guardiola in a massive group hug, thanking the Barca boss for the titles, the memories, and in Messi’s case, for allowing him to become the player he is today.

The little magician could have had a fifth, but fired wide of the near-post under the pressure of Hector Moreno and the onrushing Cristian Alvarez, as Barcelona ended the evening 4-0 conquerors on a night that clearly belonged to Josep Guardiola.

As a thank you for his immeasurable contributions, boundless dedication and incorruptible love for Barcelona and Catalonia as a whole, the fans in attendance made certain to express their gratitude, echoing his name throughout the stadium in sweeping cheers, eventually forcing the timid idol to emerge from the bench and acknowledge the support with some emotional words of appreciation.

“Life has given me this present.  For five years I have been able to have you close to me and enjoy the great show that these boys have given us.  I’ve been no different than you – I’ve been equally privileged.  A little closer to the pitch maybe, but I’ll take this privilege with me. You can’t imagine the happiness and pleasure I’ll take with me.”

“Thank you to absolutely everybody, especially those who have been closest to me…and thank you to those of you in the crowd, who have never failed to make me feel your support”.

“You should know that I will miss you.  I’m the person who is losing most, but I am leaving you in the best possible hands – particularly of this group of players.  The pressure was strong and I needed to ease up a bit, but you don’t need to do that – stay with us, because this still has a long way to go.  I wish you all the best of luck – I’ll see you soon and you will never lose me!”

As they say, we only part to meet again.  True to character, Guardiola’s final party was alive with the captivating emotion he embodied during his tenure and a fiery hope for the future.

Over the years, Guardiola’s greatest quality has been the integrity with which he has represented Barcelona.  The man has served as a true ambassador for the sport, earning the admiration of colleagues and adversaries alike with his positive approach to the game and deep respect for those who make it their trade.

Douglas Adams once wrote: “To give real service you must add something which cannot be bought or measured with money, and that is sincerity and integrity.”

An emphasis on attacking football, playing the beautiful game and winning with in-house players will be his legacy.  Beyond that, the sincerity and purity of his intentions are what make his success complete.  His decision to leave stems not from the search for a greater paycheck, nor to appease his ego and strive for greater challenges, but rather a belief that anything less than 100% commitment would be unfair to the players and fans who make Barcelona the institution that it is.  His undying loyalty to Barcelona has inspired a whole new generation of supporters.  It is the quality that has converted him into such an endearing figure for the Camp Nou faithful and the principle reason to appreciate his success.

No mercenary-coach could ever treat the club with as much dignity and humility as Guardiola has.  He brought heart to a team in need of direction and helped will them to greatness.  The brilliance of his actions will continue to shine long after the sun has set on the Barcelona Empire.

Above all, he managed the team with class.  Pure class.  Can anyone think of a classier way to go out?  Has any manager in history ever left a team to such a sweeping ovation from the fans?  Most managers share the unpleasant fate of being shown the back door, exiting alone down a dark tunnel, berated by venomous insults and crushing guilt, feeling they let their players down.  Guardiola never need fear this.

Jorge Valdano, former sporting director of Real Madrid, came out today and praised the Barcelona manager for his attitude, stating: “Guardiola believes football is a territory where greatness is possible.  He never cheats, is always brave and strips football of all its miseries.  It’s of mediocre (people) not to praise Barcelona.”

This coming just days after Mourinho’s public interview with Spanish newspaper ABC, in which the current Real Madrid boss took time off his busy schedule to take an umpteenth dig at Guardiola and Barcelona, while hailing his own accomplishments in the last decade.

It reminds me of a quote I once read on the nature of having class and showing grace: “Class never runs scared. It is sure-footed and confident, and it can handle whatever comes along.  Class never makes excuses.  It takes its lumps and learns from mistakes.  Class knows that good manners are nothing more than a series of small sacrifices and minor inconveniences.  Class is real.  You can’t fake it.  Class never tries to build itself up by tearing others down.  Class is already up and need not attempt to look better by making others look worse.  Class can walk with kings and keep its virtue and talk with crowds and keep the common touch.  If you have class, you’ve got it made. If you don’t have class, no matter what else you have, it won’t make up for it.”

Barcelona may have lost their hegemony as three-time defending champions, but their honor is in tact.  No man can question the success of Guardiola without exposing his own insecurities, for while form is temporary and defeat inevitable, class is forever.  It is the truest measure of a man’s greatness and despite the constant blathering and slanderous ravings of Jose Mourinho y la caverna mediatica, Josep Guardiola, in every moment and in every action, has shown the humility and grace of a true champion.

13 titles are not won through deception, but rather hard work and accountability.  With the Copa del Rey final against Bilbao representing a potential 14^th trophy and Guardiola’s last match, it is hard to envision Barcelona falling short in the final.  The players will want to give him a heroes exit.  One final victory dance in the center of the pitch and one last chorus of “campeones” to send him off.  He deserves nothing less than to exit on the shoulders of his disciples, with the trophy raised high, fading away into the tunnel and off into the sunset, a true champion.

So, what more is there to say?  It all went by so fast.  Pleasure and action make the hours seem short and words alone will never be enough to recapture it all.  It’s been a privilege, Mister.  You are the greatest man any of us will ever know.  On behalf of the fans, who watched with such wonderment and delight as you lead the charge of this great campaign, in honor of all you have done and the pride you have inspired in us all:  Thank you, Pep.  You’ll never be forgotten.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=lkjgleZPr70

Article written by Barcaloco contributor Anson Woodring.  Follow Anson on Twitter at @ansonwoodring.

Full match highlights:

Barcelona – Espanyol 4-0 Highlights HD 05.05.2012 by iNfRaS0NiC

Departure de Pep Guardiola 05.05.2012 by iNfRaS0NiC

Lionel Messi converts on a penalty kick in easy victory over Malaga (Photo: David Ramos/Getty Images)

Lionel Messi broke Gerd Muller’s 39-year-old scoring record with a hat-trick performance in a 4-1 victory over Malaga on Wednesday night, becoming Europe’s all-time single-season scoring champion with 68 goals in all competitions.

The statistics boggle the mind: 68 goals and 29 assists.  His 46 tallies in league play have set a new La Liga record and position him in first place in the race for Pichichi and European golden boot honors.  On a day when Real Madrid defeated Athletic Bilbao to claim the league title, Barcelona fans worldwide found something to smile about, as Leo Messi’s latest treble sees the Argentine consolidate his 2011-2012 campaign as the greatest individual season in European history.

With two league games and the Copa del Rey final still to be played, Messi could well finish the season with 70+ goals, 30+ assists and four titles under his belt (Spanish & European Supercups, Club World Cup and Copa del Rey).  Add it all up and it appears La Pulga has the inside track on an unheralded fourth consecutive Balon D’or.

When asked after the match, Malaga manager, as well as former Real Madrid and Cristiano Ronaldo coach, Manuel Pellegrini said it best:  “I don’t know the exact parameters for the Balon D’or.  I only know that Messi deserves to win every trophy there is.”

It was an emotional night at the Camp Nou, as fans greeted their team for the penultimate home match of the season and first since Guardiola’s midweek announcement that he would be stepping down at the end of the year.  The stadium was blanketed with countless banners thanking the club legend for his services, as well as offering support for Pep’s replacement, assistant coach Tito Vilanova.

The end-of-the-season lineup shuffle continued for this one, with Pinto getting another run out in goal – probably to continue building form ahead of the Copa del Rey final against Bilbao, while allowing Victor Valdes to mathematically guarantee another Zamora trophy, as the goalkeeper who conceded the fewest goals in the 2011-2012 La Liga season – while Keita, Fabregas and Iniesta were entrusted with controlling the center of the pitch.  A trident of Messi, Pedro and Isaac Cuenca spearheaded the attack, as Barcelona looked to finish the season on a high note in front of their home fans.

The Catalans started brightly, with Dani Alves breaking through on the right flank and testing Malaga shot-stopper Carlos Kameni with a long-range drive in the opening minute.

However, it was Malaga who nearly took the early lead when Sergio Duda’s freekick from outside the area curled over the wall and came smashing back off the post with Pinto beaten.

But Barcelona would respond, as Carles Puyol put the blaugrana ahead on 13 minutes to set the stage for a signature victory.  A shifty pass from Lionel Messi played Iniesta into the area where the Spain international fired a low pass across the face of goal to Carles Puyol.  The centerback (playing in the position of a center forward) threw an outstretched leg to the ball, directing it into the back of the net for his 3^rd La Liga goal of the season, a new personal record for the team captain.

Kameni did well to palm away a venomous strike from Adriano in the 19^th minute before the visitors found themselves level thanks to a meritorious finish from Rondon, as the Venezuelan steered a diving header into the Barcelona net off a cross from Jesus Gamez.

The equality would not last long, though, as Jesus Gamez was called for obstruction on Andres Iniesta just seven minutes later and Barcelona were given a penalty.  Replays show the defender intentionally stepping into the path of Andres to force a collision just inside the area and as a result, Messi was given a chance to conciliate for his penalty kick gaffe against Chelsea.  The Argentine would not disappoint, stepping up and burying the shot into the bottom left corner to give the Catalans a 2-1 advantage.

Fabregas headed over the bar on 43 minutes before the match official whistled for halftime and Barcelona headed into the break.  After the interval, the Leo Messi recital began, as the Argentine bewitched Malaga with his brilliant footwork to give Barcelona a stranglehold on the match.

Duda’s biting challenge on Messi inside the area saw the visitors concede a second penalty on the night and again, it was La Pulga would make them pay, rifling a shot past Kameni into the roof of the net to move on to 67 goals in all competitions and equal Gerd Muller’s record from the 1972-1973 season.

You got the feeling it was a record-breaking type of night, as Messi rounded off the scoring five minutes later with a sensational finish to consolidate his place in the annals of history.  Iniesta played the role of provider, picking out the Argentine with a sensational pass between two defenders to send Messi in one-on-one with Kameni.  The ex-Espanyol keeper did everything possible to swipe the ball, or legs of Leo, with a diving challenge, only for Messi to avoid the sprawling tackle, chip the keeper, then run onto the flick and slide-foot it home into an empty net.

In doing so, Messi recorded his 9^th hat-trick of the season, giving him the most ever by a Barcelona player in a single campaign.  With 165 league goals, Messi has now surpassed the great Samuel Eto’o and sits 12^th place among the all-time top goal-scorers in the history of La Liga.  His 46 league goals place him two ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo in the race for Spain’s Pichichi honors, while making him the first player to score over 45 league goals in 80 years, since Dixie Dean who tallied 45 in the 1931-1932 season.

Malaga did what they could to salvage a point, with Francisco Portillo curling a shot wide of the post on 78 minutes before Pinto saved ex-Madrid striker Van Nistelrooy’s volley in the final minute, but in the end, the night belonged to Messi, as the Argentine became the greatest single-season goal-scorer in European history.

His 68 finishes also see him surpass Pele’s personal season-record of 66 goals with Brazilian club Santos in the year 1958.  As for Barcelona, with 108 La Liga goals this campaign, the team has now set a new all-time club record, surpassing the 105 goals of the 2008-2009 season.  Amazing to consider that this Guardiola side, suffering season-ending injuries to David Villa and Ibrahim Afellay, as well as multiple-month layoffs for Pedro and Alexis Sanchez — a team that coupled Messi up top with B-team wingers and a career midfielder in Cesc Fabregas for long stretches of the season — was capable of surpassing the goal-scoring records of Barcelona’s fearsome 2008 attacking trident of Leo Messi – Samuel Eto’o – Thierry Henry.

Put it on the Argentine: Messi has been directly involved in 97 of the 181 total goals scored by Barcelona this season, with 68 dianas and 29 assists.

Gerd Muller was quick to congratulate Messi after the match, commenting:  “Technically, Messi is superb.  His goals are brilliant.  And despite being a genius, he’s not a selfish player…Records are there to be beaten.  Let me be the first to congratulate Messi for scoring 68 goals, it’s an honor.”

Such an accomplishment must be put into perspective.  Goal-scoring records are generally considered untouchable in the modern age.  They are archaic marks, set long ago when the balance of a game was dominantly shifted in favor of a few brilliant individuals.  Yet even with his diminutive stature, no record looms large over
Leo.  He is a throwback goal scorer to a bygone era, possessing omniscient vision and mesmerizing technical skill, playing his trade in a modern game against the strongest defenders ever seen and making it look easy.  Such is his genius, such is the joy of
watching him play.

Guardiola took time to field questions after the match, breaking character for a moment to finally address some of the discrepancies in officiating this season, commenting: “Two penalties?  Now that it’s not really needed anymore… It’s a bit late in the year to start giving us penalties now…A lot happened this season that we were silent about.”

The coach also took time to state his appreciation for the fans and players who continued to fight, despite having lost the title, adding:  “I’m happy that the team keeps going, it’s not easy when the Liga is already lost…I’m very grateful for the attitude of the fans.  I’ve enjoyed it and I thank them from the bottom of my heart.”

Manuel Pellegrini chimed in during his post-match press conference to heap praise on his colleague, Guardiola, professing: “Pep’s contribution to the game is immense. Trophies, game, attitude…He is an example in everything…I hope he will return to the game soon because football needs him.”

As for Guardiola, his focus lay ahead on the club’s future fortunes under Vilanova, remarking: “Tito is a fantastic person, he has the skills… He’ll show what a great coach he is.”

With the end drawing nigh, Saturday’s city-rival showdown with Espanyol offers fans one last chance to see Guardiola in action at the Camp Nou before Barcelona hit the road for their final two matches of the season.  Expect a mosaic unlike any other and 95,000 gestures of gratitude for a man who has truly been the noblest figure in Barcelona history.

Article written by Barcaloco contributor Anson Woodring.  Follow Anson on Twitter at @ansonwoodring.

Full match highlights:

Barcelona – Malaga Highlights HD 02.05.2012 by iNfRaS0NiC

Thiago celebrates goal in 0-7 victory over Rayo Vallecano (Photo: Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

Barcelona rebounded from perhaps the most devastating week in team history to trounce Rayo Vallecano 7-0 in Madrid on Sunday night.  Amidst all the heartbreak of the last few days: losing to Real Madrid in the Camp Nou, being eliminated from the Champions League, seeing their league hegemony as three-time defending champions come to an end and bidding goodbye to Josep Guardiola, the greatest coach in team history, the Catalans responded with a dominant performance to return to winning ways.

What greater way to honor a man like Guardiola than with hard-fought victory?  It’s certainly what the coach would have expected from his players.  Despite the gutting news, Barca played with passion, treating the match against Rayo as an opportunity to pay homage to their inspirational leader.  Beyond that, the blaugrana sent a clear message to critics claiming Barca’s cycle of dominance had reached its end.  With Tito Vilanova comes an assurance of the continuity of Guardiola’s system.  What got the Catalans this far will continue, with or without Pep, and on nights like these, it is that system and its players, which make Barcelona the most feared side on the planet.

After the midweek debacle against Chelsea, Guardiola opted to refresh the squad with a series of changes.  Jose Manuel Pinto was offered a rare start in goal for the recently porous Victor Valdes, while Martin Montoya and Adriano were deployed in right and left back roles.  Stellar performances in midfield from Seydou Keita and Thiago made the absences of Xavi and Iniesta completely unnoticeable and Pedro returned to the starting line-up with a vindicating two-goal performance.

Rayo started the brighter of the two sides and had appeals for a penalty inside of four minutes, as Sergio Busquets went to ground and stripped Diego Costa before making light contact with the forward’s outstretched leg and watching the Brazilian go down.  But the referee was unmoved by Costa’s protests and waived play on.

After the opening quarter-hour, Barcelona began to settle into the match and saw their first real chance converted into a 1-0 advantage thanks to Lionel Messi.  Some quick footwork from an impressive Alexis Sanchez saw the Chilean cut back between two defenders and feed the ball to Pedro on the right wing.  Pedro showed remarkable unselfishness by passing on the shot and instead sliding a ball along the six-yard box to Lionel Messi, who buried the tap-in at the far-post for his 64^th goal of the season.

The Argentine was directly involved in Barcelona’s second goal just moments later, as his excellent work-rate won back possession for the hosts in Rayo’s defensive half, allowing Seydou Keita to slide a weighted pass through to Alexis Sanchez on the counter.  The Chilean did brilliantly to fight off the closing defender and round the keeper before seeing his shot from a tight angle deflect off the knee of Rober and settle into the back of the net.  It was a valiant attempt from the defender, who saw his efforts cruelly rewarded with an own-goal and a painful knee injury sustained during a collision with the goal post, leading to his substitution in the 27^th minute.

Rayo intended to make a game of it, though, with Diego Costa’s strong header forcing Pinto into a fine reaction save before Roberto Trashorras tested the reserve keeper with a curling free-kick that was miraculously kept out by an athletic, diving parry.  But Barcelona were simply too dominant in possession and too clinical in attack to let this one slip away and the visitors piled on the misery with a third goal through the boots of Seydou Keita.  Messi was again at the heart of things, cutting in from the right and weaving his way through two defenders before sliding an inch-perfect pass through Javi Arribas’ legs to Keita, who calmly fired past David Cobeno to make it 3-0 heading into the half.

A loss tonight would have mathematically locked up the title for Real Madrid, but with a 3-0 lead at the interval, Los Blancos found themselves putting the champagne back on ice and forced to wait another week.

Barcelona kicked off the second half in ruthless fashion, extending their lead to 4-0 within the opening 60 seconds.  Puyol’s indefatigable work-rate saw the defender make a driving run out of the defense and win the ball for Messi at midfield.  The Argentine slid a quick pass to Alexis on the left wing, who repaid the favor by setting up La Pulga with a return ball inside the area.  Messi’s effort was deflected by the keeper into the crossbar, only for the rebound to fall kindly to Pedro, who slotted home with a half-volley into an open net.  It was a simple finish, but one that seemed all too familiar when thinking of Canary Islander.  Pedro quite simply possesses a knack for being in the right place at the right time to finish off chances and one can not help but wonder what may have been if Guardiola had fielded him over B-team players like Cuenca and Tello for the Clasico and Champions League showdown with Chelsea.

Lass Bangoura provided a spark for the hosts, as he caught substitute Dani Alves out of position on the right flank and backed down Carles Puyol before unleashing an absolute missile at the Barcelona goal.  But Jose Manuel Pinto came to play and the Andalucian shot-stopper parried away the effort with another brilliant, one-handed save to keep the hosts off the scoreboard.

Ibrahim Afellay made his long-anticipated return to the pitch in the 71^st minute, making this his first appearance for Barcelona since their 2-2 draw with Valencia in La Mestalla on September 21, 2011.  The Dutch international looked sharp for a player returning from an ACL tear, distributing the ball well amongst teammates and turning defenders when presented a chance.

The Rayo defense proved to have no answer for substitute Dani Alves either, as the marauding Brazilian worked his way down the flank and sent in a handful of teasing crosses, including a right-wing cross, which was met by Thiago Alcantara’s downward header and sent past Cobeno to give the Catalans a 5-0 lead and round out the manita.

It was a splendid goal to highlight a stand-out performance from the up-and-coming midfielder, only for the moment to be slightly marred by an ill-advised post-goal celebration, as Thiago and Dani Alves combined to perform a rehearsed samba dance in front of the opposing fans in Rayo’s home stadium with a 5-0 lead.  It was unnecessary to say the least, as Pedro peeled away from the celebration and Carles Puyol came running over immediately to break up the dance, shoving Dani Alves and Thiago back towards the center circle.

It is a gesture that epitomizes the reason why Puyol remains so venerated by opposing players and fans.  He is all about respect and hard work.  Beyond that, he knew that with Guardiola’s declarations looming over the team, that this was not a moment to celebrate.  Every other goal scored in this match (particularly Seydou Keita’s) was met with a somber face.  All of the team’s support was meant be shown to the bench and the man who made this dynasty possible.  Barca will play hard and compete.  They will win matches.  But they won’t enjoy it because they have lost their leader.  That is the message Puyol wanted his team to transmit.  A selfish celebration from a young and misguided Thiago is understandable.  With Alves, you would expect more.  Both players did well to immediately apologize after the match in what surely will become nothing more than a fleeting talking point and water under the bridge.

Barca would compound Rayo’s misery on the night with two more goals in the closing stages through Pedro Rodriguez and Lionel Messi.  Pedro made it 6-0 in the 87^th minute after collecting Messi’s lifted pass over the defense and beating Cobeno with a simple finish before the roles were reversed and Pedro set up the Argentine with a well-placed layoff pass for Leo to side-foot into the net for the Argentine’s 65^th goal of the season.

Thiago, Keita, Pinto, Alexis, Pedro and Messi should be singled out for their outstanding contributions on the night.  Leo’s two-goal, two-assist performance should help the Argentine to shake some of the crushing mid-week depression and find his smile again.  His 43 tallies in La Liga see him equal Cristiano Ronaldo in the heated race for this season’s pichichi honors, while placing the Argentine just two goals shy of matching Gerd Muller’s mark of 67 goals in all competitions, the most ever recorded in a single season in European history.

In the end, nothing can ever atone for the week that was, but a 7-0 road victory sure does help to set the spirit right.  From the seventh circle of hell to seventh heaven is not an easy transition, but watching Guardiola and Vilanova exchange notes during the match gave me hope.   Seeing the two sit side-by-side, you get the sense that they truly are two minds thinking as one.  For as much as Pep has done for this team, perhaps Barcelona will be okay without its charismatic leader.  This match served as a reminder that Vilanova will be inheriting one of the greatest teams in history, a side that has won 13 trophies in the last four years and is proud to count among its ranks the three-time defending Balon D’or winner and World Cup champions.

Barcelona will look to finish the year on a high-note, as they prepare for Malaga on Wednesday, while continuing to build momentum towards Guardiola’s last match, a May 25^th showdown against Athletic Bilbao in the Copa del Rey final.  With a potential 14^th title hanging in the balance, what better way to say goodbye to this club legend than with a hero’s exit: carried off the field on the players’ shoulders with the trophy raised high, heading into the tunnel and off into the twilight, a true champion.

Article written by Barcaloco contributor Anson Woodring.  Follow Anson on Twitter at @ansonwoodring.

Full match highlights:

Rayo Vallecano – Barcelona 0-7 Highlights HD 29… by iNfRaS0NiC

Pep celebrating with team following 2011 Champions League Victory (Photo: REUTERS/Paul Hanna)

When Guardiola, earlier this afternoon, confirmed the suspicions that he was stepping down as manager, my mind immediately took me back to May, 2008. At the time, I was writing a little-read sports and politics blog called Split Tens, and the occasion of this particular entry was a match between Barcelona and Mallorca. (The date, for the amateur historians, was the 11th.) The title of my article that day was Eulogy for Frank Rijkaard, a title I’m borrowing in amended form here. While Nero fiddled along, Barcelona blew a 2-0 lead and lost to an extra-time goal from the islanders. The scene was inevitable. The euphoria of the 2006 Champions League final was long since dissipated. The hero of that final, the inimitable Henrik Larsson, was back in Sweden playing for his beloved Helsingborg. Ronaldinho was losing form so quickly, it seemed that his stint as the greatest in the world was a mirage. The fans at Camp Nou whistled every time Samuel Eto’o, the great Samuel Eto’o, touched the ball and when he scored the second, he blasted the ball into the back of the net twice after the goal in a fit of his trademark rage. The rage was different, though, in that it was directed at the culé faithful which was so quick to turn on the players who had brought them such success so recently. Edmilson, the stalwart defensive midfielder who earlier that season had made much-analyzed remarks about some “black sheep” in the Barcelona dressing room, was sent off shortly before Mallorca’s winner. Thierry Henry was in his forgettable first season with the club (in which he led the team in scoring, but found himself the object of constant ridicule bordering on disdain, a scapegoat for the failures of the Rijkaard regime.) There was outrage in my voice as I recounted the events that led to the breakdown against Mallorca and a distant third-place finish, 10 points behind Villarreal. But I realized, in spite of it, that my outrage was directed in all directions except the direction of Rijkaard. It was not in my power to avoid the observation that his face showed more heartbreak than I felt when Mallorca went ahead, and the whistles and white flags from the faithful didn’t seem appropriate at all. They seemed cruel.

In some respects, that’s the nature of being Barcelona manager. To be sure, it’s not as grueling as being manager of Chelsea or Real Madrid but there is without question a level of demand that no person of normal sanity could handle for any length of time. For this reason, it never surprised or upset me that Pep Guardiola preferred one year contracts. He’d seen with his own eyes the way the ultimate icon of Barcelona soccer, Johan Cruyff, was unceremoniously run out of town for the great sin of two years without a trophy, even after winning eleven in his previous six seasons. It takes a great deal of self-delusion to think Guardiola wouldn’t have been handed the same fate had he stuck around and then failed to win a title for another year, even after he won in his first three years more titles than any other blaugrana manager had managed in a career. What reason would a man who has blaugrana coursing through his veins have to stay on board for the inevitable disgraceful exit? So, sure, there’s no blaming him for his fear of commitment during his tenure, and there’s no blaming him for leaving now. He’s looked burnt out since, if I had to put a finger on it, the 2009 Club World Cup final, which may be the least memorable of the finals he won at Barcelona. To refresh your memory, it’s the one where Barcelona beat Estudiantes of Argentina in extra time, and Guardiola’s emotion was some mixture of exhaustion and relief. Yes, tears of exhaustion look different than tears of joy and that’s what he displayed that day. It was obvious then that his time was short for the club. That he made it two and half more years is a tribute to his toughness, and also to his deep love for the club.

The historical record on the Guardiola Era will surely be sweetened some from the reality. I don’t mean to disparage the man’s accomplishments, of course. On the pitch, Barcelona found that balance between efficiency and beauty that is the pinnacle of the game. Beautiful attacking soccer, with incredible defensive efficiency (truly, look at the goals against record over the past few years – everyone remembers Messi, Xavi, and Iniesta but the defense was extraordinary, anchored by Carles Puyol and Victor Valdes the whole time.) A team that played to win, and did so beautifully, the thing kids forty years from now will read about and slightly disbelieve in the same way I read about and slightly disbelieved the rumors of the beautiful Cruyff-led Ajax and Netherlands teams from the early 70s. The key to this, many say, was Guardiola. I have no doubt that he deserves a great deal of credit for the improvements of some of the key players – Xavi, who recently complained that he was under-appreciated by Rijkaard, became the greatest passing midfielder in the world under Pep’s tutelage. (The best, perhaps, since Pep Guardiola.) Andrés Iniesta and Lionel Messi of course had the skill and talent to become what they’ve become, but I think it’s clear that Guardiola knew how to get the best out of them, particularly in employing a system that put them both in their most useful roles. And Gerard Piqué, my God. He went from being a bust at Manchester United, washed up by his early twenties, to becoming one of the absolute best defenders in the world, and the perfect Total Football defender at that. He was omnipresent in defense, and also able to bomb forward in attack. His relentless play was, again, appreciated best by Guardiola.

I’ve said so before here at Barcaloco, though, and I’ll say it again. Guardiola’s record in the transfer market was poor. There were very expensive mistakes, most notably the irritating sagas of Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Dmitro Chygrynsky. David Villa and Cesc Fabregas were probably good signings, albeit obvious ones. It doesn’t take a shrewd eye for talent to sign up the rest of the Spanish national team. Dani Alves and the supremely underrated Seydou Keita were the biggest successes and they came in his first summer, before the pressure to spend lots of money on very famous people had gotten to Pep’s head. Selling Maxwell put the team in a very difficult position at left back for the second half of this season. The supremely talented Bojan was never allowed to flourish, and then sent off on a long loan to Serie A. Alexis Sanchez might qualify as a good signing, but for my purposes, he’s in the same category as Villa and Fabregas. Everyone already knew he was a world-class talent.

Pep has been excellent, with the notable Bojan exception, at working players from La Masia into the regular rotation. Of course. So, his record is excellent, the best manager the club has ever had (including Cruyff, including Rijkaard, including Rinus Michels.) It isn’t perfect. I don’t know what’s changed since 2008, but I’m immensely proud of the way the blaugrana supporters have handled the losses to Real Madrid and Chelsea over the last couple of weeks. Fabregas moaned that the Chelsea result wasn’t fair, but I’ve seen enough soccer to be quite confident in my opinion that it was very fair. It’s not enough to create chances and maintain possession, of course, you must score. And that, likewise, in the Clásico. Nevertheless, especially in comparison to the good riddance afforded to Rijkaard and Cruyff, the reaction to the losses and to Guardiola’s resignation has been mature and even-handed. It’s too easy for a fan of a club that wins everything to be disappointed when they lose something. But the fact is, only some kind of moron would have honestly expected Pep to win every trophy he ever competed for. (And, by the way, try explaining to a fan of Betis or Getafe or Espanyol how terrible it is to only finish second in the league and make the Champions League semi-finals. There must be a way to have expectations without having entitlement.) The way Guardiola is leaving, his reputation is in tact. I admire him for that, and I admire the supporters for allowing it to be so. (There is the small point that he could still add a sixteenth trophy in the Copa del Rey final, and the whole weight of the club with all it’s worldwide support and heavy history will be backing exactly that result. It’s the very, very least he deserves.)

If I could’ve picked anyone to replace Guardiola, I’ll add, it would’ve been Tito Vilanova. Barcelona is more than a club, and it’s certainly more than a manager. Vilanova will provide continuity in philosophy and style, while also bringing a fresh approach to the transfer market and man-management. Sandro Rosell and the board deserve immense credit, as Laporta’s men did in 2008, for staying in house instead of bowing to the clamor for a big-name manager. The club is too big for Arsene Wenger, is what I’m saying. We should all react with pride and optimism that Vilanova will be our man this coming summer in the transfer market and then this coming fall in the 12/13 season.

So, yes, this is the end to the Guardiola Era. Pep was justly exhausted, and he deserved above all the right to leave on his own terms. I’m proud of him for the acumen with which he led the club he loves, and also for the dignity with which he left it. The Barcelona we all love will carry on under the guiding hand of Vilanova, of that we can be assured. In closing, I implore you all, Barcaloco readers, that should you ever see Pep Guardiola in person, buy him a glass of cava and allow him to talk about anything he wants. Apart from soccer.

Puyol can't hide frustration as Chelsea knock them out of Champions League (Photo: ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP/Getty Images)

What a week.  After suffering a league-deciding 2-1 defeat to Madrid on Saturday, Barcelona’s 2-2 draw at the Camp Nou against 10-man Chelsea now sees the Catalans bow out of Europe’s elite tournament.  Two trophies wrestled from the defending champions’ grasp in three days…now I know what it must feel like to be an Arsenal fan.

I pulled away from the screen yesterday afternoon in disbelief, desperately searching for explanations – maybe Pique’s concussion had caused delusions bi-proxy?  Yes, this must be a hallucination.  That makes sense.  At least more sense than the result, for how on Earth could Barcelona, possessing such an abundance of talent and pedigree, possibly squander a 2-0 home lead against ten men in the biggest match of the season.

Unsure of reality, I re-watched the match, had a drink, went to my optometrist, poured another stiff one and watched it again.  I suffered a sleepless night, while visions of Petr Cech and his damned goal posts danced through my head.  It’s a nightmare from which I am still trying to awake.  But my excuses and delusions have worn thin.  There is no substance to them, just bitterness in defeat.  Clarity has returned and now it comes time to saddle up and answer the question hanging on the lips of every Barcelona supporter worldwide: how the hell did that just happen?

1) Wasted chances

Barcelona lost this tie because of an inability to convert their possession advantage into goals.  The Catalans took 47 shots over the two legs, hit the post four times, averaged 80% possession, out-passed Chelsea by over 1,000 passes and had just two goals to show for it.  Profligate finishing.  That is why they lost.  Messi’s miss from the penalty spot symbolized the offensive futility of the blaugrana, as they failed to beat Chelsea for the seventh straight meeting.

Up 2-0 in the 45^th minute and playing against 10 men at home, Barca had it set up for an easy three or four goal victory.  But Chelsea withstood the barrage and struck gold on their limited opportunities.  The Blues were ruthlessly efficient and proved that clinical finishing, not intricate passing is what wins games.

It goes back to the old adage: anxiety is the vulture that sits on your shoulder.  After watching the visitors pull one back before halftime and Messi miss a penalty, Barca got nervous, lost the script and collapsed.

2) Chelsea had a plan

Chelsea employed the same strategy in both matches: packing it in, keeping things narrow and taking their chances on the counter.  In succeeding, they reminded us that victory it is not about possession, nor chances created, it is about goals.  Di Mateo set up Chelsea for the only type of match they could win and Chelsea put up 2 near-perfect defensive performances.  They did it with 10 men at the Camp Nou and trailing 2-0.  Normally you would repudiate a team for parking the bus and playing the way they did, but under the circumstances, with Cahill injured and Terry expelled, you can only shake your head and wonder how the Catalans could have possibly let it slip away.

Without being the better side, the West Londoners managed to advance to the final and Barca have only themselves to blame.  The Catalans carved up Chelsea like a Thanksgiving turkey during both legs, pounding on Petr Cech’s net throughout the 180 minutes.  If this were a boxing match, Di Matteo would have thrown in the towel.  The series was there to be taken, but it was just not meant to be.

3) Defensive Lapses

While Chelsea showed stalwart resiliency in defense, Barcelona made the mistake often associated with relegation bound teams: conceding just before the half.  All 3 of Chelsea’s goals in this series were scored in the final 30 seconds of first or second half stoppage time.  Despite controlling the match and bossing the park, Barcelona committed inexcusable turnovers just before the whistle, allowing Chelsea to catch them off-guard on the counter and head into the dressing room with hope.

4) Goal keeping

Over two legs, Chelsea had four shots on target and scored three goals.  Victor Valdes recorded one save in 180 minutes of play, an easy grab on a long-range, midfield shot from Drogba that had no chance of going in.  When it mattered most and the game was on the line, he let Barcelona down with his poor positioning on crosses, ill-advised decisions to come off the line and delayed responses on reaction saves.  Simple put: Valdes was porous between the posts.

On the other side of the coin is Petr Cech, hero and saint of Stamford Bridge, who parried away countless efforts to instill confidence and belief in his teammates.  The Chelsea shot-stopper had his share of luck with the posts, but proved that good goalkeeping can offset a team’s deficiencies and, in a game where goals are at a premium, it can win matches.

5) Guardiola’s tactics

Some questions need to be asked of Barcelona’s resident mad-genius.  After fielding an underwhelming lineup against Real Madrid and losing La Liga, this latest setback is sure to provoke a firestorm in the Catalan capital, as analysts prod the Barca boss to explain what exactly he was thinking with that starting XI?

No Dani Alves to bombard down the right flank and deploying Cesc Fabregas as a wide forward?  Alves leads the team in assists and is Lionel Messi’s chief partner-in-crime.  Nobody sets up the Argentine more than the Brazilian and if you want to get the most out of Leo, it stands to reason that Alves must be in the game.

Fabregas has little pace.  He is a link-up man, who can provide delightful chips and killer through balls to forward players.  So, why put the ex-Arsenal midfielder on the wing where his skills don’t necessarily fit?

Lastly, in the biggest match of the season, why introduce a B-team player in Isaac Cuenca over an established Champions League veteran like Pedro Rodriguez.  Even with his shaky form this season, the striker has the pace and experience to ignite game-changing moments.

It brings to question the insistence on a 3-4-3 formation that has been utilized the entire season.  The shape allows for an extra man in midfield to maximize possession, but is detrimental to the team’s defensive stability and goal scorers.  As seen against Getafe and Villarreal, it’s a configuration that can be stifled by compact defensive sides.  The extra man in midfield encourages opposing teams to simply concede the center of the pitch and focus on forcing Barcelona into narrow play through the middle.

With too many cooks in the kitchen, Barcelona get easily bogged down in the final third, lacking strikers capable of finishing off the chances being created for them.  It seems a system set up to get Fabregas more playing time on the pitch, rather than the formation best served for the team’s overall success.

The substitutions should also be scrutinized, since none of them really made an impact on the match.  Alves for Pique was a no-brainer after the center-back walked off the field in a daze, noticeably concussed from the head-shot he received from Victor Valdes (another example of the goalie’s adverse contributions during the tie).  But Christian Tello was a non-factor after replacing the underwhelming Cuenca.  He could not beat Jose Bosingwa, a man renown for shaky defending, and lost possession far too easily.  Seydou Keita was introduced later for Cesc Fabregas, presumably to form a defensive shield in midfield and allow Alves to push forward, but he was hardly mentioned after being brought on.

As the match wore on, Barca’s mellifluous, pass-heavy approach became more detrimental than beneficial and Pep had no plan B.  As more teams learn to defend against the blaugrana’s tiki-taka pomp, Guardiola (or whoever is in charge next season) would be wise to develop a new way to unlock stubborn defenses.

6) Messi had an off night

So, he’s human after all.  It would be unfair to single out Messi for the defeat, but I can’t help but feel for the little guy.  Smashing a penalty off the crossbar that would have certainly sent his side through to the final has got to be a gutting experience.  On a night where 95,000 fans needed him most, he failed to make the difference.  His shot from outside the box that Cech turned into the post only fueled his anguish, as Barca found themselves inches short of the final.

7) Barca missed David Villa

In a match screaming for a more direct runner to unlock the Chelsea defense, his clever movement and world-class finishing were sorely missed.  I don’t think it’s an overstatement to say that his season-ending injury was the difference for Barcelona this year.  He is a man of paramount importance and in his absence the Catalans were unable to replace his goals and alleviate the enormous pressure on Lionel Messi’s shoulders.  It is the principal reason why Barcelona will finish this season just short of retaining both their Spanish and European titles. 

The fans were magnificent

In 2009, Barcelona did the impossible and defeated Chelsea with 10 men.  Flash forward to 2012 and the West Londoners exacting vengeance under similar circumstances.  Difference is nobody is petulantly shouting: “it’s a fucking disgrace.”

The fans were brilliant in this one.  A packed house waiving Catalan flags backed the hosts with unrelenting support from opening whistle to bitter end.  Even when Fernando Torres tucked away Chelsea’s second goal in the dying seconds, the stadium responded with warmth and support for the players, chanting in unison: “O le le, O la la, ser del Barça és, el millor que hi ha.”

Their devotion and loyalty know no limits, as the Catalan faithful picked up their team in its darkest hour with a showing of gratitude for everything Guardiola’s men have accomplished.

Generally in a two-egged tie the better team goes through.  But you do not get points for passes completed and chances created.  Style points are moot points.   Goals are what matter most and Chelsea scored more during the tie.  That is football.

As a purist, it feels a little wrong.  But, as the saying goes, the better team does not always win.  That’s why we play the game.  Good fortune smiled on the Blues, who will reach the finals missing 4 starters and suffering injury blows to key defenders.  It’s hard to see this decimated Chelsea side playing anything but whipping boy to Bayern Munich in the Allianz Arena.

As for Barca fans, there’s always the Copa del Rey final against Bilbao to look forward to.  Anims, cules.  This is but a bump in the road on the path to greatness.  Next year promises so much more.  In the meantime, give thanks for all of the wonderful moments the team has given us this year: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQxrfoEaR3A

Som I serem, Barca.

Article written by Barcaloco contributor Anson Woodring.  Follow Anson on Twitter at @ansonwoodring.

Full match highlights:

FC Barcelona vs Chelsea (2:2) by larrsson

Frustration as FC Barcelona fall 1-2 and La Liga slips away (Photo: JAVIER SORIANO/AFP/Getty Images)

Well, it’s over.  Any notions of Barcelona mounting a league comeback were swept away after Real Madrid battled to a 2-1 victory under pouring rain at the Camp Nou on Saturday evening.  Waive goodbye to the league title, cules.  Sayonara, arrivederci, however you say it, it’s time to move on and concentrate on what still lies ahead: defending the Champions League crown, reclaiming the Copa del Rey title and rooting for Messi to break Gerd Mueller’s record of 67 goals and become the highest single-season goal-scorer in European history.

As for La Liga, with a seven-point gap at the top of the table and just four matches remaining, it’s a pipe dream.  Knowing the possibilities of winning La Liga were scant, Guardiola stayed true to his word and rested key players ahead of Tuesday’s Champions League match against Chelsea.

It was a strategic risk for the Barca boss.  Beating Madrid could not guarantee his side the title.  Even at one point, Real would control their own destiny and Barca would have to be perfect.  As such, Guardiola hedged his bets, fielding a weakened lineup with the Champions League in mind and paid the price.  Without Pique, Abidal, David Villa, Pedro, Alexis, or Cesc Fabregas in the starting eleven, Barcelona found themselves short of difference makers, bogged down in the final third and ultimately, out of the title race.

Puyol, Mascherano and Adriano started the match in defense, while Xavi, Thiago, Iniesta and a lack-luster Busquets were given the reigns to the midfield.  Messi, Dani Alves and B-team winger Christian Tello headed up the vanguard, as the blaugrana’s makeshift lineup took the field in search of victory.

The fans did not disappoint, with the Camp Nou faithful unveiling a spectacular mosaic to inspire the hosts, reading: “Som I Serem” (We are and we will be, Barca) https://twitter.com/#!/airllimos/status/193761281134706688/photo/1

But despite the strong showing of support, the match intensity never fully materialized.  The weather certainly hampered the pace of play, but for whatever reasons, Guardiola’s men did not show a sense of urgency during the game and Madrid took full advantage.

Madrid strangled Barca’s normally free-passing attack with an effective press and started the match the brighter of the two.  Ronaldo’s fourth-minute header forced Valdes into a tip save over the bar before Karim Benzema cut in from the right and drilled a low effort into the hands of the Barca shot-stopper.

But the Catalans would respond, as Dani Alves robbed Sergio Ramos in the backfield and broke in for a one-on-one with Casillas, only for Spain international to make a diving save and dispossess the Brazilian as he tried to round the keeper.  Alves looked to have put Barcelona ahead on 13 minutes after latching onto a rebound from Tello’s shot and firing it past Casillas, but the linesman flag had already gone up for offsides against the B-team star in the buildup.

Busquets brought down Ronaldo on the wing to earn the game’s first yellow before Madrid would take the lead.  With 17 minutes on the clock, Ozil’s corner found Pepe at the back post, who headed the ball off his own arm towards a wildly out-of-position Victor Valdes.  The keeper parried away the initial effort with a fingertip save, but was unable to cleanly field the ball, and, as Puyol struggled to free his legs to clear, Khedira emerged from an unsanctioned offsides position, struck a boot to it and saw it settle in the back of the net.

Xavi should have leveled the match ten minutes later, as Messi’s slide-rule pass put the midfielder in one-on-one with Casillas, but he sent it skimming off Iker’s body and wide of the far-post.

The Catalans tried their luck through a long-range effort from Thiago, but struggled to break through Madrid’s well-disciplined defensive line.  With Messi emerging as the only legitimate attacking forward on the pitch, the visitors were able to stifle his impact, blanketing him and Iniesta to neutralize the blaugrana attack.

Ozil had a decent chance just before half, as his speed got him past Thiago’s sliding challenge and into the area, only for a timely challenge from Mascherano to prevent a shot on Valdes’ net.

With the lead in hand and needing only a draw, Mourinho instructed his men to slow down the pace in the second half, as Madrid players, including: Pepe, Coentrao and an especially egregious Ronaldo fell to the pitch and requested treatment for innocuous challenges and inexistent fouls.

But the hosts continued to press forward in search of an equalizer.  Tello twice skied over the bar on good opportunities before persistence paid off for the youngster and he helped level the match at 1-1.

A surging run from Messi and a clever flick by Iniesta played Tello into the area, with the winger forcing Casillas into a fine kick save.  The rebound fell to Adriano, who hit a deflected shot off the defense and pinballing to the far-post, where Alexis Sanchez, after coming on for Xavi less than one minute earlier, forced Iker into a spectacular clawing save before flailing at the rebound and stabbing it home from close range to pull one back for the hosts.

But unlike in previous matches, Madrid did not fold under the pressure and managed to snatch a game-winner through Cristiano Ronaldo just three-minutes later.  Ozil’s pass sent the Portuguese star racing past Mascherano and easily around Valdes, who made a poor decision to come off his line, to slot home his 42^nd goal of the La Liga season and put his side ahead.

The stadium was stunned and the hosts offered no rebuttal.  Pedro and Fabregas came on with less than 13 minutes remaining, but Madrid effectively killed the clock through throw-ins and corners to seal the league-clinching 2-1 victory.

Missing 5 players from their ideal starting eleven, imprecise under soggy conditions and inexplicably short of passion during the match, Barcelona were finally defeated by Los Merengues at the Camp Nou.  It’s hard to admit, but Madrid looked like they wanted it more.  Barca held 71% possession, but couldn’t make it count, while Madrid put up twice as many shots on frame to earn the three points.

The loss was the first La Liga home defeat since September 2010, 0-2 vs. Hercules, breaking a club-record unbeaten streak of 54 consecutive home matches.  Iniesta saw his all-time Spanish record of 55 consecutive league games without defeat also come to an end in a bitter night in the Catalan capital.

Guardiola was humble in defeat, showing the pedigree of class and sportsmanship so often lacking in his Madrid counterpart, Jose Mourinho, commenting: “First of all, congrats to Madrid, for the win and the Liga title they have confirmed today…I feel bad for the fans, but the players have been giving everything for four years now, so I hope they understand.  Now the players should relax a bit, and then focus on Chelsea.  We should get the right spirit for it.”

The Primera Division title may have been wrestled from Barcelona’s grasp, but there is still more to play for.  This defeat was not the final swansong of a lost campaign.  Guardiola will find a way to rally the troops and light a fire under the team, to inspire them to play with greater passion and fight for a place in the Champions League final in Munich.

Win or lose, we are and we will be, Som I Serem, Barca.

Article written by Barcaloco contributor Anson Woodring.  Follow Anson on Twitter at @ansonwoodring.

Full match highlights:

Barcelona – Real Madrid 1-2 Highlights HD 21.04… by iNfRaS0NiC

Puyol and Iniesta walk from the pitch in frustration following 1-0 loss at The Bridge (Photo: LLUIS GENE/AFP/Getty Images)

In what can only be described as the most underwhelming victory of all-time, Chelsea pulled the ultimate smash-and-grab job, defending for their lives all match, while scoring with their only shot of the game to steal a 1-0 victory heading into the return leg at the Camp Nou next Tuesday.

Never has a team done so much and earned so little.  In a match where Barcelona outshot the hosts 24-4, held an 8-1 corner kick advantage, completed 600 more passes, maintained 79% possession, hit the posts twice, missed two open-net sitters and restricted the hosts to just one scuffed shot on target over the course of 90 minutes, the Catalans were rewarded with a devastating 1-0 defeat.

Hardly seems fair based on what was witnessed at Stanford Bridge.  One team played to attack, the other to defend.  But statistical dominance means nothing if you don’t put the ball in the back on the net and despite bossing the match, the blaugrana have only their profligate finishing to blame for an adverse result.

Luck played its role in the opening minutes when Alexis Sanchez collected Andres Iniesta’s pass inside the area and chipped a shot over Petr Cech, only to see his effort come clanging back off the crossbar before being cleared to safety.

Fabregas then saw a shot saved by Cech before missing an absolute sitter on 16 minutes.  Messi’s bursting run opened up space for Iniesta on the left, who fired a low drive towards goal.  Cech did well to parry away the strike, only for the rebound to fall to an unmarked Cesc Fabregas, who scuffed a shot off his shin from eight yards out with an open net at his mercy.

Messi nearly opened the count with a powerful header from Dani Alves’ cross, but Cech managed to dive low and smother the ball at the far-post.  Barca continued to dominate chances and narrowly missed another on 42 minutes, as Messi shook his marker and charged towards goal with a full head of steam.  His last-second pass to Fabregas saw the ex-Gunner produce a clever chip over Cech, only for it to be cleared off the line by Ashley Cole when it looked sure to settle in the back of the net.

Drogba failed to beat Puyol on a one-on-one minutes before halftime, as Chelsea focused their attacking efforts on long throw ins and occasional outlet passes to the lone target man.  Meireles was fortunate not to receive a booking for a late challenge that would have seen him miss the return leg and Ivanovic dodged a bullet after pushing Iniesta to the ground inside the area.  But match officials were intent on staying out of the news and did everything possible to avoid whistling game-changing decisions.

The half looked destined to end in a stalemate, until Drogba gave The Blues a shock lead, scoring on the final kick of the first half.  Seconds after going down from a groin strain, Messi was dispossessed in midfield, allowing Lampard to send a long ball down the left flank to the marauding Ramires.  The Brazilian did well to pick out Drogba at the far-post, as his pass rolled inches past the outstretched boot of Mascherano to the Ivorian, who scuffed a shot off his shin to the far-post.  Valdes should have made the save, but reacted slowly and was only able to help steer it into the back of the net, giving the hosts a surprise 1-0 lead heading into the break.

A curious stat reveals Valdes to have only recorded 9 saves in the Champions League this season.  He has been largely untested and when he has been, he has conceded.  The Barcelona shot-stopper has, by a significant margin, the worst shot-to-save ratio of any keeper left in the tournament and tonight, when Chelsea took their one shot, he could not save it for his team.

Barca looked even more dangerous after the restart, with Adriano forcing Cech into a diving save with a right-footed curler before Alexis Sanchez made a blunder of another gilt-edged chance in the 56^th minute, collecting a magnificent pass over the top from Cesc and sliding a shot inexplicably wide of the near-post from inside of six yards with only Cech to beat.

Pedro would come on for the Chilean with 25 minutes remaining, as Alexis walked gingerly off the pitch, complaining of stabbing muscle pain that may see him sidelined for this weekend’s El Clasico showdown with Real Madrid.  But neither Pedro, nor substitute Thiago could find the killer strike, as the visitors became increasingly frustrated with their inability to score, as well as Drogba’s excessive and childish play-acting.

Messi fired a free kick into the wall, as Chelsea dropped deeper and deeper, shifting from their initial 4-2-3-1 to a 4-4-1-1, to a 4-5-1 after the goal and ending the match in an uber-defensive Fort Knox 6-3-1 formation.

Barca laid siege to the Chelsea goal in the closing minutes, but were miraculously kept off the board by Petr Cech and the woodwork.  Messi’s free kick in the 87^th minute was glanced perfectly by Puyol to the far corner, only for Cech to produce an impossible diving save when the effort looked sure to go in.  One last chance would fall to the Catalans in stoppage time, as Messi threaded a pass to Busquets in the area, who sent an audacious back-heel back into the path of the Argentine, only for Gary Cahill to get a saving touch on the ball as Leo rushed onto the pass.  The deflection rolled to the edge of the area, where Pedro fired a low, first-time effort past Cech and ringing off the far-post.  The visitors would save their worst finish for last, as Busquets ran onto the rebound and skied an effort high over the crossbar with Cech lying prostrate on the ground and nobody in goal.

The midfielder fell to the ground in disbelief, as the final whistle blew and a jubilant Stanford Bridge erupted into cheers over the home side’s fortuitous 1-0 victory.  Play that match twenty times and Chelsea wins just once.  But tonight was the one and Barcelona now head home with zero away goals and a serious case of the bad luck blues.

Fortunately there are two legs to be played and in defeat, there is always a lesson to be learned.  Guardiola will make the necessary tactical adjustments and the players will surely play with a greater sense of urgency at the Camp Nou, but this match was perhaps a lesson for the fans.  We look at the result and say it was just bad luck, plain and simple.  But Chelsea knew what they were doing.  A team with as many veterans as The Blues recognized that disputing possession would be suicide.  They conceded the middle of the pitch and defended deeply, riding their luck and hoping to strike on one of their few chances.  It was a successful formula.  There is no reason to repudiate the North Londoners for their tactics.  You always want to play the beautiful game, but sometimes it is impossible.  Opposition like Barcelona do not allow you to play an attractive and open match.  So, Chelsea dug in deep, withstood the bombardment and made their one chance count.  There is merit in executing a game plan to perfection and doing what’s necessary to get the result, although Drogba should certainly be rebuked for his big baby attitude, as the Ivorian perpetually feigned injury, dove to ground and flailed about during the match.  Wayne Rooney’s twitter comment summarized it best: “Drogba.  You’re a good player but pls just get up already.”

Still, most of us regard good luck as a right, and bad luck as a betrayal of that right.  This match was a lesson for our hubris, for believing that attacking football should always be rewarded with victory.  It is a proud philosophy of Guardiola and one that should certainly be embraced, but it is not destiny.  This match was not an injustice, treachery or bad luck, it was a reminder that in football, nothing is guaranteed and that clinical finishing, not intricate passing is what wins matches.

Guardiola was pensive in his comments after the match, accepting the result with surprising serenity.  “Did we deserve more?  The result is what it is.  It was probably our semi with the most chances, but we did not score.”  When asked about his side’s statistical dominance, the Barca skipper responded: “Football is not won by possession, otherwise we would win every game.  The goals are what count.  The challenge now is to again have 24 shots on Tuesday like we had tonight, and then score from those…the second game will be similar, Chelsea with ten men in the area, but let’s see if we’re more inspired.  Turning this tie around is a great challenge and it’s one we accept.  There are 90 minutes left to fight.”

The bottom line is that Chelsea recognized their own deficiencies and refused to play Barcelona’s game.  Now, with a 1-0 advantage, they have given Barcelona plenty to think about.  One away goal for The Blues and Barca will have to score three.  It’s easy to get pessimistic over the result, until you take into account that the match was played in London.  The Catalans bossed the match from beginning to end and created around ten clear-cut chances that could have easily been converted on another night.  If Valdes makes just one save in the game, it ends in a scoreless draw.

This will be Chelsea’s best game of the tie.  They will not play a better match in front of 90,000 plus fans at the Camp Nou.  A bigger pitch in better conditions, with a trip to the final on the line; it is hard to see Barca not creating even more chances in the return leg and the law of averages insists that some of those shots will settle in the back of the net.

Barcelona’s imperious home form this season gives reason to hope.  The Catalans are undefeated at the Camp Nou this campaign, outscoring the opposition 104-16 in the process.  If the blaugrana are able to control the return leg, as they did in London, it will be over.  Chelsea will not get away with that level of performance two matches in a row.  They will have to play much better at the Camp Nou to withstand the Barcelona blitzkrieg and with the level of talent and ambition the Catalans possess, it is hard to see that happening.  If Guardiola’s men have truly learned their lesson, they will finish off those chances in the first half, and, with a bit of luck this time, advance to the final in Munich.

Article written by Barcaloco contributor Anson Woodring.  Follow Anson on Twitter at @ansonwoodring.

Full match highlights:

Chelsea – Barclelona 1-0 Highlights HD 18.04.2012 by iNfRaS0NiC

Messi celebrates goal in narrow victory over Levante (Photo: REUTERS/Albert Gea)

A second-half brace from Lionel Messi earned Barcelona a hard fought 2-1 victory at Levante, trimming the gap atop the La Liga standings to four points ahead of next weekend’s El Clasico showdown with Real Madrid.

Victor Valdes and Alexis Sanchez avoided yellow cards, guaranteeing their presence against Los Blancos, while Dani Alves and Gerard Pique both received the green light from the medical staff and have been cleared to play.  With their addition, Barcelona now stand poised to confront Madrid at near-full strength, missing just one piece (David Villa) from their ideal starting eleven.

On a day when Cristiano Ronaldo set a La Liga record with his 41^st goal of the season, Messi matched the feat, bagging his 40^th and 41^st goals of the campaign, while elevating his season total to a staggering 63 in all competitions.  It’s not often we have the privilege to watch two players break the same record on the same day.  But this season is truly special.  We are witnessing two of the greatest scorers of all-time square off in a head-to-head battle for the ages.

Not since the epic homerun race of 1998 between Sammy Sosa and Mark McGwire, as they battled to break Roger Maris’ hallowed home-run record, has the sporting world enjoyed such a clash of offensive juggernauts.

Guardiola deployed an apparent 3-1-3-1-2 formation to begin the match, with Pique, Dani Alves and Andres Iniesta starting on the bench.  Despite their absence, the Catalans started brightly and created a handful of opportunities in the opening minutes.  Pedro saw a close-range shot well blocked by Gustavo Munua before Alexis Sanchez worked his way to the touchline and floated a pass to an unmarked Thiago Alcantara, who sent a powerful-header flashing wide of the near-post from six yards out.

Pedro Lopez showed great hustle to block Thiago’s attempt in the area before Munua was called upon again to parry away Adriano’s long-range drive.  The blaugrana came close in the 18^th minute, as another clever run by Thiago saw the midfielder collect Messi’s lofted pass and direct a glancing header into the hands of Munua before Levante took a surprise lead against the run of play.

An error from Victor Valdes, who could not cleanly field the Levante corner kick, resulted in Pedro Lopez heading the loose ball straight at Sergio Busquets inside the area.  The Barca midfielder tried to draw his arms into his body, but was adjudged to have handled the ball first and was booked for the offense.  Barkero stepped up to the spot and calmly finished past Valdes to give the hosts a 1-0 advantage.

Munua did well to hold onto Cesc Fabregas’ downward header in the 28^th minute before Levante wasted a gilt-edged chance to double the lead.  A collision between Adriano and Valdo on the wings allowed Pedro Lopez to rush past their collapsed bodies and break clear on goal, only for the full-back to drag his shot wide of the far-post with only Valdes to beat.

Cuenca would be introduced for Xavi at the start of the second half, as Barcelona pushed forward in search of the equalizer.  More support was clearly needed on the wings against Levante’s compact defensive unit, but many were left wondering why Guardiola elected Xavi as the sacrificial lamb, rather than the out-of-sorts Fabregas.

The hosts nearly made it 2-0 after the substitution, as the tenacious Arouna Kone broke away down the left flank and attempted to tee up Barkero in front of goal, only for Carles Puyol to arrive in the nick of time and clear the pass to safety.

Munua came up big for the hosts with a diving save to keep out Adriano before Andres Iniesta was introduced for Pedro in the final 30 minutes.  In a defensive-minded game, playing on a surface with the footing of an ice-ring, a play-maker like Iniesta proved decisive.  His sparking runs broke down the home side’s stalwart defense and helped mount the comeback.

Messi would level the match at 1-1 in the 64^th minute with a curling strike from the edge of the area.  After playing a quick give-and-go with Alexis Sanchez, the Chilean teed up Messi, who finally beat Munua with a strong left-footed effort that went spinning off the keeper’s gloves and into the back of the net.

Levante were pegged back after the goal and focused their efforts on preserving the draw.  Messi would fire a free kick over the bar after a foul by Vicente Iborra before being gifted a chance to give Barcelona the lead when referee Teixeira Vitienes pointed to the spot.

Botelho was called for a push on Isaac Cuenca, as the winger dribbled his way into the box and fell to the ground under contact.  Teixeira hesitated to award the penalty, only to be convinced by his assistant on the touchline.

Truth be told, it was a pretty soft penalty.  That play does not get called seven out of ten times under normal circumstances, but the contact is definitely there and with the hosts already haven been given a penalty in the first half and Teixeira refusing to issue a second yellow card to Botelho for the foul and subsequently reduce the hosts to ten men, one can hardly cry conspiracy.

Juanfran was booked during the protests before Messi stepped up and powered an unstoppable shot into the upper right corner to give the Catalans a 2-1 lead.

The hosts threw Abdulkader Ghezzal on as a second striker, but failed to maintain enough possession to make an offensive impact.  Iniesta could have won a second penalty for the blaugrana after being knocked to the ground by Sergio Ballesteros, but Teixeiras wisely decided against it.

Ghezzal had a good chance for the hosts in stoppage time, but headed over the bar from close range before Victor Valdes detained Xavi Torres’ skipping long-range strike to end the match and assure the three points.

Levante deserve praise for their defensive intensity, but were ultimately beaten by the better team, as Barcelona recorded 74% possession and out-shot the hosts 17-5.  Barca have now kept a clean sheet in five of the last seven La Liga matches.  A large part of the recent defensive success can be attributed to the stellar play of Javier Mascherano.  “35 balls recovered in 2 games without losing any?  The numbers say it all,” said Guardiola when asked about the Argentine.  It makes for an interesting debate whether to play Puyol or El Jefecito for next week’s clasico.  Only Guardiola knows for sure.

As for Leo, the two-goal performance sees him equal Ronaldo’s 1997 club record of scoring in ten consecutive La Liga games.  In Europe, the Argentine now sits a mere four goals shy of equaling Gerd Mueller’s record of 67 goals in a single season.  With a minimum of eight matches still to be played, it is almost a foregone conclusion that the record will be his come year’s end.

Next up, a trip to London to reignite old rivalries with Chelsea at Stanford Bridge.  In a rematch of 2009’s controversial Champions League semi-final, Barcelona will look to dispatch their English rivals in dominate fashion.  No arguments and no polemic decisions this time – just football.  A comprehensive assault must be unleashed on Chelsea’s old-guard.  Silence the fans.  End the conspiracy theories once and for all.  Let there be no doubt as to who deserved the win.  For in doing so, the Catalans may finally exercise the demons surrounding this fixture and transcend to even greater heights, as the first team ever to successfully defend their Champions League crown.

Article written by Barcaloco contributor Anson Woodring.  Follow Anson on Twitter at @ansonwoodring.

Full match highlights:

Levante – Barcelona 1-2 Highlights HD 14.04.2012 by iNfRaS0NiC

Alexis brace helps FC Barcelona past Getafe (Photo: REUTERS/Albert Ge)

Barcelona moved to within one point of league leaders Real Madrid with a comprehensive 4-0 thrashing of Getafe at the Camp Nou on Tuesday night.

A brace from Alexis Sanchez, a header from Pedro and another moment of sheer brilliance from Messi rounded out the scoring, as Barcelona capitalized on Madrid’s latest stumble to situate themselves within striking distance of first place in the Primera Division standings.

A month ago, sitting 10 points adrift, few thought it was possible.  I for one handed in my La Liga concession speech, struggling to envision a manner in which the deficit could realistically be overturned.  But Madrid’s noticeable drop in form, combined with ten consecutive league victories for the blaugrana have resurrected the believer in me.

Ever since Guardiola issued his famous statement: “This league can not be won, for no team has ever come back from a deficit this large,” Barcelona have been playing with house money.  Ironically enough, the lack of pressure to succeed has been a key to their success.  Free of expectations, Messi and company have eliminated the mental mistakes that so dearly cost them earlier in the season and played with reinvigorated exuberance.  More importantly, they have clawed their way back into the title race while simultaneously resting crucial players.  Cesc Fabregas, Busquets, Xavi, Iniesta, Pique and Alexis have all been given matches off to preserve fitness, allowing Guardiola’s men to approach the home stretch of the season in top form and with fresh legs.

Pep Guardiola, being the mad genius that he is, employed an unprecedented 3-3-1-3 formation to start the match.  A defensive back line of Puyol, Mascherano and Adriano held up the rear, while Xavi, Busquets and Iniesta returned to the starting line-up after missing last Saturday’s 4-1 win at Real Zaragoza.  Messi dropped deep to initiate the attack, while a vanguard of Alexis Sanchez, Pedro and Isaac Cuenca roamed up top.

After defeating Barcelona in a narrow 1-0 match in Madrid earlier this season, Getafe had earned Guardiola’s full attention.  His deployment of four strikers with just one pure defender at the back illustrated both a strong desire to offensively overwhelm the visitors, along with a complete lack of respect for Getafe’s counter attacking potential.  As usual, he was right on both counts.

The visitors were on the back foot from the opening minute, as Barcelona pushed up field and called goalkeeper Miguel Moya into action early and often.

Barca’s first-minute free kick came within inches of reaching an unmarked Sergio Busquets in the area, but Moya’s good positioning allowed him to collect the loose ball without problems.  The shot-stopped would have to be alert when, in the third minute, Carles Puyol’s glancing header was inadvertently steered towards goal by Miku, forcing a double save from the keeper to preserve the deadlock.

Moya would dive low to parry away a long-range strike from Iniesta before Barca’s patience was rewarded, as Alexis Sanchez gave the hosts the lead in stylish fashion on 13 minutes.  Iniesta lifted a pass to Messi, who chested the ball perfectly to the feet of Alexis Sanchez.  The Chilean cut right and advanced to the edge of the area before unleashing a sumptuous curler past Moya and into the back of the net.

“El Niño Maravilla” could have doubled the lead just three minutes later, as Pedro stole the ball deep in Getafe’s half and Alexis burst into the area.  The Chilean had an open shot, but unselfishly laid off a pass to Pedro, who saw his low strike kept out by a diving, fingertip save from Moya.

Xavi would highlight a controversial officiating decision moments later, as the Spain international collected Messi’s inch-perfect pass through four defenders and dinked a clever lob over the advancing Moya.  He turned to celebrate, only for match official Jose Luis Gonzalez to adjudge the ball not to have crossed the line before being cleared by Cata Diaz.  Despite vehement protests from the player and replays showing the ball to have indeed passed the line, the official remained firm in his decision and Getafe were let off the hook.

The Camp Nou paid homage in the 22^nd minute to Barca’s own number 22, Eric Abidal, echoing his name through the stadium to roaring applause, as the defender lay unconscious in an operating room not far away, receiving a hepatic liver transplant that will hopefully save his life.

The unconditional support offered to the Frenchman in recent weeks by the football community worldwide has been touching.  To see all the rivalries and bickering stop, albeit for a few moments, and recognize that football comes second to a human life is reassuring.  It makes one forget about all the corruption and see the true beauty of the game.  When the anesthesia wears off, I’m sure Eric will appreciate it.

Busquets would set up Messi in the 25^th minute with a sublime lofted pass over the defense, which the Argentine did well to take off his thigh before dragging a left-footed shot wide of the near-post when he looked sure to score.

Getafe found strength as the half wore on and managed to win a series of corners to keep things interesting, but this match only ever had one way of ending.  Alexis inexplicably fluffed a chance to double the lead on 32 minutes, as Isaac Cuenca’s low cross was met by the Chilean at the far-post, only for the striker to prod his effort wide in front of an open goal.  Sanchez remained on the ground for several seconds, cussing at himself and looking for someone to explain how he could have missed such a sitter before finally getting up and trudging on.

Mascherano and Puyol continued to cut down Getafe’s outlet passes, as Barcelona teetered on 80% possession in the first half.  One minute before half-time, the hosts would deservedly make it 2-0 thanks to a cracking strike from Leo Messi.  The Argentine slipped a pass through two defenders to Andres Iniesta, who played a quick back-heel on the edge of the area for Messi, who caught it in stride and rifled past Moya with a clinical left-footed strike into the upper left corner.

With the finish, Messi raised his total to 61 goals this season and set a La Liga record for most home goals in a single season (28).  His 39 goals in league play see him consolidate first place in the pichichi and European boot race, while placing him just one goal shy of tying Ronaldo’s La Liga record for most goals ever in a single season (40).

Barca would take their foot off the gas after the interval, content to control the match at a slower pace with the result all but assured.  Getafe nearly pulled one back ten minutes in through a dangerous header sent skimming off Valdes’ crossbar by Cata Diaz, but offered little else going forward.

Anxious for a third goal, Guardiola instructed his players to push higher up the pitch and got his reward in the 73^rd minute to put the game out of reach.  Cuenca made use of the space allowed to him on the right by Tsepo Masilela and fired in a cross to Alexis Sanchez, who elevated over Miguel Torres to send a powerful downward header past Moya and into the back of the net.  In securing a brace, Alexis set a new personal record for goals in a single season with 13, surpassing last year’s mark of 12 goals with Udinese.

Pedro would make it 4-0 just two minutes later, latching onto Messi’s cross and flicking a superb backwards header past Moya into the Getafe net for his third goal of the season and second in as many games.

Cuenca volleyed a cross from Puyol over the bar, as Barcelona searched for a last-minute goal to round out the manita, but it would not come.  Cristian Tello and Martin Montoya would make their way onto the pitch for the final quarter-hour, as Barca finished the match with ten youth academy La Masia players and Alexis Sanchez on the pitch.

Messi would highlight the final two chances of the night, first latching onto Xavi’s lofted pass and racing to the touch line, only to have the ball poked away at the last second by Daniel Diaz before putting on an absolute clinic, weaving effortlessly between two defenders, toying with another, ghosting past a fourth and chipping a pass off the crossbar from an impossible angle, only to see it cleared by the scrambling Getafe defense before Alexis could bury the rebound.

It was perhaps the team’s best performance of 2012, as the blaugrana held 77% possession and out-shot Getafe 9 shots on target to zero.  The Catalans have now outscored opponents 64-8 at the Camp Nou in La Liga this season, posting a 14 win-1 draw-0 loss record.

With the one goal and two-assist performance, Messi has become the La Liga player with the most goals and most assists ever recorded in a single season.  Meanwhile, Iniesta improved his own record, having now played in 54 consecutive league matches without seeing defeat.  The win sees Guardiola tie Frank Rijkaard for second place in club history as a Barca manager with 112 victories, trailing only Johan Cruyff (183).

The title race is heating up and with the gap now narrowed to a single point, Barcelona appear confident in their chances of claiming the La Liga crown.  After dropping points to Malaga, Villarreal and Valencia in recent weeks, Madrid are clearly a wounded side.  There’s blood in the water, and like any predator, the Catalans will continue to stalk the league leaders, waiting for them to slip up under the pressure.

“These players know what’s at stake,” said Pep Guardiola after the match.  “The end is near.”

Article written by Barcaloco contributor Anson Woodring.  Follow Anson on Twitter at @ansonwoodring.

Full match highlights:

Barcelona – Getafe 4-0 Highlights HD 10.04.2012 by iNfRaS0NiC