Barcelona's hero on the pitch is undoubtedly Lionel Messi but former coach Josep Guardiola leaves behind a winning legacy punctuated by 14 titles in just four seasons. Guardiola's stint at the helm has witnessed a number of remarkable achievements, particularly winning the Champions League on two occasions.

Pep Guardiola has one match remaining before a new era at Barcelona begins, and it provides a chance for him to go out in an appropriate manner.

Friday's Copa del Rey final (4 p.m., ESPN3.com/ESPN Deportes) marks the end of Guardiola's four years coaching the Spanish giant, where he enjoyed unparalleled success in bringing three league championships and two UEFA Champions League titles to Camp Nou.

When Manchester United strode out onto the Camp Nou pitch on May 26, 1999 to contest the Champions League final against Bayern Munich, it was the first appearance by an English club in the competition's final since the Heysel tragedy ...
This is a content summary. Visit http://www.epltalk.

By JOHN BOSCHINI

There hasn't been any shortage of excitement on the road to Munich, and Saturday marks the final chapter in what has been a UEFA Champions League that will be remembered as one of the more unpredictable tournaments in recent years.

Bayern Munich and Chelsea broke up what was seemed as an inevitable Clasico final and dispelled the myth of a two-team power rising in the Champions League.

Arsenal fans react in horror after RVP didn't sign on the dotted line

Fear, loathing, paranoia struck Arsenal when the news broke of RVP failing to renew his contract on meeting with Arsene Wenger and Ivan Gazidis on Wednesday. There is a reason why these are called negotiations and RVP will obviously take into account what the other clubs have to offer so he can come back to the table to see if Arsenal can improve their terms.

Liverpool have wasted little time in the search for Kenny Dalglish's successor by drawing up a wishlist headed by Pep Guardiola and Fabio Capello, and have already approached Roberto Martínez at Wigan Athletic, Swansea City's Brendan Rodgers and André Villas-Boas within 24 hours of bringing the Anfield legend's reign to an end.

TweetBayern Munich defender Philip Lahm has branded John Terry's actions at the Camp Nou against Barcelona as irresponsible of a captain. Terry was shown a straight red card after being caught kneeing Barcelona striker Alexis Sanchez during the Blues' UEFA Champions League second-leg semi final clash at the Camp Nou.

By Max Grieve

In Bilbao, Real Madrid won the title for the first time in four years, whilst at the Camp Nou Lionel Messi equalled, then surpassed, the record for the most goals scored in a European season. The Spanish newspapers would have you believe that only one or the other of these happened, of course.

Barcelona's Summer 2012 Tranfer Targets: Who's coming in and who's going out? - originally posted on Soccerlens.com

Depending upon the outcome of Copa del Rey Final on May 25th against Athletic Bilbao, FC Barcelona can finish the 2011/2012 campaign on a (relative) high.

Winning the domestic Cup competition is nothing to sniff at but it pales to the accomplishments achieved in previous seasons.

Barcelona's squad contains a number of talented individuals such as Andres Iniesta and Cesc Fabregas as well as the world's best player in recent years Lionel Messi; however, this season the Spanish league title went to a deserving club: Real Madrid.

There are several reasons as to why Los Blancos triumphed in La Liga following Barca's recent domination on both the domestic and European fronts.

It's been a long and difficult road but Juventus are finally, legitimately, champions of Italy again.

Six years after Calciopoli threatened the very existence of the Turin-based club, Juventus wrapped up their first Serie A title with a game to spare thanks to a 2-0 win over Cagliari and are only one game away from completing an unbeaten season.

Happy Monday, Kickettes!

We hope your weekend was full of footy, frolicks and free liquor, and that you got the results you were after for your boys.

As we're sure you've heard, Leo Messi notched his 72nd goal of this season a new record for most goals scored in one season.

The Barcelona President Sandro Rosell was very pleased with how the Camp Nou said goodbye to Josep Guardiola last night."

"The Camp Nou clamored for Guardiola. Pep we love you. We can't say anything else. It was fantastic," said Rosell

During his talk on the Camp Nou's pitch after tonight's match, Pep Guardiola hinted at a possible return when he said

"I'll see you later.

05.05.2012 - A media luz y con las tribunas ya casi vacías, Pep Guardiola tuvo su despedida del Camp Nou. Acompañado por su pareja (Cristina Serra) y sus tres hijos (M rius, Maria y Valentina), regresó al césped para pasear unos minutos junto a ellos. Se sentó en el mismo banco donde trabajó en las últimas cuatro temporadas junto a sus hijos.

Lionel Messi's four goals helped Barcelona to a big win over city rivals Espanyol Saturday while Atletico Madrid boosted their Champions League hopes.

Messi was at his brilliant best scoring all of Barca's goals, and his third of the day, from a classy run and finish past Espanyol stopper Cristian Alvarez in the second half, gave him 50 league goals for the season.

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.

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.

Por snedecor Barcelona, sala de prensa del Camp Nou, 13:32 horas del viernes 27 de abril de 2012. Sandro Rosell, presidente del F.C. Barcelona, comparece flanqueado por el director deportivo Andoni Zubizarreta y el entrenador del primer equipo de fútbol, Pep Guardiola, para anunciar que éste último ha decidido abandonar su cargo al final de la presente temporada.

By Andrew McGowan, writing from London

As Fernando Torres streaked implausibly through, tiptoed around Victor Valdes and rolled home to plunge a fervid Camp Nou into agonising self-doubt last night, a very different footballing psychodrama was playing out in the West Midlands.

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

A Fond Farewell to Señor Blaugrana

When Guardiola, earlier this afternoon, confirmed the suspicions that he was stepping down as manager, my mind immediately took me back to May, 2008.

TweetPep Guardiola has announced his decision to leave Barcelona at the end of the season prompting a tearful Rolly Pelovangu to look back fondly to his time at the Camp Nou. Josep 'Pep' Guardiola joined La Blaugrana in June 2008 having taken over from Frank Rijkaard after the Catalan giants limped to a poor third [.

TweetPep Guardiola has announced his decision to leave Barcelona at the end of the season prompting a tearful Rolly Pelovangu to look back fondly at his time at the Camp Nou. Josep 'Pep' Guardiola joined La Blaugrana as coach in June 2008 having taken over from Frank Rijkaard after the Catalan giants limped to a [.

Pep Guardiola is stepping aside, so who will be the new man in charge of the European champions? Here are 10 potential candidates of varying degrees of likelihood. 1. Marcelo Bielsa The Athletic Bilbao boss has caught the eye this season with his team playing very attractive football to very good effect.

The idiocy of John Terry, it's not something we've yet discussed around these parts. Neither have we got around to recapping one of the greatest nights in Chelsea history. It's not because we couldn't be bothered; more like, we haven't had the time, what with me slammed at the office and Devin trying to shake off an illness (get better, trick).

TweetPep Guardiola is set to announce his departure as Barcelona coach after four glorious years with the dugout. Guardiola is out of contract at the end of the season having spent four years at the Camp Nou after joining in 2008. Thirteen titles later the Barca legend is ready to draw the curtain on his [.

TweetPep Guardiola is set to announce his departure as Barcelona coach within the next 24 hours according to respected Spanish sports commentator Guillem Balague. Guardiola is out of contract at the end of the season having spent four years at the Camp Nou after joining in 2008. Thirteen titles later the Barca legend is ready [.

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.

25.04.2012 - Con goles de Cristiano Ronaldo (´6 penal y ´14), Real Madrid venció (2-1) a Bayern Munich (Robben ´27 penal) para igualar la serie global (2-2). Después del tiempo sulementario, Kaká, Cristiano Ronaldo y Sergio Ramos erraron sus tiros y, por penales, Bayern se impuso (3-1) para clasificarse segundo finalista de la Champions League 2011-12.

MADRID (EFE).— El Bayern Múnich vuelve, dos años después, a disputar la final de la Liga de Campeones, que disputará en su estadio, el Alianz Arena, el próximo 19 de mayo, el título ante el Chelsea, que jugará su segundo partido decisivo en la Copa de Europa. El conjunto bávaro, que ha eliminado al Real Madrid en los penaltis, jugará la novena final de su historia en la máxima competición continental.

szólj hozzá: Barca Chelsea 2:2 EXTENDED HIG

Ramires is the man. The Brazilian provided that laser like cross to find Didier Drogba in the first leg to score the only goal and the winner in the first leg.

In the second leg in the Camp Nou, Frank Lampard finds Ramires who raced ahead of a slowly reacting Barca defense to chip the ball over Victor Valdes to score a goal that Messi would be proud to embalm in his trove of unforgettable goals.

The last piece of the UEFA Champions League final will fall into place at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu, as Real Madrid host Bayern Munich in the second leg of their semifinal tie (2:45 p.m., FX).

The German side holds a 2-1 advantage after the first leg, with Mario Gomez' late goal accounting for the difference.

The always controversial Paul Gardner writes about Chelsea's victory over Barcelona.
A couple of deja vu scenes present themselves. It's 1954 in Berne, and West Germany has just won the World Cup by beating the invincible Hungarians (well, they hadn't lost a game in four years). How could that happen?

Branislav Ivanovic's very first reaction to a reporter's revelation about his suspension from the UEFA Champions League final next month has already spread like wildfire but after composing himself, the Chelsea defender has delivered a highly emotional response the incident.

Ivanovic, one of Chelsea's most consistent performers this season, exceeded his yellow-card limit with a booking late in the first half of last night's 2-2 draw away to FC Barcelona.

Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel has voiced his frustration at the manner in which Barcelona forward Alexis Sanchez convinced the referee's assistant to issue a red car to Blues captain John Terry at Camp Nou last night.

Terry was sent off in the 37th minute of Chelsea's 2-2 draw (a 3-2 win on aggregate) for kneeing Sanchez when both players were off the ball.

By Chris Wright

1. First of all, well done Chelsea. I think the word 'phenomenal' just about covers your performances over the two legs. Defending is just as integral a part of the game as attacking and, for all Barca's captivating intricacy in and around the area, Chelsea's heroic flat back nine emerged the victors.

TweetHolders Barcelona crashed out of the UEFA Champions League after a 2-2 draw with Chelsea at the Camp Nou prompting In The Stands' Rolly Pelovangu to ponder why. What happened guys? Those must have been amongst the first words Barca coach Pep Guardiola would have ushered to his team of stars after suffering Champions League [.

By Chris Wright

"My name is Fernando, and I am your new king!"

We're being stingy on the words here because we've got an 'XI conclusions' still to come, but here's a grid of the 40 finest still photos from last night's incredible match at the Camp Nou.

By Chris Wright

We'll have more as and when, but what follows was easily the best bit about Chelsea's result against Barcelona in the Camp Nou last night; the sensuous noise emitted by Sky Sports co-com Gary Neville as Nando rolled it into the back of the net in the 91st minute.

Chelsea fans singing at the Camp Nou an hour after the match ended.

There wasn't a Barcelona fan in sight. Whether you think the Londoners "parked the bus" or Di Matteo's tactics worked brilliantly, Chelsea are through the Champions League final in Munich. 95,000 Catalans left the Camp Nou dejected, but an hour after the match ended the traveling Blues were still standing in the stadium's upper tier and singing for their heroes.

TweetBarcelona coach Pep Guardiola has yet to decide his future at the Camp Nou and is set for showdown talks with the club. Guardiola is out of contract at the end of the season and until now remains undecided as to his future at the Camp Nou. The 41-year-old has spent four seasons in the [...]