Barcelona provided coach Pep Guardiola with the perfect send-off with a 3-0 win over Athletic Bilbao in the final of the Copa del Rey at the Vicente Calderón on Friday.
Barça took the lead after just three minutes when Ibai Gómez failed to clear Gerard Piqué's flick-on from a corner, with Pedro well-positioned inside the area to slot home.
Lionel Messi made it 2-0 on 20 minutes as he latched onto Andrés Iniesta's defense-splitting pass before firing home with his weaker right foot.
Four minutes later it was three as Pedro stroked home clinically from 20 yards to seal the comprehensive win in what was Guardiola's last match in charge.
"We had a very good year, we won four titles and winning this cup gives them better value," Guardiola said. "I'm happy to close out the season this way."
"I feel like I left some good things behind for the club and that others will continue the good work. Now I will rest and try in the future a new challenge."
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| Pep Guardiola celebrates his last victory as Barcelona coach with the Copa del Rey triumph Photo: Getty Images |
Barça took the lead after just three minutes when Ibai Gómez failed to clear Gerard Piqué's flick-on from a corner, with Pedro well-positioned inside the area to slot home.
Lionel Messi made it 2-0 on 20 minutes as he latched onto Andrés Iniesta's defense-splitting pass before firing home with his weaker right foot.
Four minutes later it was three as Pedro stroked home clinically from 20 yards to seal the comprehensive win in what was Guardiola's last match in charge.
"We had a very good year, we won four titles and winning this cup gives them better value," Guardiola said. "I'm happy to close out the season this way."
"I feel like I left some good things behind for the club and that others will continue the good work. Now I will rest and try in the future a new challenge."
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