体坛英语新闻：Primera Liga review: Messi scores 50 league goals in a season

MADRID, May 5 (Xinhua) -- Leo Messi made history, but many questions were left to be resolved on the last day of the season following the penultimate round of games in the BBVA Primera Liga on Saturday night.

With the league title already decided, this Saturday's matches were all about deciding who would join relegated along with Racing Santander to the second division, which sides could qualify for Europe and whether Leo Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo would end the season as top scorer.

There was a tremendous atmosphere in the Camp Nou for Pep Guardiola's last home game as Barcelona coach.

The fans gave Guardiola a standing ovation and hung out a huge banner thanking him for the success that he had brought the club in the past 4 years.

Part of the interest of the derby against local rivals Espanyol was how many goals Leo Messi could score and he didn't make the supporters wait long as he opened the scoring after 12 minutes with a well taken free kick, to net his 47th league goal of the campaign.

He scored his 48th from the penalty spot after an hour following a harsh handball decision against Espanyol midfielder Christian Gomez.

There were no doubts about Messi's third of the night as a fine first touch took him clear to finish with a right foot shot to complete he second hat-trick of the week.

He then scored another penalty with 20 minutes remaining to make it 4-0. It was his 50th league goal of the season: something nobody has ever achieved.

Real Madrid scored two late goals to defeat Granada. A Cristiano Ronaldo penalty and an injury time own goal gave the champions a win the scarcely believed against a side fighting to avoid relegation.

Meanwhile Jonas Gonsalves' injury time winner gave Valencia a 1-0 win at home to Villarreal to assure they finish in third place for the third successive year and gives them direct qualification for next season's Champions League.

The defeat leaves Villarreal still in danger of relegation, while Granada could also be relegated should they lose, while Villarreal, Rayo and Zaragoza all win.

Rayo's disastrous end to the season continued with a 5-2 thrashing in Sevilla, while Zaragoza continue their incredible fightback with a 2-1 win at home to Racing Santander.

Helder Postiga and Angel Lafita scored the vital goals in a game where it looked as if the winning goal was never going to come for Zaragoza. The win leaves them level on points with Rayo, one behind Villarreal and two behind Granada.

Sporting Gijon also have a slim hope of survival after beating Betis 2-1. Javier Clemente's side have to win their last game of the season and hope that Rayo and Zaragoza lose.

Atletico Madrid gave themselves a chance of playing in the Champions League with a 2-1 win at home to Malaga, who are still fourth. Koke and Adrian Lopez scored for Atletico, who had to fight for their win.

Meanwhile Mallorca move into the top six after beating Levante 1-0. Tomas Pina scored the vital goal nine minutes into the second half. Osasuna could still qualify for Europe after Ibrahima's first half goal saw them defeat Real Sociedad 1-0.

Finally Athletic Club Bilbao prepared for next week's Europa League final by resting players and drawing a meaningless game 0-0 at home to Getafe.