Barca lose but Eto'o finishes as top scorer
Barcelona striker Samuel Eto'o crowned a memorable season by finishing as the Primera Liga's top marksman with 26 goals as he scored in his side's 3-1 defeat at Athletic Bilbao on Saturday.
Barcelona striker Samuel Eto'o crowned a memorable season by finishing as the Primera Liga's top marksman with 26 goals as he scored in his side's 3-1 defeat at Athletic Bilbao on Saturday.
The Cameroon international missed out on the honour last year when Villarreal's Diego Forlan pipped him at the post on the last day of the season.
Eto'o, who also scored in Wednesday's 2-1 Champions League final win over Arsenal, started the day level with Valencia's David Villa on 25 goals.
He netted after 36 minutes to put his weakened side ahead in their rescheduled last game of the season though the Basques scored three times after the break to take the points.
The European and Spanish champions finished their league campaign on 82 points, 12 clear of second-placed Real Madrid. After a season spent fighting against relegation Bilbao climbed to 12th.
The game had a true end of season feel about it with Barca already crowned champions and Bilbao safe from relegation and out of the running for the European places.
The visitors were shorn of first-team regulars such as Ronaldinho, Deco, Carles Puyol and Rafael Marquez.
Part of FIFA's ruling that allowed the delayed match to take place after the May 15 deadline set for the end of the league season was that international players involved in next month's World Cup finals were barred from competing.
Despite the side's unfamiliar look the Catalans had the best of the opening period with Argentine striker Maxi Lopez striking a post after 14 minutes.
Eto'o was by far the most active player on the pitch as he went in search of his goal and had already been denied by home goalkeeper Inaki Lafuente in the 17th minute when he put Barca in front.
Receiving the ball with his back to goal on the edge of the area he spun clear of his marker and blasted the ball into the far corner.
Bilbao improved after the break and levelled when Fernando Llorente laid the ball off for Andoni Iraola to score in the 57th minute.
Substitute Felipe Gurendez fired home the second from outside the area in the 80th minute and three minutes later Barca defender Oleguer turned Joseba Etxeberria's cross into his own goal.
Barcelona finished the season with back-to-back league defeats.