MESSI HELPS BARCELONA BEAT BILBAO TO WIN COPA DEL REY

If Lionel Messi isn’t happy at Barcelona, it was impossible to tell on Saturday when he scored two goals in another masterful performance to brush aside Athletic Bilbao and win the Copa del Rey.

Messi climbed into the tribune after leading the 4-0 win and lifted the trophy high above his head and turned to his team on the pitch below.

For his teammates, coach, and millions of anxious fans, it was easy to read so much into that broad grin, that vigorous shake of the huge cup.

Was Messi finally seeing the folly of ever thinking he could find a better home?

Or was the club’s all-time leading scorer relieved that he could give Barcelona at least one more title before saying goodbye?

Messi did not mention his future after he received the trophy from Spain’s King Felipe VI.

More international soccer

Manchester City’s quadruple dream has been extinguished by Chelsea. Even more concerning could be the ankle injury to Kevin De Bruyne. Chelsea will be back at Wembley Stadium next month for the FA Cup final after a 1-0 victory over City was clinched by Hakim Ziyech.

Indoor soccer

The San Diego Sockers are one win away from another indoor title.

After Friday’s 7-3 win at the Ontario Fury in the MASL Finals, the Sockers can capture their first league championship in eight years today with a victory at Ontario in Game 2. If the Fury win, the two teams will play a 15-minute mini-game to decide the crown.

MLS

Corey Baird (Escondido) scored in the 61st minute, and host LAFC sent expansion Austin FC to a 2-0 defeat in the inaugural match for Major League Soccer’s 27th team.

• Brad Guzan had three saves to help Atlanta United to a 0-0 tie with host Orlando City.

Horse racing

All eyes were on the two American champions Monomoy Girl and Swiss Skydiver, but it was the Mexican champion Letruska ($8.80) who earned a hard-fought victory in the $1 million, Grade I Apple Blossom Handicap at Hot Springs, Ark. Letruska beat Monomoy Girl by a nose and Swiss Skydiver was farther back in third.

Royal Ship ($13.40) outgamed trainer Bob Baffert’s Country Grammer by a neck following a thrilling stretch duel in the Grade II, $200,000 Californian Stakes at Santa Anita.

Baffert announced

Concert Tour, owned by Rancho Santa Fe’s Gary and

Mary West, wouldn’t run in the Kentucky Derby but will be pointed for the Preakness.

Trainer John Sadler has given the ride aboard

Rock Your World in the Kentucky Derby to Joel Rosario, the Daily Racing Form reported. Rosario replaces

Umberto Rispoli, who won the Santa Anita Derby aboard the 3-year-old.

Local colleges

The USD softball softball team (10-20, 2-3 WCC) fell in doubleheader action at LMU (16-17, 4-1) by scores of 4-2 and 7-3.

• The San Diego State men’s soccer team (1-7-2, 17-2 Pac-12) fell to No. 19 Oregon

State (9-4-0, 6-4-0) 4-0 on the SDSU Sports Deck in the season finale.

• In the final Big West Conference regular-season match for both squads, the 13th-ranked UC San Diego men’s volleyball team (3-12, 3-7) was defeated in straight sets by No. 3 UC Santa Barbara (13-4, 7-3), 25-23, 25-16, and 25-18.

• Marissa Moreno tossed a four-hit shutout and Danielle Romanello had a walkoff RBI to lead the SDSU softball team to a 1-0 victory over San Jose State in the nightcap of a doubleheader at home. The Aztecs (19-12, 4-7 MW) salvaged a split with the win after falling to the Spartans (5-17, 1-7 MW), 1-0, in the opener.

• The Aztecs baseball team scored a 12-11 victory over host Fresno State in the first game of a doubleheader and lost the second game 5-3.

• The USD baseball team (21-8, 7-4 WCC) earned a hard-fought conference victory, prevailing by a 7-5 margin versus San Francisco (1417, 9-5 WCC) at Fowler Park.

• The UCSD baseball team (8-19, 5-10 Big West) dropped both games of a doubleheader to No. 22 UC Santa Barbara (24-9, 15-4) at home by scores of 15-10 and 15-5.

• The Point Loma Nazarene baseball team (8-16, 7-13 Pacwest) lost a doubleheader to visiting Biola (8-13, 8-11) 13-6 and 3-2.

Also

The San Diego Legion (2-3) ended a two-match losing streak with a 31-29 comefrom-behind victory over the Utah Warriors. The Legion trailed late in the match 22-19 but closed with trys in the 67th and 75th minutes by Jasa Veremalua for a needed win.