On This Day: Pep & Iniesta confirmed Barca exit; Gerrard slipped against Chelsea

Hi all, welcome to All Football's On This Day! Let's find out what happened today (April 27th) in football history. If you have more stories and news that happened on this day in history, feel free to post them in the comment area and share them with AFers.

On this day in 2011, Messi scored twice as Madrid are defeated 2-0 at Bernabéu in UCL semi-final

Barcelona talisman Lionel Messi scored two late goals to put his side in control of their bad-tempered Champions League semi-final against Real Madrid.

The goals came after Real's Pepe was dismissed in the 61st minute and boss Jose Mourinho was sent to the stands soon after for his protestations.

There was fighting and faking but not much football until the 88th minute and then there was a moment of rare beauty. With three minutes to go Lionel Messi scored a truly wonderful goal to give Barcelona a huge lead in this European Cup semi-final. Dashing past five players, he sprinted into the Real Madrid penalty area and slipped the ball smoothly past Iker Casillas to double the visitors' lead.

On this day in 2018, Iniesta announced his retirement from Barcelona

The 33-year-old came through the club’s youth system and turned professional in 2001.

“This is my last season here,” Iniesta said during an emotional press conference that was witnessed by members of Barça’s first-team squad. “I want to thank my team-mates. My only aim was to be a success at this club and I have done that.”

The midfielder won eight La Liga titles with Barcelona as well as four Champions Leagues and scored the only goal as Spain beat the Netherlands to win the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. 

“There are still things to be sorted,” said the veteran, who earned 125 caps for Spain having made his debut for the national team in 2006. “I will never play against Barça, so I won’t play in Europe.”Finally, Iniesta joined Japan club Vissel Kobe.

On this day in 2012, Guardiola announces he will leave the club at the end of the season

On 24 April, a 2–2 draw at home against Chelsea in the second leg of the Champions League semifinal knocked Barcelona out of the competition on a 2–3 aggregate score. That effectively left the team with only the Copa del Rey to play for.[66] Guardiola had faced criticism over his recent tactics and squad selections. 

On 27 April 2012, he announced he would step down as Barcelona's coach at the end of the 2011–12 season. He had been on a rolling contract that was renewed annually during his tenure as manager. Citing tiredness as the main reason for his decision, he also commented that four years at a club like Barça felt like an eternity.

The 41-year-old, who was appointed in 2008 and has led the Catalan club to 13 trophies, was succeeded by assistant Tito Vilanova.

On this day in 2014, Gerrard slipped as Chelsea beat Liverpool 2-0

Gerard won the Champions League, the Uefa Cup, three League Cups and two FA Cups but no Premier League with Reds – a gaping hole that may well have been filled in 2014, but for his costly stumble against Chelsea in April 2014.

That slip, capitalised on by Demba Ba, put Chelsea on their way to a 2-0 victory, which in turn halted Liverpool’s title charge before they spectacularly unravelled against Crystal Palace, enabling Manchester City to clinch the title. Gerrard’s slip was all the more dramatic because he had been so integral in a rampant Liverpool side that had won 11 consecutive matches – including a 3-2 win over Manchester City two weeks before – and were unbeaten in 16 prior to the arrival of José Mourinho’s side.