Sat May 17 20:08:18 2008

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Barca ends disappointing season with win

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Murcia, Spain (Sports Network) - Giovani Dos Santos, a 19-year-old midfielder, scored a hat trick to lead Barcelona to a 5-3 win Saturday over Real Murcia in coach Frank Rijkaard's final game.

Barcelona locked up third place in the Spanish La Liga but could finish as far as 18 points behind first-place Real Madrid. Real ends its season Sunday.

Juan Ochoa gave relegated Murcia a 1-0 lead in the 16th minute, but Barcelona answered with five consecutive goals.

Samuel Eto'o and Thierry Henry scored Barcelona's first two goals and Santos added goals in the 33rd, 52nd and 66th minutes.

Ivan Alonso converted a penalty kick in the 81st and Abel added the final goal in the 85th minute for Murcia.

Rijkaard, who led Barcelona to the Champions League title in 2006, was told by Barcelona a few weeks ago he would be let go at the end of the season.

On Sunday, Valencia hosts Atletico Madrid, Real Madrid hosts Levante, Mallorca hosts Real Zaragoza, Getafe hosts Real Betis, Racing hosts Osasuna, Recreativo hosts Real Valladolid, Sevilla hosts Athletic Bilbao, Espanyol hosts Almeria and Deportivo hosts Villarreal.