Dramatic finish in Spain
Saturday, June 21, 2003
Article summary
The Spanish Primera División season ends on Sunday evening with the title in the balance.
Article body
Do the math
The maths is easily done: if Real Madrid CF beat Athletic Club Bilbao at the Santiago Bernabéu, they will be champions for a 29th time. If they lose or draw, and Real Sociedad defeat Club Atlético de Madrid at the Anoeta, the Primera División trophy will make its third trip to San Sebastian.
Madrid lead
Arithmetic aside, however, it is a weekend of possibilities. Yes, Madrid have a two-point advantage. And granted, they were superb in winning 4-0 at Atlético last weekend. Yet it remains to be seen how the news of David Beckham's imminent arrival has affected the 2001 champions. And what of Athletic, who will do themselves, as well as their Basque neighbours Real, a favour by getting a result in the capital?
Athletic threat
Athletic are currently two points clear of FC Barcelona in the final UEFA Cup position, and they will want to keep it that way. Moreover, the match is former Madrid trainer Jupp Heynckes' last as Athletic coach, and follows the death this week of the club's president Javier Uria. Incentive enough.
Real dream
If winning trophies is regarded as a duty by Madrid fans, for their counterparts in San Sebastian it is a dream. Real's last championship was in 1982 (although they were cup winners five years later). Yet French coach Raynald Denoueix could end the trophy drought in his first season in Spain.
Demob happy
Unlike Athletic, Atlético have no reason for neighbourly feeling. And a possibly demob-happy team will face Real's best eleven after Nihat Kahveci, Darko Kovacevic and Francisco De Pedro recovered from knocks sustained in the 3-2 defeat at RC Celta de Vigo last week. Whether Real recover from the blow they suffered in Galicia, however, remains to be seen.
European aim
Elsewhere, outgoing champions Valencia CF visit Sevilla FC knowing that they will play in the UEFA Cup next term. No such luxury for FC Barcelona, whose hopes of European qualification depend on beating Celta at home and hoping for a Madrid win against Athletic. Difficult days indeed at Camp Nou. RC Deportivo La Coruna, who will finish third above Celta in fourth place, wind down their campaign at home against RCD Espanyol.
