The Grand La Liga Finale!

Real Madrid is a team that is not used to going a season trophy-less. The team has won a record 9 European titles and 29 La Liga titles. That, coupled with their habit of signing the world's biggest players sets them quite high expectaions every season. So it's kinda weird, to acknowledge the fact that they haven't won anything since the 2003 La Liga title.(3 years with Zidane and Beckham and they didn't win anything!) And it's also disappointing for their hordes of fans around the world, to see their rival club FC Barcelona winning everything- 2 back to back La Liga titles, and a Champions League win in 2006.(which, I will always maintain, that they should not have won......sorry...I AM an Arsenal fan).

Anyway, so, for the first time since 2003, Madrid have the chance to win something. The story of their title chase is extraordinary. Their erratic form early in the season didn't affect them that much, mainly because their competitors- Barcelona, Valencia, and Sevilla displayed equally erratic form. But somehow, after the New Year's, after David Beckhams recall to the squad, they've not been able to lose. Top man, that Becks! He's been knocking in those assists like crazy!

So now, all the football pundits have their money on Real. After all, they just have to match Barca's results(win or draw, losing might give Sevilla the chance to sneak it) against a weak Mallorca side at home in the Santiago Bernabeu. How could they lose??? It would be a fitting farewell to Beckham and Roberto Carlos, a faithful servant to Los Merengues for 11 years. Even FIFA president Sepp Blatter said he wanted Real Madrid to win. And lately, luck has also not been on Barca's side.

So what is my opinion, you ask?

Well, to tell you the truth, even though everyone loves last minute comebacks, the last 2 years have not been the years for them. Michael Schumacher did not make a dream comeback and win the driver's title in the last F1 season.Roger Federer didn't beat Nadal at this year's French Open to become the 3rd man in history to hold all 4 Grand Slams. Liverpool did not beat AC Milan at this year's Champions League finals. The Cleveland Cavaliers didn't beat the San Antonio Spurs(boring as they may be!) at this year's NBA Finals. Zidane and co. couldn't beat Italy in the World Cup 2006 finals. Australia didn't lose their cricket World Cup title to another team.

As you can see, the examples are abundant, and so......I'm predicting shouts of "Hala Madrid" around the world tomorrow!