David Beckham hopes to end his Real Madrid career on a high
on Sunday by helping the club take the Primera Liga title before
leaving to join LA Galaxy.
If Madrid beat Real Mallorca they will pip Barcelona and Sevilla to
the crown - and would be only the second trophy win for Beckham
since his 2003 arrival.
The England midfielder, who helped Real win the Spanish Super Cup
four years ago, is fit after an ankle injury.
He said: "I've had four fantastic years here but victory will top
things off."
Beckham, 32, agreed a switch to Major League Soccer in the United
States in January and his departure from Real will come after one
of the most exciting Spanish league seasons in history.
With one game to go, Barcelona are tied with Madrid at the top of
the table with 73 points, while Sevilla are two points behind in
third place.
Real will finish above Barca if they end the campaign level on
points because of their superior head-to-head record but, using the
same rules, Sevilla have the edge over Real and Barca the advantage
over Sevilla.
Mallorca will go out to win the game - no more, no less. I am not
looking for any extra credit from anyone because of this game
Real Mallorca coach Gregorio Manzano
If all three teams finish level on points, Real will win the title
for the 30th time as they top the mini-league between the
sides.
While Madrid take on mid-table Mallorca at the Bernabeu in the
final weekend of fixtures, Barcelona travel to bottom side
Gimnastic Tarragona, who have already been relegated.
Sevilla play host to Villarreal, who are Spain's form team
following a run of seven successive wins.
Real's hopes of sealing their 30th Spanish title were boosted after
they were given permission to play their international players from
Brazil, Argentina and Mali.
It had been feared that Brazilian duo Robinho and Marcelo,
Argentine pair Fernando Gago and Gonzalo Higuain and Mali
midfielder Mahamadou Diarra, might be absent because of
international commitments.
Roberto Carlos will join Beckham in bidding farewell to Real as he
is set to play his final game before joining Turkish side
Fenerbahce.
And Madrid striker Ruud van Nistelrooy is the only player who can
catch Roma's Francesco Totti in the battle for the European Golden
Boot award.
The former Manchester United star is only one league goal behind
Totti, who scored 26 in Serie A this season.
Manzano says Mallorca will play to win at the Bernabeu
Barcelona welcome back Ronaldinho from suspension, while Mali
striker Fredi Kanoute is set to return for Sevilla, who have injury
doubts over Renato and Adriano Correia.
Real have not won the title since 2003 and their last piece of
silverware - the Spanish Super Cup - followed a final against this
season's last-day opponents Real Mallorca.
Mallorca coach Gregorio Manzano has insisted that his side will be
playing to win.
He told Spanish newspaper Marca: "Mallorca will go all out to win
the game - no more, no less. I am not looking for any extra credit
from anyone because of this game.
"I don't need to make any more friends in Madrid or have a statue
of me built in Barcelona."
