By the grace of soccer scheduling, Spain has decided to remain the only league open for business into the summer.

2006/07 Spanish Primera Division Standings
Club               GP    W    L    D   PTS   GD
Real Madrid     35    21    8    6     69     22
Barcelona         35    20    6    9     69     40
FC Sevilla         35    20    8    7     67     28

I urge you Savages place your calls for the Kings of Spain. Dead heat is the word with three games to the crown. Only the best are involved on this run–the two traditional top dogs with newly crowned Uefa Cup Champions Sevilla entering as the dark horse.

Again Savages, I would like to remind you that this is a rare for this league to still be in play, let alone without an outright winner. Barca, by this time last year, was counting their blessings, and Ronaldinho was not counting how off he was going to be in the World Cup.

One year down the road. Barca has been busted, Real Madrid has been transformed, and Sevilla is sick of third. This makes dipping at the line all the more important. Sevilla seems to have the edge due to finishing a cup tournament two years in a row. Dani Alves along with a quartet of top notch finishers can sneak into a 3rd and most coveted trophy in recent history.

F.C. Sevilla’s Remaining Schedule:
Sun 5/27   H-Real Zaragoza
Sun 6/10   A-Mallorca
Sun 6/17   H-Villarreal

The schedule is in their favor as Barca has to battle Ivan de la Pena and the Uefa Cup runners up Espanyol in a cross town derby where I don’t think its Barca’s year.

Barcelona’s Remaining Schedule:
Sat 5/26   H-Getafe
Sun 6/10  H-Espanyol
Sun 6/17  A-Gimnastica de Tarragona

As for Real Madrid they are the spoilers to the sweet Cinderlla Sevilla Story. The boys in white are back, and they are quality again. Players from obscurity are back to business–Roberto Carlos (I have always been loyal, and another trophy in your case is my pleasure to call); David Beckham, what a wonderful life to be a good footballer and be coming to the U.S. in open arms. Actually one arm open because the other will be holding a Primera Title. Your on the ball Becks! I think it is because he has seen how the Galaxy is playing and is thinking this is his last year in soccer .

Real Madrid’s Remaining Schedule:
Sat 5/26   H-Deportivo La Coruna
Sun 6/10  A-Real Zaragoza
Sun 6/17  H-Mallorca

So, Real Madrid is my pick to hold the Reigns in Spain!

Mongoose quote “Beckham we expect three extra sprints here .”

Sevilla retained the UEFA Cup today as they defeated fellow La Liga side, Espanyol in penalties. Perhaps weighted down by the pouring rain in Glasgow, this year’s final game dulled in comparison to last year’s 4-0 drubbing of Middlesborough.

The final got off to a great start, however, with Sevilla opening the scoring when their Brazilian striker Adriano broke a challenge and waltzed in, placing perfectly past the stranded Espanyol keeper.

The lead didn’t last long though as Riera scored in the 28th min. for Espanyol, having cut in from the left (after being played in down the line from old Barca play-maker de la Pena). Luckily, the winger’s shot took a deflection past the keeper.

The game then went off the boil–even though Espanyol had a player sent off in the 2nd half! Sevilla surprisingly couldn’t take advantage of the extra man, and both teams looked dull through the rest of full time. Thankfully, the game came back alive in extra-time periods as Fredrick Kanoute put Sevilla in the lead, after guiding the ball past the keeper at the near post. Espanyol was not done, however, as they scored another equalizer to send the game into the penalty shootout.

Sevilla was not to be denied though as their keeper Palop made three saves to bring the cup home 2 years running. With another tournament cup in the trophy case, perhaps Sevilla can sneak in a league cup as they are just 2 pts. off the top (3rd behind Barca and Real) in La Liga.

Savages, if your souls are a little heavy because summer is almost here and the only soccer you’ll see will be the MLS. Don’t be blue! Spain is willing to throw you a new tune.

For some great reason, the Spanish Primera is scheduled for closing day on June 17^th –that is five more league games! Yes, we won’t get to see our beloved David Beckham until June on US soil, but he might actually have a chance to earn himself a title before he gets here.

Yes, people! Spain is the hottest league on the map right now–with their two huge soccer traditions still within two points of each other. This week it is Ronaldinho on top with Barcelona. They are possibly on a serious downslide though. with Barca being beaten 4-0 by Getafe in the second leg, semi-finals of the Copa Del Rey this week. They where leading 5-2 from the first leg. It was a gross performance that looked disjointed, where all these great talents couldn’t just put it together.

A foil for Barca in this match was that the coach of Getafe is slated to take the Real Madrid job at the end of the season (Contracts have been signed).

Speaking of Real, they are the real opponents. With mid-season youth injected by an expiring Fabio Capelo, the soccer life blood that is exhuded by Gago, Higuain and Robinho has counted. With those numbers in the attack, Van Nistlescraps and Old Raul can all become factors in fighting the MLS blues.

I am trying to fight them, but until Beckham hits the MLS limelight, we still have Spain to battle on with.

Top of the table club Barcelona will travel this weekend to face the number two squad Sevilla in a clash that is sure to be the point of liftoff for the reigning La Liga and Champions League Champions.

Barcelona, already with the 2 pt. advantage over Sevilla in the league, is not only looking for a victory to stretch their domestic lead, but for a renewed confidence as well to take with them into England to avenge their defeat to Liverpool at the Nou Camp in their 1st Leg Champions League encounter.

The return of Cameroonian striker Samuel Eto’o, who is back illustrating his scoring prowess, is a sure boost for the club as it has lacked a bit of pace and fire power without their long time injured striker.

It will be interesting to see how Sevilla respond after manager Juande Ramos’ shock injury, sustained when he was knocked unconscious by a water bottle thrown at him from rival club, Real Betis supporters during their 2nd leg King’s Cup match.

With the media speculation and disruption caused by the incident, Barcelona has an excellent opportunity to take advantage and stroll into enemy territory and take the spoils.

Kudos goes out to the diminutive striker from Argentina (not as if most all strikers from Argentina are small), the one that everybody forgets about—Javier Saviola.

Having lost the World Club Championship against Internacional of Brazil, Barcelona has played themselves back into the funk that they seemed to have pulled out of, right before the holiday season.

If the Argentine striker’s goals don’t warrant a run of games, at least they will provide a morale booster as Barcelona are currently off the pace of Sevilla in La Liga and are now drawn level on points in 2nd Place with a Beckham-less, refocused, and youth enriched Madrid.

Coming back to Barcelona, after a few years out on exile, delivering silverware for both Monaco and Sevilla, on the purse strings of the Catalan giants, Saviola has barely played a role for Frank Rijkaard this season. Yet, that still did not stop him from stealing the show in the Copa del Rey against Alavés as his 5 goals proved instrumental in both games (Barcelona won 5-2 on aggregate).

Coming off a draw to Getafe and a defeat to cross town rivals Espanyol in La Liga, the forgotten man, Saviola scored 2 away goals in the 1st leg and then ensured progression to the quarterfinals with a hat-trick at the Nou Camp to defeat a plucky 2nd Division Alavés that put in 2 themselves against the reigning European Champions.

Rijkaard will definitely be looking to solidify some composure as Barcelona is set to play bottom dwellers, Gimnastic de Terragona this Sunday though both Madrid and Sevilla also have games that should fall their way against Mallorca and Villarreal respectively.

With the apparent return of Eto’o it will be interesting who Rijkaard shows faith in throughout the rest of Barcelona’s campaigns.

Carvings from the dagger

Rijkaard’s men come into the penultimate encounter of Spanish football on an emotional low as they were defeated (1-0) by Chelsea in the mid-week’s Champions League Match day.

It was not the turning, wonder strike the Drogba delivered at the outset of the 2nd half that sealed Barcelona’s fate; it was the inability and frustration of a side that could not find any rhythm, or answers, to ever really challenge the Chelsea defense.

While third-string keeper Hilario made a few necessary saves in the 1st half, the Chelsea defense was like a big blue sponge that just soaked and soaked up Barcelona pressure, never leaking away opportunities for Ronaldinho and Co.

With Barcelona opening a slight lead at the mountain-top of La Liga, Rijkaard then faced his first true challenge with the emotionally charge, historic derby against Real Madrid, who in truth haven’t fared much better, as their inconsistent form still seem to riddle the team even under new-coach Capello.

Madrid, however, was coming off another impressive Champions League victory and not defeat; like their old rivals; their league form is another manner as their recent (1-0) loss to Getafe raised many eyebrows last week. With the obvious quality in their side it remains baffling how Real Madrid has struggled to claim trophies in the past few years.

On Sunday Real Madrid turned the tables on Barcelona who sputtered once again in defeat. The goals by Van Nistelrooy and Raul secured a sound victory on home soil pulling Madrid up the table with 14 pts. just two points behind joint leaders Barcelona and Valencia.

Barcelona faces Recreativo Huelva on Sunday and will be hoping that Ronaldinho molts out of his poor form and displays the dominance of pre-R10 days. Certainly his teammates are realizing on the field that with Eto’o injured, Ronaldinho needs to find his focus and inspiration soon, or it could be their reverse déjà vu match against Chelsea that causes the pain of defeat again.

This Sunday’s match-up between reigning champions, Barcelona and serious contenders, Valencia couldn’t have come sooner to help divide the pack, at this early stage in the Spanish league competition.

Actually, Sevilla top the league on goal difference and play on the road against Atletico Madrid; however, it is the match-up in the Nou Camp in Barcelona that will hold all the attention on Sunday.

Barcelona is still as cool as ever as most of their players have continued under Frank Rijkaard for the new campaign. Valencia have brought in new faces to strengthen their run for the league title, as they have brought in the likes of winger, Joaquin and ex-Real Madrid striker, Fernando Morientes to provide more width and finishing touches.

It will be a game to savior. Barcelona will definitely be put to the test. Both teams, however, have mid-week European encounters in the Champions League with Barcelona playing Werder Bremen, while Valencia faces off at home against Roma.

Hopefully, both teams will not be holding out for their European exploits and treat us to “dulce golazos”.

Contrary to their sporadic form, Spain looks up to the task in Germany 2006. Two early 1st half goals will do wonders for their confidence and finally put the belief inside the hearts and minds of the Spaniards. Aragones showed his attacking strategy by starting in a 4-3-3, with the three prong attack lead by the youthful Fernando Torres, David Villa, and Luis Garcia.

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Early pressure resulted into a converted corner kick from a header by Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso in the 13th min. David Villa proved his worth by firing a free kick that deflected off the Ukrainian wall into the net, past the disparaging goalie in the 17th min. After the interval, Spain was gifted with a dubious penalty, and Villa scored from the penalty spot in the 48th min.�giving him a brace in his World Cup debut. To make matters worse, Torres notched a front volley�played in by a cushioned header from defender Puyol�in the 81st min. to add to Ukraine�s blushes.

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Ukraine looked absolutely shell-shocked, and Shevchenko was disappointingly a non-factor. Also, going down to 10 men early in the 2nd half did little for their cause. Andrii Voronin was the only Ukrainian player to show well and was very unfortunate not to score.

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Hopefully, the goals will continue to rain down for Spain�a historical 4 goals in their opening match. Ukraine needs to regroup for their matches against Saudi Arabia and Tunisia if they expect to move into the Round of Sixteen.