BECKHAM VALENCIA, Spain (AP):
DAVID BECKHAM is looking for the ultimate parting gift from Real Madrid - his first major trophy with the club - before heading to Los Angeles.
The 32-year-old England midfielder returned to training yesterday after sitting out Madrid's mid-week sessions to rest his sprained ankle for Sunday's season-ending game against Mallorca, knowing a victory will end a four-year title drought.
Beckham, who will join Major League Soccer's Los Angeles Galaxy on July 1, has won only one trophy with Madrid - the Spanish Supercup - after his arrival from Manchester United in 2003.
Wants win over Mallorca
The former England captain would like to end his playing days at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium as he started them - with a win over Mallorca.
Madrid are tied with FC Barcelona with 73 points. Madrid will win their record 30th league title on head-to-head difference should the teams stay tied on points after the final round of games.
Barcelona play last-placed Gimnastic Tarragona, leaving the pressure on Madrid to end the club's longest silverware drought in 53 years.
"I started with a title and I would love to leave with one as well," said left-back Roberto Carlos, who is leaving the club after 10 seasons to join Turkish side Fenerbahce. "People think it will be easy but we have great respect for Mallorca's players and coach and are aware they'll put up a good fight."
Mallorca are 12th in the league with 49 points.
Madrid have lost only once in their past 17 games and rallied again Saturday for a 2-2 draw at Zaragoza that kept them in control of their destiny, as Barcelona also tied after a late defensive lapse against Espanyol.
Barcelona must now rely on Mallorca even if they win at Gimnastic to have any chance of being the sixth team to win three consecutive titles and the first since Nou Camp's winning sides between 1991-94.
Playmaker Ronaldinho returns after missing the 2-2 draw to Espanyol due to suspension, though Iceland striker Eidur Gudjohnsen is missing with a right knee injury.
The Catalan club was crowned European champions only a year ago but has seen its season turn sour as a result of poor results and team dissension.
"The season has been very inconsistent and things have not gone as we would have liked," goalkeeper Victor Valdes said.
Ronaldinho shouldered some of the blame yesterday.
Not well
"This year I have not been well and every player is aware that they can do more," Ronaldinho told El Mundo Deportivo. "I haven't had as much time to work on what I needed and it cost me."
UEFA Cup champions Sevilla, who have 71 points, have an outside chance of collecting their first league championship since 1946.
Sevilla will need to beat in-form Villarreal and hope for a Barcelona loss coupled with a draw or loss by Madrid.
Madrid win the title in case of a three-way tie, while Barcelona hold the goal differential tiebreaker edge against Sevilla.
But Sevilla will be without two of their biggest playmakers - striker Frederic Kanoute and right-back Daniel Alves - who are away with their national teams.
Villarreal have won seven straight and can secure a place in next season's UEFA Cup with a win, as can Zaragoza against Recreativo Huelva.
In the relegation fight, Athletic Bilbao and Real Betis have 37 points, Celta Vigo have 36 and Real Sociedad have 34. Two teams will join Gimnastic in the second division next season.
Athletic, who have never played outside Spain's top league in their 109-year history, and Betis can secure their places with wins against Levante and Racing Santander, respectively.
Celta host Getafe while Sociedad are at Champions League qualifiers Valencia.
Sociedad and Betis would stay up in the case of a four-way tie, while Sociedad would also survive in a three-way situation.
Sociedad haven't been relegated in 40 years.
Also on Sunday, Espanyol play Deportivo La Coruna, while Atletico Madrid must win against Osasuna and hope either Villarreal or Zaragoza slip up for a chance to reach European play for the first time in seven years.
