Back to Bethesda and Hala Madrid!

The three of us went back to Bethesda today to meet my friend Carmen and her daughter Ambra for lunch. Afterwards we hung out at a park nearby the restaurant and took some pictures of Benjamin playing around.

Higher, higher!


Anyone ready for some fútbol?


Bending It Like Beckham


Carmen and Ambra are heading to Spain for three weeks so it was nice to catch up with them before they left. They plan to spend most of their time in Madrid, Carmen's hometown and one of my favorite cities in the world.

Speaking of Spain, we got home in time for the Real Madrid-Zaragoza match on GOL TV. Real Madrid and Barcelona are currently tied for the top spot in La Liga with two matches to go, so this was huge. Ocasionally, GOL TV would show the Barcelona-Espanyol match on a split screen. I was loving every minute of the coverage (despite Ray Hudson's painful analysis) but the results of the games weren't great for me as a Real Madrid fan. What happened at the end of both matches was something incredible. I'll do my best to set it all up here despite not having TIVO to review this...

Real Madrid's title hopes were fading fast as they trailed Zaragoza 2-1 with just over a minute to go in their match. Rivals Barcelona led 2-1 at home against their city rivals Espanyol, also with a minute to go. If those results held, Barcelona would have a three point lead for the title heading into next weekend's final matches.

In the 89th minute of both games, on the split TV screen (Thanks GOL TV!) Real Madrid scores to salvage a 2-2 draw and Barcelona surrendered a late goal to also tie 2-2. Simply incredible!

So all Real Madrid have to do to win their first league title since 2003 is beat Mallorca at home in the final game of the season next weekend. Easier said than done though and several possiblities could occur between Real Madrid, Barcelona and Sevilla. Real Madrid and Barcelona are tied with 73 points. Real Madrid hold the edge over Barcelona because of their better head-to-head record thanks to a win in Madrid and a tie in Barcelona. Sevilla has 71 points. Sevilla can take the title if they win their final match at home to Villarreal and both Barcelona and Real Madrid lose.

If all three teams finish tied, Real Madrid will take the title. If Real Madrid and Sevilla have the same point total then Sevilla will be champions. If Barcelona and Sevilla are tied, then Barcelona will win the title.

Got it?