EUROPEAN WRAP
Manchester, Munich and Lyon Celebrate Title Triumphs
By Julius Ross
Several European leagues have been determined by spectacular circumstances in recent weeks, on the penultimate day of their respective campaigns.
Last weekend saw Manchester United claim their 17th title in a dramatic day of proceedings in the English Premier League which went down to the wire.
The Red Devils retained their Premier League crown by edging title rivals Chelsea in the penultimate round of the season, and handed Sir Alex Ferguson an incredible 10th title in charge of United.
It was one of the closest finishes to a league season in almost a decade; you’d have to go back to United’s treble winning season of 1998-99 where they beat Arsenal to the title by one point to witness a closer conclusion.
With both sides level on points but separated by goal difference in United’s favour prior to kick-off, Chelsea needed United to slip up away at Wigan, whilst they needed a positive result at home to Bolton.
However, United obtained the three important points they needed with a 2-0 victory, whilst the Blues were the team who slipped up, drawing 1-1 with the Trotters at Stamford Bridge.
The combination of United’s prolific goal scoring, attractive football and defensive superiority saw them outclass opposition throughout the campaign.
United scored the most goals (80) and conceded the least (22) in the league, underlying their superiority in both attack and defence.
Portuguese winger Cristiano Ronaldo’s dominance as the star player this season was underlined by a host of awards he received for his individual performances this season.
Ronaldo picked up the PFA Player’s Player of the Year, PFA Fan’s Player of the Year, FWA Footballer of the Year, Barclay’s Player of the Season award, the Golden Boot Award, and the Barclays Premier League Merit Award.
The midfielder scored an outstanding 31 goals in 34 Premier League appearances which equalled England great Alan Shearer’s standing record for the highest number of goals scored in a Premier League season by an individual.
Whilst Ronaldo was season was impressive to say the least, Liverpool’s Fernando Torres was a formidable figure throughout the season; his 24 goals for the Reds saw him break the record set by Manchester United’s Ruud Van Nistelrooy, as the most prolific goal scoring foreigner in their debut season.
North of the border in Scotland, and a similar scenario is unfolding in the Scottish Premier League title race.
Fierce Old Firm rivals Glasgow Rangers and Celtic are locked in a comparable predicament to the situation Manchester United and Chelsea were in, heading into their final fixtures of the season.
In the last nine seasons, Celtic and Rangers have dominated the Scottish league, with the Hoops claiming five titles and Rangers four.
Celtic are looking to secure their third successive SPL title, and after Rangers drew 1-1 with Motherwell on Saturday, the side are currently sitting three points clear at the top of the table, with one match to play.
But although they failed at the final hurdle in the UEFA Cup mid-week, Rangers still hold hope of clinching the title, with the Glasgow side having a game in hand over their rivals.
Rangers have to play their final two matches during the week, on Monday and Thursday night, whilst Celtic have one remaining match against Dundee United on Thursday evening.
Across the English Channel to France, Olympique Lyonnaise secured the Ligue 1 title on the final day of the season to record an unprecedented seventh successive title.
Lyon, who are used to wrapping up the French title well in advance of the final match, claimed the historic record after downing Auxerre 3-1 through goals from Karim Benzema, Fred and Kim Kallstrom.
Second placed Bordeaux had threatened to spoil the party for Les Gones, trailing the reigning champions by only two points before the final fixtures, but their 2-2 draw at Lens did little to affect the outcome, Lyon finishing four points clear at the top of the table.
In Germany, Bayern Munich finished their title winning season on a high by defeating Hertha Berlin 4-1 in the Bundesliga.
Bayern had wrapped up the their 21st title two weeks ago, and finished 10 points clear of second placed Werder Bremen with a clinical display in Munich.
The 4-1 victory was a fitting send off for retiring goalkeeper Oliver Kahn and coach Ottmar Hitzfeld who is departing the club.
It was Kahn’s 557th appearance and he received a standing ovation, lifting his eighth German title in his 21-year career, after the final whistle.
Italian international Luca Toni sealed a stunning first season in the Bungesliga by topping the goal scoring charts with a hat-trick on the final day for Munich.
Munich’s other star performer, Frenchman Franck Ribery, also capped a superb debut campaign in Germany by scoring the other goal.
Next Week: A full wrap of the Spanish La Liga, Italy’s Serie A and the Dutch Eredivisie
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