Best Of 2007: The Roar of the Champions

The 30th Primera Liga title win for Real Madrid in the most spectacular fashion, and Manchester United's ninth toast to Sir Alex Ferguson encapsulate the best sporting year I have ever savoured in the footballing calendar. 

Being a United and Real fanatic, I really couldn't ask for a better performance from them.

After another dismal showdown at the World Cup in 2006, the English players were looking forward to reprieving themselves in their domestic leagues. The same was the case for the Spanish players.

With four trophyless years gone, the European giants like Manchester United and Real Madrid had to brace themselves for yet another fiesty title race, and extend their record number of title wins beyond anyone's reach.

To start off Manchester United's campaign...well their start wasn't as telling as their finish. With Chelsea looking to complete the hattrick of titles under Jose Mourinho, they seemed as the only serious title contenders—and boy I was so glad to see them fight with the Devils neck-to-neck till the very end.

Though United succumbed to Arsenal and West Ham until the Christmas, they were comfortably perching at the top of the tree with the chasing pack falling far away. Then we all know what happened.

Arsenal and Liverpool crashed out of the title race, and it was down to the other big two for setting up the cliffhangers. Once, Chelsea would close down to United and then again United recovered their lead at the top.

Eventually, the title deciders came up when Everton entertained United and Chelsea hosted Bolton.  United came from 2-0 behind to beat Everton 2-4, while Chelsea could only lament their defensive bloopers as they were held 2-2. 

Really, God would have been harsh to the side who clinged to the top spot for almost all of the season, and so justice was done—United crowned Champions for the record breaking ninth time in the EPL. 

If you were looking for a last gasp title win, then you could have watched the Primera Liga, where the top three sides could still win the league until the final day of the season.

Real Madrid CF was armed to the teeth to fight it out against Barca, who were looking for a hattirck of league trophies. Meanwhile, UEFA Cup winners Sevilla was the dark horse and did enough to derail the track of the top two teams off the title race. 

With star studded sides, both Real and Barca couldn't stick to their winning ways, and they caved their priceless points to comparatively weaker opponents.

On the other hand, Sevilla was foxy enough to capitalize the vacillation of their rivals' form, and suddenly at the Christmas, they found themselves leading the pack. 

Then came the moment of unrest at Madrid, when then coach Fabio Capello infamously dropped Beckham as he didn't mesh well with Capello's strategy. Another rift between the two sparked and Beckham was declared unwanted by the Madrid outfits. 

Surely the consequences were seen on the pitch, as they lost three matches on the bounce without Beckham in their lineup. Captain Raul and his teammates urged Capello to do what he hated, and finally Becks was in the limelight again after winning his side all three points in a game against Real Sociedad.

That game proved to be the crux of Real's title hopes, as Beckham aided Real to several crucial wins, while Barca and Sevilla were loosing points. But push really turned to shove as Barca and Sevilla started to close in while Real were handed a couple of draws. 

And finally, it went down to the last game of the season where all of them were separated by only five points. Real were trailing Mallorca by a goal until the 65th minute, when Diarra, Robinho, and Reyes wrapped up a dramatic win for Real and earned them an unprecedented 30th league title.

What was more exhilarating about the game?

Real's player of the seaon David Beckham hardly provided anything for Real in that game, and it was his substitute Reyes who completed the "Hollywood" move.

So why have I picked these two teams?

Firstly, they had four barren years without any league title. And secondly, both of them held the maximum number of league trophies (eight for United and 29 for Real)

Let's hope Real and United invoke these memories this season and give their fans something to cheer for.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!