Sun.Star Cebu

Breathtaki­ng football

- NOEL S. VILLAFLOR nsvillaflo­r@gmail.com

There’s been some good news in the Philippine football scene, as the national team will finally return to action following months of inactivity.

The Azkals are slated to hold a bubble camp from May 18 to 31, 2021 in Doha, Qatar in preparatio­n for their World Cup and Asian Cup qualifiers.

At third place, the Philippine­s will see qualifying action against Guam on June 3, against China on June 9, and against the Maldives on June 15.

In Asian club football, United City (formerly Ceres-Negros FC) will also carry the Philippine flag next month in the 2021 AFC Champions League, with a historic first match against Beijing Guoan on June 26.

But while Filipino sports fans wait for competitiv­e action from our very own teams, we’ll have to make do with escalating football drama from another continent.

What’s really heating up right now towards a grand finale is the La Liga, where four teams remain in contention for Spanish club football supremacy.

Though the latest results bring league leaders Atletico Madrid closer to an epic down-thewire championsh­ip triumph, only it’s second to this La Liga trophy this century.

As I am writing this, four teams are still in contention to lift the title: Atletico Madrid with 80 points, FC Barcelona with 76 points, Real Madrid with 75 points and Sevilla with 74 points.

Sevilla has the least possibilit­y of lifting the trophy with its chances relying on goal difference.

While Barca is now second, Real Madrid with a game in hand against the Blaugrana earlier this morning, May 13, would have moved past the Blaugrana with a win.

That said, there will be only two matches left to determine who will be La Liga champions.

We haven’t seen this kind of excitement in European football in ages, so let’s enjoy it until the season’s end.

As I am writing this, four teams are still in contention to lift the title: Atletico Madrid with 80 points, FC Barcelona with 76 points, Real Madrid with 75 points and Sevilla with 74 points

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