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Beckham set for last game with Madrid

By PAUL LOGOTHETIS -- Associated Press Writer

MADRID, Spain (AP) David Beckham trained with Real Madrid again Friday and is expected to start in the title-deciding match against Mallorca - his final game before joining the Los Angeles Galaxy.

The 32-year-old England midfielder appears to have recovered sufficiently from a sprained ankle to make coach Fabio Capello's starting lineup for Sunday's league finale at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium.

"I think the reason why my form has been so good in the last part of the season is that I didn't play very much," Beckham said. "I was getting my rest in, having days off when players were meeting up with their national teams, so that's the reason I'm so fresh now."

Madrid is tied with FC Barcelona atop the league standings with 73 points. Sevilla has 71 going into Sunday's final round of games.

Madrid will secure its record 30th league title - and first in four seasons - with a win, even if Barcelona beats last-place Gimnastic Tarragona since Madrid enjoys the head-to-head advantage.

Madrid is undefeated in the 11 games since Fabio Capello reinstated Beckham to the lineup in February.

Capello benched Beckham after he signed a five-year deal with the MLS' Galaxy in January.

Beckham's recent solid performances earned him a recall to the England team. He had been dropped after last year's World Cup.

"Six months ago my confidence was probably knocked out of me, but now it's back," Beckham said. "I'm enjoying the rest of the season and I can't wait for the last game."

Madrid wouldn't confirm whether Robinho and Mahamadou Diarra will team up with Beckham on Sunday, with both players facing national team pressures.

Robinho trained with the team Friday but still has not been given the go-ahead by Brazil to play, despite reportedly being cleared by FIFA. Brazil wanted him for training ahead of the Copa America, which begins June 26.