It is the business end of the soccer season, brimming with pulse-quickening excitement.  At least for the teams who still have incentives to give a damn.

Immaturity could not stop Manchester United’s title run this weekend, as they disposed with rivals Man City 2-0. Cristiano Ronaldo channeled his inner Lupica, with a petulant rant after substitution (after the jump). Cast-aside striker Carlos Tevez, who will be leaving, cupped his ears toward the owners box after scoring a goal. Though meaningless, Chelsea beat Arsenal 4-1 at the Emirates, their second home-base bed soiling against a rival, in six days. Not even being likened to little children could rouse some fight out of Wenger’s diaphanous prodigies.

Real Madrid nearly gifted Barcelona the league title, being pounded 3-0 by Valencia. However, Villarreal, on a late Llorente strike, stole a 3-3 draw with Barca at the Nou Camp to leave a miniscule glimmer for Franco’s favorites. Barca might as well claim the title, since they need just one point from the final three matches, and Madrid will not make up Barca’s 37-goal advantage. More crucial for Los Cules is Andres Iniesta’s thigh injury, possibly dropping him from the Champions League final.

Serie A will stay open a few days longer too, after underwhelming Inter Milan drew 2-2 with Chievo and A.C. Milan drew 1-1 with Juventus. Up seven points with three matches left, Inter can close things off with a win on Sunday. This would allow Jose Mourinho to claim Italy conquered and tactfully retreat with reputation, intact, at least among the insular portions of the English media. Juventus also snatched Werder Bremen’s Brazilian star Diego for $34 million, foiling Bayern Munich’s vision of him replacing Franck Ribery.

The NFL’s jaunt to London may be evangelically unsuccessful to fans infatuated with their own football, but some of its more unsavory practices have lingered. The English FA has drawn fire for affording only 25,000 tickets a piece to Everton and Chelsea supporters for the upcoming FA Cup Final, distributing the remaining 40,000 seats at Wembley to “friends of football.€ Those who can get tickets should not concern themselves with a dampened atmosphere, however, as the golf-shirt brigade should get a little rambunctious midway through the second glass of champagne.

LA Galaxy have found the missing cog to run their demented engine and keep David Beckham motivated, a midfielder in the English third division. Trinidad and Tobago international Chris Birchell, 25, is considering the move to MLS, after his contract expires this summer. Look at the fire in his eyes. That’s the determination you need for MLS success. At least he could exude some professionalism on the Joshs and Troys.

Goal of the Weekend: Andy Dawson (Hull City vs. Stoke City).  Dawson is a 30-year-old left back.  He has led Hull through four divisions to the Premier League.  This is the best goal he will ever score.  Nothing cute.  Just perfection.