Triple showdown in England

The end of this year's soccer season should be incredibly interesting. Manchester United and Chelsea are still only separated by 3 points in the Premiership, will face each other in the F.A. Cup Final, and have a good chance of meeting in the Champions League final as well (United will have to get past A.C. Milan in a home-and-home, while Chelsea must face Liverpool, who are perennially excellent in Europe). United have a terrific shot at repeating their famed Treble success from 1999, while Chelsea could walk away with all four major trophies available to them, due to their League (Carling) Cup victory earlier this year. Both teams have been terrific this year, and have made the Premiership title race one to remember. This weekend, United will host Middlesbrough, while Chelsea travel to St. James' Park to take on Newcastle. Both should be superb games. However, I think the Premiership title is likely to come down to the May 9 meeting between United and Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. It should be a fascinating game, as well as a good preview of the F.A. Cup final and a possible Champions League matchup.