Madrid, June 20: Only two words will be heard in the dressing room of league leaders Real Madrid before Sunday's game against athletic Bilbao and they will not be David Beckham. Real coach Vicente del Bosque in what some pundits believe could be his last game in charge of the club, instead will be urging his squad to forget all thoughts of the imminent arrival of the England captain and concentrate on the winning the trophy that has 'campeonato nacional' - national championship - inscribed on it. Madrid have 75 points from their 37 games and are two ahead of their only rivals Real Sociedad. The mathematics are simple. If Real Madrid beat their Basque visitors, they are the Spanish champions for a record 29th time. However, if they can only muster a draw against Athletic, who have everything to play for as they are vying with Barcelona for a UEFA Cup place, then they have to hope that Ssociedad do not win at home to Atletico Madrid. The San Sebastian club, who are unbeaten at home this season, have better results in the head-to-head contests between the two protagonists for the league title, and under Spanish League rules, if the points are equal then Real Sociedad will win the league for the first time in 21 years. There has been no denying that signing of Beckham on Tuesday has been a distraction. "But from now until Sunday night, David Beckham does not exist," said Real's Spanish international right back Michel Salgado.

Bureau Report