Manchester City defeated Brentford 3-0 on Saturday to keep their Premier League title hopes alive

Manchester City kept their Premier League title hopes alive with a 3-0 win over European hopefuls Brentford on Saturday afternoon, but know they need a favour from others to knock Arsenal off top spot. City are currently two points behind the Gunners, though that could be extended to five if Mikel Arteta’s side beat West Ham United this afternoon.

Pep Guardiola made it clear he was fully behind the Hammers this weekend, with a crossed-arms gesture and playfully shouting “Come on you Irons” as he made his way out of his post-match press conference following the win over Brentford.

If Nuno Espirito Santo’s side do beat Arsenal this weekend, City will have a game in hand and the balance of the title race will swing back in their favour.

Arsenal still have Burnley and Crystal Palace left to play after this weekend’s round of fixtures, while City still have games against Crystal Palace, Bournemouth and Aston Villa.

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It’s pretty simple, City need to win their games and hope Arsenal slip up in one of their remaining three games. If they do and City are victorious in all three of their remaining games, Guardiola’s men will be champions again.

The draw with Everton last weekend allowed Arsenal to reclaim top spot, though the win over Brentford kept the pressure on the Gunners.

Goals from Jeremy Doku, Erling Haaland and Omar Marmoush fired Guardiola’s men to victory. City had appeared edgy against a Brentford side chasing their own European ambitions, but once the in-form Doku curled in a sublime opener on the hour mark, they began to crank up the intensity as Haaland bundled home a second before teeing up Marmoush for a late third.

Despite his side no longer holding their own fate in their hands following Monday’s 3-3 draw at Everton, Guardiola is relishing the excitement of yet another title battle.

“I love to be here again,” he said. “We finish second again this season minimum so I love it. I didn’t enjoy last season and that moment when we were fighting to qualify for the Champions League was so difficult.

“But the Carabao Cup is in our pocket and the FA Cup Final at Wembley is the most beautiful day of the season and I love it.”

Doku was the standout performer for City against the Bees and he believes the goals are now starting to flow as a result of the belief.

“I’ve always been a confident player,” he said. “Obviously now the goals are there but, in terms of play, I’ve always played like this.

“Now there are goals added. I’ll just try to find those spaces, try to shoot again and continue like this, have the consistency.

“I know where I can be, I know where I want to go and it’s just on the line of it. The goals are coming, assists too.”

Barcelona will host arch-rivals Real Madrid at Camp Nou on Sunday in a highly anticipated El Clásico, with the Catalan giants just a point away from being crowned La Liga champions for the 2025-26 season. This is the first time Barcelona can win the title with a win over their direct rivals on the night.

Barcelona currently sit 11 points clear at the top of the table and have been the standout side in Spain this season. With 29 wins from 34 matches and a 10-game winning streak in La Liga, Hansi Flick’s side are on the brink of sealing another league title. Their recent form includes a 2-1 win over Osasuna, and they also defeated Real Madrid 3-2 in the Spanish Super Cup earlier in the campaign.

Overall, Barcelona have dominated recent encounters, winning five of the last six meetings, although Real Madrid did secure a 2-1 league win at the Bernabéu in October 2025. Despite their dominance, a defeat this weekend would not significantly dent Barça’s title hopes given their strong lead.

Real Madrid, meanwhile, arrive amid turbulence both on and off the pitch. Internal tensions within the squad have reportedly affected morale, with injury concerns and dressing-room issues adding to their struggles. Despite a recent 2-0 win over Espanyol and improved league form, they remain 11 points behind and are likely set to finish as runners-up.

Barcelona team news

Barcelona will be without star winger Lamine Yamal for the rest of the season after he picked up a hamstring injury, dealing a significant blow to their attacking options. However, the squad remains in good condition overall, with defender Andreas Christensen returning to training after a lengthy spell out due to a knee problem.

Head coach Hansi Flick now faces several selection dilemmas across the pitch as he prepares for the crucial fixtures ahead. Eric García is being considered for a midfield role, potentially lining up alongside Pedri and Gavi in the centre of the park.

Real Madrid team news

For Real Madrid, Federico Valverde will miss the match due to the injury he sustained during his recent altercation with Aurélien Tchouaméni, although neither player has received a suspension, meaning Tchouaméni is still available for selection.

The team received positive news as both Thibaut Courtois and Kylian Mbappé have recovered from their recent fitness concerns and are expected to start on Sunday night.

However, Madrid will be without several key players through injury, including Rodrygo (knee), Arda Güler (hamstring), Éder Militão (hamstring), Dani Carvajal (foot), and Ferland Mendy (thigh), alongside Valverde.

In midfield, Eduardo Camavinga and Thiago Pitarch are in contention for starting roles, while Vinícius Júnior is set to feature in the attacking line, providing pace and threat in the final third.

Barcelona vs Real Madrid La Liga probable starting XI

Barcelona XI: J Garcia; Kounde, Cubarsi, Martin, Cancelo; E Garcia, Pedri; Rashford, Gavi, Fermin; Lewandowski

Real Madrid XI: Courtois; Alexander-Arnold, Rudiger, Huijsen, F Garcia; Camavinga, Tchouameni, Pitarch; Bellingham; Vinicius, Mbappe

The La Liga 25/26 match between Barcelona and Real Madrid will start at 12:30 am IST (May 11).

What will be the venue for the La Liga 25/26 match between Barcelona and Real Madrid?

Camp Nou will host the La Liga 25/26 match between Barcelona and Real Madrid.

Where will the live telecast of the La Liga 25/26 match between Barcelona and Real Madrid be available in India?

The live telecast of the La Liga 25/26 match between Barcelona and Real Madrid will not be available in India.

Where will the live streaming of the La Liga 25/26 match between Barcelona and Real Madrid be available in India?

The live streaming of the La Liga 25/26 match between Barcelona and Real Madrid will be available on the FanCode app and website.

“We are here at Chepauk to host this exciting clash. Regarding the ground dimensions, the longest boundary is straight down the ground at 70 meters in the ‘V.’ As you move toward the squares, it tapers down to the mid-60s, while behind square, it’s roughly 61 meters. To look closer at the surface, I’m joined by England’s World Cup-winning captain, Eoin Morgan. Eoin, what are your views on this pitch? Good afternoon, Raman. It’s an interesting surface. We’ve seen three games here in a short span over the last few months, two during the World Cup and one in this year’s IPL. That IPL fixture featured an absolutely beautiful hundred from Sanju Samson; notably, it was a day-night game. However, we’ve had a couple of rainy days recently,” reckon WV Raman & Eoin Morgan

Manchester United have secured qualification to the Champions League for 2026/27 but have a wealth of work to do this summer transfer window

Manchester United officially secured their spot in the Champions League next season with a 3-2 win over Liverpool at Old Trafford on Sunday. But the club have work to do this summer should they hope to compete for European glory.

Michael Carrick has instilled confidence in the club since stepping in on an interim basis in January following Ruben Amorim’s dismissal. They are sitting pretty in third in the Premier League standings as they head into their final three against Sunderland, Nottingham Forest and Brighton.

However, major improvement is needed in the centre of the park as well as defence, should the Reds hope to continue to grow in 2026/27. Casemiro is set to leave the club when his contract expires in the coming months, while Luke Shaw is in need of replacement, considering he is entering the twilight years of his career.

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Here’s how MEN Sport would approach things if we were in the United hot seat this summer…

A £155million Newcastle United transfer raid

It’s clear that United need to strengthen two positions: left-back and the engine room. While Shaw has been a key player in 2025/26, making 35 appearances in the Premier League alone, the Englishman is out of contract at 31 next summer.

Heading into the latter stages of his career, the Reds would be wise to source reinforcements in the coming months and integrate a new full-back into their first-team.

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Lewis Hall has been a standout in an otherwise lacklustre Newcastle United side this season, providing reliable performances on the left-hand side against stiff domestic and European competition. Given that Newcastle are unlikely to contend in any form of European football next season, and a wealth of interest from bigger clubs, Hall may look for the door in the coming months.

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The crux is that any deal will not come cheap and that the Magpies will likely command a fee of around £55m for him. That figure could also soar further, depending on interest from other parties. Like Hall, Sandro Tonali’s future with his current club is also in doubt. The central midfielder has frequently been one of the first names on Eddie Howe’s team sheet when fit.

Too good to be limited to just domestic competition, Tonali could also be headed for the exit in the coming months if recent speculation is anything to go off. But with Arsenal and Manchester City also said to be interested in the 25-year-old, who is under contract until 2028, United may have to pay an inflated price to strip Newcastle of their most prized player.

A recent valuation of around £100m has been put on Tonali by the Magpies, according to reports. And while there may be far cheaper alternatives on the market, United would be wise to pay whatever Newcastle are asking for if they’re serious about finding the best-quality successor to Casemiro.

Marcus Rashford issue resolved

Despite a highly successful season-long loan with Barcelona, Marcus Rashford’s future away from United is still nowhere near certain. While the La Liga giants have an option to make his move permanent in a matter of weeks for around £26m, it is thought that Barca could use those funds to secure an out-and-out striker as a replacement for Robert Lewandowski.

While Rashford has proven that he can operate through the middle, his favoured position is on the left-hand side, which is largely occupied by Raphinha. It’s a long shot, and ultimately all down to Rashford, but there could be no harm in integrating him back into the first team this summer.

The 28-year-old has shown United what they are missing on the left flank time and time again in sunny Spain this season, Matheus Cunha arguably more suited to a traditional No. 10 role or as a second striker. With Amorim out of the picture, Rashford could once again thrive at Old Trafford.

An ambitious swoop for Cole Palmer

One could easily ignore Paul Merson’s claims that Cole Palmer will not want to play for Chelsea should they miss out on Champions League football. The attacking midfielder is the heartbeat of the club and appears incredibly settled in west London.

But with Chelsea losing their last six Premier League games and making a U-turn on their faith in Liam Rosenior, a number of key players may have one eye on the door, Palmer included.

The Englishman was linked with a shock move to United in the January window before Rosenior branded him untouchable. But similarly to Tonali, he will want to consistently challenge himself at the highest levels in his career.

Of course, should United be fruitful in their endeavours of securing Hall and Tonali or players of a similar fee this summer, splashing out on Palmer may be too rich for the board’s blood. That’s especially considering Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s notoriety for cutting costs and saving cash coupled with a valuation of around £150m at present.

Sky Sports, HBO Max, Netflix and Disney+ with Ultimate TV package

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Sky has upgraded its Ultimate TV and Sky Sports bundle to now include HBO Max, Netflix, Disney+, discovery+ and Hayu, as well as 135 channels and full Sky coverage of the Premier League and EFL.

Sky broadcasts more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more with at least 215 live from the top flight alongside Formula 1, darts and golf.

Ben Hayes, co-trainer at Lindsay Park, has singled out blinkers as the key factor in Plymouth’s comeback win at Caulfield.

Trained by Ben, Will and J D Hayes, the galloper earned his maiden victory since the September Benalla Cup by dominating the Lamaro’s After The Last Handicap (2000m) this Saturday.

Plymouth ($7.50), piloted by Jamie Mott, prevailed by three-quarters of a length against Howlin’ Rain ($13), as Brayden Star ($51) was half a length adrift in third.

Hayes revealed the Lindsay Park stable had bided their time before reapplying blinkers to Plymouth, who had been equipped with winkers previously.

Post his 12th in April’s Group 3 Easter Cup (2000m) at Caulfield, Plymouth took third in a benchmark 1000 race with the same parameters as Saturday.

“We just felt last start at Flemington that he probably hit the front early and peaked on his run.” Hayes said.

“He had been relaxing so well all prep after we had been wanting him to relax, that we had put the blinkers on him.

“Back in trip, the blinkers went on today and it was a ten-out-of-ten ride from Jamie.

“He had been running really well, and it was well-deserved.”

Hayes indicated they aimed to have Plymouth close to the pace to boost his morale from Saturday’s performance.

Prior to the race, the Lindsay Park trainers’ main uncertainty was Plymouth’s suitability for Soft 7 going.

“After today I think we’ll keep him to 2000 (metres) and with the blinkers on, he definitely got the couple of lengths that he needed,” Hayes said.

“He’s lightly exposed on wet tracks, and that was a question mark, the Soft 7. I thought he did a good job handling that, so it’s all very good going into winter.”

Hayes and his brothers will convene to decide on forthcoming targets.

Brisbane in the north is among the possibilities.

“I was thinking about that, but I’ll need to talk to my brothers, or we could stay here and win another one of these types of races,” Hayes said.

“But I know the owners don’t mind a trip.”

Visit leading betting sites to find racing odds for handicaps akin to the Lamaro’s After The Last.

We call them the Nopedy Nopes, and we reveal a new batch each weekend at VikingsTerritory — takes and happenings from the Minnesota Vikings orbit that did work out, are too far-fetched for believability, or were flat-out wrong.

Three rumors. Three verdicts. One more offseason reality check.

This week tackles two false theories and one WR theory that won’t come to fruition.

Noise Patrol Tackles the Latest Vikings Rumor Cycle

It’s the Vikings Nopedy Nopes for May 10th, 2026.

The Nopedy Nope: The Vikings didn’t spend much in free agency, so they will probably be sold by ownership.

Pioneer Press‘ Charley Walter unloaded the idea last weekend, claiming, “It’s beginning to look as if Vikings ownership now could be mirroring Twins ownership, which has sought to sell its team. Figuring they were championship worthy, the Vikings a year ago spent more money on player payroll in the offseason ($350 million) than any of the NFL’s other 31 teams.”

“This offseason, the Vikings have spent just $226 million, second lowest in the league. It appears Vikings owners Mark and Zygi Wilf have decided on a significant payroll slash this year. The Vikings won’t admit it, but this sure looks like a rebuilding year. This is the 21st year the Wilfs have owned the Vikings. Until this year, they have made a commendable attempt at winning the Lombardi Trophy.”

On the pursuit of a Super Bowl in 2026, it is unclear why Walters believes the Vikings have said “no thanks.” Minnesota featured a Top 3 defense last year and signed Kyler Murray two months ago.

Walters continued, “Meanwhile, the Twins’ Pohlad ownership isn’t unlike what Red McCombs did with the Vikings in 2005 before selling to the Wilfs. McCombs, who bought the Vikings for $246 million in 1998, cut player and coaching staff payroll to a bare minimum and waited until he got his price ($600 million) from the Wilfs.”

“If the Wilfs, who curiously still haven’t named a permanent general manager since firing Kwesi Adofo-Mensah last January, were to sell the Vikings today, they could get between $8 billion and $9 billion.”

The Verdict: Teams that spend big in free agency — like the Vikings from 2022 to 2024 — are forced to reset because the money runs out. Suggesting a sale of the team is on the way can be construed as the grandaddy of all “nopey nopes.” Credible Vikings sources have since smacked down the reporting. The franchise is not for sale.

The Nopedy Nope: Stefon Diggs is a WR option for Minnesota.

Days after the 2026 NFL Draft, Bleacher Report’s Joseph Zucker analyzed Diggs’s employment options in 2026, and the Vikings got the nod.

He wrote, “The Kansas City Chiefs are in a much different spot organizationally. They’re aiming to contend despite quarterback Patrick Mahomes recovering from a torn ACL. Like the Raiders, the Chiefs didn’t take a receiver until Day 3. Cincinnati’s Cyrus Allen went in the fifth round, so signing Diggs to a short-term contract makes sense for Kansas City.”

“Would one of Diggs’ old teams consider a reunion? Jordan Addison has yet to make a true breakthrough with the Minnesota Vikings. The team’s depth really falls off once you get past him and Justin Jefferson as well. The Vikings have one quarterback on a one-year contract (Kyler Murray) and another who may be heading into a make-or-break season (J.J. McCarthy). Bringing Diggs back to Minneapolis has some merit.”

Fast forward a week, and Minnesota added Jauan Jennings, not Diggs.

The Verdict: Nopedy nope on Diggs to Minnesota. The choice was Jennings instead.

The Nopedy Nope: The Vikings have one of the league’s worst quarterback rooms entering 2026.

Naming the Vikings’ quarterback situation the NFL’s eight-worst, CBS Sports‘ Garrett Podell wrote, “One would think the Minnesota Vikings’ signing of two-time Pro Bowl quarterback Kyler Murray would keep them off this list, but that’s not the case. Murray earned his Pro Bowl selections in 2020 and 2021. That’s a lifetime ago in NFL years. From 2022 to 2025, Murray missed 30 of his possible 68 games.”

“In the five games Murray played for the Cardinals in 2025, he averaged a career low 227.0 total yards per game. Recent first-round pick J.J. McCarthy was the worst quarterback in the NFL in 2025, which sparked the signing of Murray. McCarthy’s performance was simply incredible considering the offensive ecosystem under 2024 Coach of the Year Kevin O’Connell.”

Murray may not be in the elite tier of NFL quarterbacks, but eighth-worst is pretty bold.

He added, “Despite an electrifying supporting cast, McCarthy ranked dead last in the league in completion percentage (57.6%), touchdown-to-interception ratio (11-12), and passer rating (72.6). Murray could rediscover his early career form with Minnesota.”

The Verdict: Nopedy nope on Murray as the league’s eighth-worst signal-caller. That doesn’t make sense.

Dustin Baker is a novelist and political scientist. His second novel, The Invaders , is out now. So is … More about Dustin Baker

Daniel Dubois secured the WBO heavyweight title with an 11th-round stoppage of Fabio Wardley but is set to lose a large chunk of his winnings

Daniel Dubois is poised to forfeit an estimated sum exceeding £600,000 from his victory over Fabio Wardley on Saturday evening. The heavyweight force secured the WBO title with an 11th-round TKO at Manchester’s Co-Op Live – his third world championship overall, having previously held the WBA (Regular) and IBF straps.

It is understood that Dubois also pocketed around £1.3million for the contest, although ‘Triple D’ won’t receive that complete figure. In the UK, anyone earning above £125,140 per year is subject to the additional tax rate of 45 per cent.

This means that £585,000 of Dubois’ purse will go directly to HMRC. Additionally, the 28-year-old will be liable for two per cent National Insurance, a further £26,000 – theoretically taking his total deductions to an eye-watering £611k.

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Should the fight purse estimates prove correct, the British champion will be left with £689,000 to pocket. However, he will also likely pass on a portion of this to his corner, trainers and gym as is traditional in the sport.

Speaking after his triumph over Wardley – which will be remembered as one of the finest bouts of the year – Dubois said: “It was a war. We come through the sticky moments. It was a war. Thank you, Fabio, for that. Thank you.”

When pressed on what the future holds, with both the WBO’s mandatory challenger Moses Itauma and a potential third clash against unbeaten Ukrainian Oleksandr Usyk looming large, Dubois said: “I want to grow from this fight, improve and come back even better and go on a reign as champion again.”

Meanwhile, promoter Frank Warren was left almost speechless following the action-packed headline bout. He said: “It was amazing. These two guys show such heart – both of them.

“Great heart, chins, it was an amazing fight. It was just absorbing, it had everything. Exciting. Best heavyweight fight I’ve ever put on.”

While a rematch clause is included in the fight contract, Warren revealed little about Dubois’s next move in the ring. A lucrative Usyk trilogy could prove tempting for the fighter, having suffered two defeats to the ‘Cat’ in recent times.

The pair first met for the WBA (Super), IBF, WBO and IBO titles in August 2023, with Usyk finishing his long-time rival in the ninth round. Dubois then embarked on a three-fight winning run against Jarrell Miller, Filip Hrgovic and Anthony Joshua – claiming the IBF title that Usyk had vacated to face Tyson Fury in a rematch.

Yet when the two squared off once more last July at Wembley, the result was much the same. The Briton was floored by a fifth-round knockout at the hands of Usyk, leaving him back at square one in his pursuit of world championship glory.

Although Dubois will be keen to settle the score with the 39-year-old, he faces the prospect of being stripped of his WBO title if he neglects to defend it against Itauma. The 21-year-old has climbed the ranks remarkably quickly, amassing an outstanding record of 14-0 in just three years.

Currently holding both the WBA International and WBO Inter-Continental heavyweight titles, Itauma now finds himself on the cusp of a shot at world championship glory.