Barcelona Close to La Liga Title
Barcelona could secure the La Liga championship on Sunday following a 2-1 victory at Osasuna, with late goals from Robert Lewandowski and Ferran Torres. With four matches remaining, Barça lead the table with 88 points, 14 points ahead of second-placed Real Madrid, who have one game in hand and face Espanyol on Sunday. If Real Madrid fail to win, Barcelona will be confirmed as champions for the second consecutive season.
Barça broke the deadlock in the 81st minute when Marcus Rashford delivered a cross from the right, allowing Lewandowski to head the ball into the net. Five minutes later, Fermín López assisted Torres, who finished low past Osasuna goalkeeper Sergio Herrera. Raúl García scored a consolation goal for Osasuna two minutes later, but it was insufficient to alter the outcome. Osasuna remain 10th in the standings with 42 points.
Villarreal Secure Champions League Spot
Villarreal guaranteed qualification for the Champions League with a commanding 5-1 victory over Levante. Marcelino’s side, currently third, moved 18 points clear of fifth-place Real Betis, who have five games remaining. Georges Mikautadze scored twice in the derby win, with Alberto Moleiro, Tajon Buchanan, and Nicolas Pépé also contributing goals. Carlos Espí scored for Levante, who are 19th and three points from safety, facing relegation concerns with Sevilla and Alavés still to play this weekend.
Atlético Madrid Maintain Fourth Place
Villarreal lead fourth-place Atlético Madrid by five points after Atlético secured a 2-0 win at Valencia. Diego Simeone rotated his entire starting lineup following the Champions League semi-final first leg 1-1 draw against Arsenal. This match marked Simeone’s 1,000th game as a coach, though his focus remains on the upcoming fixture in London. Second-half goals from Iker Luque and Miguel Cubo secured the victory. Valencia, 13th, remain only five points clear of the relegation zone.
Real Madrid Injury Update
Real Madrid captain Dani Carvajal has sustained a foot injury as the right-back approaches the final weeks of his contract, which expires in June. The 34-year-old Spain international could be sidelined for up to two weeks, potentially making him available for the final home game against Athletic Bilbao at the Bernabéu later this month. Real Madrid face Espanyol on Sunday before traveling to Barcelona for the el clásico on 10 May.
PSG Held to Draw by Lorient
Paris Saint-Germain, preparing for the second leg of their Champions League semi-final against Bayern Munich, fielded a second-string lineup and conceded a 2-2 draw to Lorient in Ligue 1. Ibrahim Mbaye scored an early goal to put PSG ahead at the Parc des Princes, but Pablo Pagis equalized for Lorient. Warren Zaïre-Emery restored PSG’s lead shortly after entering as a substitute. However, a defensive error by debutant Pierre Mounguengue allowed Aiyegun Tosin to score Lorient’s second equalizer. PSG failed to find a winner despite being awarded a stoppage-time penalty, which was overturned after video assistant referee intervention.
Lens Draw with Nice
Lens, PSG’s title rivals, drew 1-1 at Nice, missing an opportunity to reduce PSG’s lead to four points. The gap remains six points with three rounds remaining. Allan Saint-Maximin scored for Nice in the 61st minute, finishing a composed move following a pass from Adrien Thomasson. After Lens defender Saud Abdulhamid was sent off in the 81st minute, Nice equalized through Ali Abdi, who converted a deflected free kick from Sofiane Diop.
Bayern Munich Draw with Heidenheim
Bayern Munich, already confirmed as Bundesliga champions, drew 3-3 with bottom-placed Heidenheim after a late goal by Michael Olise. Heidenheim took a two-goal lead through Budu Zivzivadze and Eren Dinkci, exploiting space against Bayern’s second-choice goalkeeper Jonas Urbig. Leon Goretzka scored twice to level the match, but Zivzivadze restored Heidenheim’s lead. Olise’s long-range effort in the 10th minute of stoppage time deflected off Heidenheim keeper Diant Ramaj to secure a point for Bayern.
Schalke Promoted to Bundesliga
Schalke secured promotion back to the Bundesliga with a 1-0 home win over Fortuna Düsseldorf. Kenan Karaman’s 15th-minute goal was decisive, marking Schalke’s return to the top flight after spending four of the last five seasons in the second division.
Napoli Held by Como; Inter Close to Serie A Title
In Italy, Napoli were held to a 0-0 draw at Como, a result that leaves Inter Milan needing just one point to secure the Serie A title. Inter lead Napoli by nine points with three matches remaining. A draw at home against Parma on Sunday would clinch the Scudetto for Inter. Como improved their chances of qualifying for European competition for the first time.
Cesc Fàbregas’s side are fifth with 62 points, two behind Juventus, who host relegated Verona on Sunday. With the top six guaranteed European football, Fàbregas’s team hold an eight-point advantage over seventh-place Atalanta.
Como appeared more likely to win, with Napoli goalkeeper Vanja Milinkovic-Savic making several key saves. Matteo Politano hit the post late in the match for Napoli.
