1. COPA DEL REY FINAL TODAY — ATLETICO VS REAL SOCIEDAD, GRIEZMANN'S FAREWELL STAGE
The 2026 Copa del Rey final takes place this evening at Estadio La Cartuja in Seville. Atletico Madrid face Real Sociedad at 22:00 CEST. For Atletico it is a farewell stage — Antoine Griezmann, the club's all-time top scorer, is leaving for MLS side Orlando City this summer and has spoken openly about wanting to lift the trophy on his way out. Simeone said after the UCL win over Barcelona: "Thank you, thank you. I'm completely grateful for the way they play, for their drive, for their heart. And now rest, because on Saturday we have a very important match." Atletico last won the Copa del Rey in 2013 — also under Simeone. Real Sociedad beat Athletic Bilbao in the semis and are hunting their second Copa title, the first won under American coach Pellegrino Matarazzo since he arrived in December. Atletico enter having won just once in their last six matches, but that win came against Barcelona in the UCL quarter-final to reach the semi-finals.
2. MAN CITY VS ARSENAL TOMORROW — THE TITLE DECIDER
The biggest game in the Premier League season so far. Arsenal lead Manchester City by six points with City having a game in hand. A City win tomorrow at the Etihad would cut the gap to three points — level if they then win that game in hand. Guardiola called it "a final" after the Chelsea win last weekend. City are fully rested having been out of Europe for weeks. Arsenal arrive on the back of three defeats in four, a goalless draw with Sporting, and a growing injury crisis. Arteta told the press on Friday: "Some players are quite close. We will try tomorrow to push everybody." Arsenal have never won the Premier League under Arteta. City are gunning for their seventh title under Guardiola. Kick-off is 16:30 BST on Sunday. If Arsenal win, the title is effectively theirs. If City win, they are right back in it.
3. BUKAYO SAKA OUT — ARSENAL'S INJURY CRISIS BEFORE THE ETIHAD
Arteta confirmed on Friday that Bukayo Saka is definitely unavailable for tomorrow's trip to Manchester City. The England winger has not played since the Carabao Cup final on March 22 — an Achilles problem that is now entering its fourth week. Noni Madueke, who picked up a knee injury in the 63rd minute against Sporting on Wednesday, is a major doubt after a fitness test on Friday. Odegaard, Timber and Calafiori are all still uncertain and will be tested at Saturday's final training session. Arteta said of Madueke: "It didn't look that bad after the game. I'm hoping he could be available." Mikel Merino remains out for the season. Arsenal could face City without Saka, Odegaard, Madueke, Timber and Calafiori simultaneously — five of their best players missing at once. Declan Rice confirmed he is 100% fit after recent illness, which is a significant boost.
4. ATLETICO'S GRIEZMANN ERA ENDS — THE FAREWELL TOUR
Antoine Griezmann has confirmed he is leaving Atletico Madrid for Orlando City in the MLS this summer. The 35-year-old has signed a two-year designated player deal with the Florida club, wearing the No. 7 shirt and joining a league that already features Messi, Son Heung-min and Thomas Muller. Griezmann has 14 goals and four assists in the 2025-26 season and is Atletico's all-time top scorer across all his spells at the club. He was crucial in their UCL quarter-final win over Barcelona and now plays in the Copa del Rey final hoping for one final trophy. He said: "Playing in the Copa final is my dream, my objective, and I hope we can do something big." His contract with Atletico runs until the end of the 2025-26 season, after which he joins Orlando officially in July when the MLS secondary transfer window opens.
5. REAL MADRID SEARCHING FOR NEW COACH — ARBELOA ERA OVER
Following their Champions League exit to Bayern Munich on Wednesday, Real Madrid are actively searching for a permanent head coach. Alvaro Arbeloa, promoted from the reserve team in January after Xabi Alonso was sacked, oversaw just one win in their final four matches — no La Liga title, no Copa del Rey, no UCL. Spanish media report that Madrid are exploring several names with the club expected to make an appointment before the summer transfer window opens. They are still in La Liga but nine points behind Barcelona with seven games remaining. The priority now shifts entirely to the summer rebuild. Kylian Mbappe leads the UCL scoring charts with 16 goals this season but his integration at Madrid has remained a source of debate throughout what has been a deeply disappointing campaign.
