1. MAN CITY THREE POINTS BEHIND ARSENAL — BURNLEY ON WEDNESDAY IS NOW A MUST-WIN
Haaland's 65th-minute goal gave Manchester City a 2-1 win over Arsenal at the Etihad on Sunday, cutting the gap at the top to three points. City have a game in hand at Burnley on Wednesday. If they win that, both teams will be level on points. Arsenal remain top on 70 points, City on 67. Guardiola said after the game: "The reality is just one thing — they are top of the league. One ahead on goal difference. We have to enjoy it, celebrate it, take the good things. But don't lose the focus. In three days we go to Burnley." Arteta said: "We lost an opportunity today, a big one. But there is still another five to go. It's still in our hands, and it's there for the taking." Arsenal face Newcastle at home on Saturday, then Fulham, West Ham, Burnley and Crystal Palace. City face Burnley, then Everton, Brentford, Bournemouth and Aston Villa on the final day. Both sides have dropped points against lower-half teams this season — this title goes to the wire.
2. REAL SOCIEDAD WIN COPA DEL REY — ATLETICO HEARTBREAK FOR GRIEZMANN
Real Sociedad beat Atletico Madrid 4-3 on penalties after a breathless 2-2 draw at La Cartuja in Seville on Saturday evening. Ander Barrenetxea headed in after just 14 seconds — the fastest goal in Copa del Rey final history — from a Goncalo Guedes cross. Ademola Lookman equalised for Atletico in the 19th minute. Mikel Oyarzabal's penalty on the stroke of half-time put Sociedad back in front. Julian Alvarez struck a stunning equaliser in the 83rd minute to force extra time. In the shootout, backup goalkeeper Unai Marrero saved Sorloth and Alvarez's penalties before former ballboy Pablo Marin converted the winner. American coach Pellegrino Matarazzo, who took over when Sociedad were two points above relegation in December, becomes the first US-born manager to win a major trophy in one of Europe's top five leagues. For Griezmann, who is leaving for Orlando City this summer, the Copa del Rey dream is gone. Atletico now focus entirely on their UCL semi-final against Arsenal on April 28.
3. SALAH SCORES IN HIS FINAL MERSEYSIDE DERBY — VAN DIJK WINNER IN THE 100TH MINUTE
Mohamed Salah scored in his final Merseyside derby as Liverpool beat Everton 2-1 in a dramatic Sunday finish. Cody Gakpo's defence-splitting pass found Salah, who slotted home in the 30th minute to open the scoring at the new Hill Dickinson Stadium. Beto equalised for Everton in the second half. Then, with 11 minutes added on for injuries including Mamardashvili and Branthwaite going off, Virgil van Dijk headed in from Szoboszlai's corner in the 100th minute to seal the points. Salah's goal was his ninth in the Merseyside derby, level with Steven Gerrard as Liverpool's joint-top scorer in this fixture in the Premier League era. After collecting the man of the match award, Salah said: "I wish I just keep scoring and help the team to achieve Champions League this season. Hopefully I say farewell in the right way." Van Dijk said: "There will be a lot of words coming out of my mouth in the next couple of weeks about him." Liverpool sit fifth with 55 points, seven ahead of Chelsea and Brentford in the fight for a top-five finish.
4. CITY'S TITLE CHARGE — WHO HAS THE HARDER RUN-IN?
The numbers tell the story. Arsenal have five games left: Newcastle (H), Fulham (H), West Ham (A), Burnley (A), Crystal Palace (A). Manchester City have five: Burnley (A, Wednesday), then Everton (A), Brentford (H), Bournemouth (A) and Aston Villa (H) on the final day. City are out of the Champions League and have had no midweek European commitments for weeks. Arsenal are still in the UCL semi-finals, with the first leg against Atletico on April 28. City's unbeaten run in the league now stretches to 10 games. Arsenal have lost four of their last eight in all competitions. Gary Neville said on Sky Sports: "City can smell the title. I'm not quite sure where they drop points." Guardiola's side have lost just once in their last 43 league games in the final 10 weeks of a season. Arsenal's biggest advantage is they face Burnley at Turf Moor — a result City still need to win on Wednesday.
5. ATLETICO OUT OF THE COPA — FOCUS SHIFTS TO ARSENAL UCL SEMI-FINAL
Diego Simeone's side suffered their third defeat in four games on Saturday night, this time in the Copa del Rey final. Goalkeeper Juan Musso made errors throughout and Sorloth and Alvarez both missed their penalties in the shootout. Atletico now go into the Champions League semi-final against Arsenal on April 28 without a trophy and with some defensive confidence issues. Le Normand and Ruggeri were exposed by Barrenetxea's early goal. However, Simeone has Pablo Barrios and Johnny Cardoso returning from injury, which will significantly strengthen their midfield for the Arsenal tie. Griezmann remains committed to the cause. Koke said after the loss: "It is a difficult night. Thanks to all our fans who traveled with us." Arsenal will now prepare knowing Atletico are bruised — but also that Simeone's teams almost always respond in Europe after domestic setbacks.
