Lewandowski Strikes Twice for Champion Barcelona but Can’t Catch Mbappé for Scoring Title 

Football - LaLiga - Athletic Bilbao v FC Barcelona - San Mames, Bilbao, Spain - May 25, 2025 FC Barcelona's Robert Lewandowski scores their first goal. (Reuters)
Football - LaLiga - Athletic Bilbao v FC Barcelona - San Mames, Bilbao, Spain - May 25, 2025 FC Barcelona's Robert Lewandowski scores their first goal. (Reuters)
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Lewandowski Strikes Twice for Champion Barcelona but Can’t Catch Mbappé for Scoring Title 

Football - LaLiga - Athletic Bilbao v FC Barcelona - San Mames, Bilbao, Spain - May 25, 2025 FC Barcelona's Robert Lewandowski scores their first goal. (Reuters)
Football - LaLiga - Athletic Bilbao v FC Barcelona - San Mames, Bilbao, Spain - May 25, 2025 FC Barcelona's Robert Lewandowski scores their first goal. (Reuters)

Barcelona capped its title-winning campaign with a 3-0 victory at Athletic Bilbao on Sunday, with Robert Lewandowski scoring twice, but falling short of catching Kylian Mbappé as the Spanish league's top scorer for the season.

Lewandowski found the net in the 14th and 17th minutes in Bilbao to finish the league season with 27 goals, four fewer than Mbappé, who scored twice in Madrid's 2-0 win against Real Sociedad on Saturday.

Lewandowski, who was out injured in some recent matches, hadn't scored since April 9 in a Champions League match against Borussia Dortmund. His last league goal was in March against Girona.

Lewandowski had led the scoring race during most of the season, but Mbappé finished with a red-hot run that included 10 goals in his last six matches.

Barcelona finished with a goal-difference of plus 63 after scoring 102 times and conceding 39. It won 28 matches, drew four and lost six.

It ended with 88 points, four points more than second-placed Madrid and 12 points more than third-placed Atletico Madrid.

Athletic had already secured a fourth-placed finish to secure a Champions League spot for the first time in a decade.

‘Under control’

The 36-year-old Lewandowski reached 101 goals in total across all competitions in his three seasons with Barcelona. He had 42 this year after scoring 26 last season and 33 in his debut campaign.

“We had it under control,” Lewandowski said. “This season was almost perfect. We have to enjoy this moment.”

Barcelona coach Hansi Flick praised his team.

“We wanted to finish like we started it, like we performed during the season, and they did a great job,” Flick said.

Levante promoted

Carlos Álvarez scored seven minutes into stoppage time as Levante won 3-2 at Burgos to seal its promotion to the first division three years after being relegated.

Levante rallied for the victory after trailing 2-1 up to the 85th minute. It secured one of the top two spots in the second tier to automatically advance to the first division.

Relegation and European places

Saturday's matches decided the final European places and the last relegated team. Leganes was demoted after Las Palmas and Valladolid had already been relegated in advance. Celta Vigo grabbed the final Europa League spot and Rayo Vallecano earned the Conference League place.

Barcelona, Madrid, Atletico, Athletic and Villarreal will play in the Champions League next season. Real Betis got the other Europa League spot.

Atletico finished the season with a 4-0 win at Girona with a hat trick by striker Alexander Sorloth. He had scored four goals in a 4-0 win over Real Sociedad earlier this month.

Sorloth, often used as a substitute by Atletico coach Diego Simeone, ended with 20 goals, fourth in the league's scoring list. Ante Budimir of Osasuna was third with 21 goals, six fewer than Lewandowski and 10 fewer than Mbappé.

Fifth-placed Villarreal beat 17th-placed Sevilla 4-2 with a pair of goals by Pape Gueye.



Salah and Mbeumo Lead the List of Premier League Players Heading to the AFCON

Football - Premier League - Brighton & Hove Albion v Liverpool - The American Express Community Stadium, Brighton, Britain - May 19, 2025 Liverpool's Mohamed Salah looks dejected after the match. (Action Images via Reuters)
Football - Premier League - Brighton & Hove Albion v Liverpool - The American Express Community Stadium, Brighton, Britain - May 19, 2025 Liverpool's Mohamed Salah looks dejected after the match. (Action Images via Reuters)
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Salah and Mbeumo Lead the List of Premier League Players Heading to the AFCON

Football - Premier League - Brighton & Hove Albion v Liverpool - The American Express Community Stadium, Brighton, Britain - May 19, 2025 Liverpool's Mohamed Salah looks dejected after the match. (Action Images via Reuters)
Football - Premier League - Brighton & Hove Albion v Liverpool - The American Express Community Stadium, Brighton, Britain - May 19, 2025 Liverpool's Mohamed Salah looks dejected after the match. (Action Images via Reuters)

Mohamed Salah has gone for up to a month, costing Liverpool its all-time leading goal-scorer in the Premier League.

Manchester United has lost its most potent attacking force in Bryan Mbeumo, along with two more key figures.

They're nothing compared to Sunderland, a promoted team punching above its weight in England's top flight. It has been decimated by the loss of six players.

The Africa Cup of Nations is taking a toll on the Premier League, with some of its biggest stars heading off to the tournament situated right in the middle of the season, according to The AP news.

It is unfortunate that AFCON can be cast as a nuisance for many clubs in Europe — though international soccer in general can be viewed like that when pitted against club ambitions of winning titles. But at least the World Cup, European Championship or Copa America are staged during the offseason of Europe's top leagues.

AFCON is traditionally held in January-February but has been brought forward this year — from Sunday to Jan. 18 — meaning less disruption for leagues in Spain, Germany and France, which have winter breaks of varying periods in December-January.

The Premier League, however, plays through the Christmas and New Year holidays, with the added strain of the FA Cup thrown into one of the busiest periods of the campaign.

The likes of Liverpool and United should have deep enough squads to cope with the loss of key players such as Salah and Mbeumo. But it could have a major impact on Sunderland, which is just two points off the top four after an outstanding start to the season.

Arthur Masuaku, Noah Sadiki, Bertrand Traore, Habib Diarra, Chemsdine Talbi and Reinildo Mandava are all taking part in the Africa Cup in Morocco.

Sunderland is an outlier with so many going to the tournament but for Crystal Palace the loss of just one player — Ismaila Sarr — is potentially significant, given his importance to the team. Likewise, Brighton is losing key midfielder Carlos Baleba.

Burnley, second to bottom in the standings, is losing three players and so is Fulham.

Notably, at the top of the table, Arsenal has no players in the AFCON, likewise title-challenging Aston Villa and Chelsea, which could be telling over the next month.

Premier League players going to AFCON Brentford: Dango Ouattara (Burkina Faso), Frank Onyeka (Nigeria)

Brighton: Carlos Baleba (Cameroon)

Burnley: Axel Tuanzebe (DR Congo), Hannibal Mejbri (Tunisia), Lyle Foster (South Africa)

Crystal Palace: Ismaila Sarr (Senegal)

Everton: Idrissa Gana Gueye (Senegal), Iliman Ndiaye (Senegal)

Fulham: Calvin Bassey (Nigeria), Samuel Chukwueze (Nigeria), Alex Iwobi (Nigeria)

Liverpool: Mohamed Salah (Egypt)

Manchester City: Rayan Ait-Nouri (Algeria), Omar Marmoush (Egypt)

Manchester United: Bryan Mbeumo (Cameroon), Amad Diallo (Ivory Coast), Noussair Mazraoui (Morocco)

Nottingham Forest: Willy Boly (Ivory Coast), Ibrahim Sangare (Ivory Coast)

Sunderland: Arthur Masuaku (DR Congo), Noah Sadiki (DR Congo), Bertrand Traore (Burkina Faso), Habib Diarra (Senegal), Chemsdine Talbi (Morocco), Reinildo Mandava (Mozambique)

Tottenham Hotspur: Yves Bissouma (Mali), Pape Matar Sarr (Senegal)

West Ham United: Aaron Wan-Bissaka (DR Congo), El Hadji Malik Diouf (Senegal)

Wolverhampton Wanderers: Emmanuel Agbadou (Ivory Coast), Tawanda Chirewa (Zimbabwe)

Key matchups On Saturday, first-place Arsenal travels to Everton, while City in second is at home against West Ham. Liverpool will look to win back-to-back league games for the first time since September when the defending champion heads to Tottenham.

Aston Villa and United meet on Sunday.

Players to watch Hugo Ekitike has scored four goals in his last two league games. With Salah off to the AFCON, Liverpool's other forwards can establish themselves without the noise that has surrounded the Anfield icon in recent weeks when his future has been placed in doubt.

Out of action United States international Tyler Adams suffered suspected left knee MCL damage in Bournemouth's 4-4 draw with United on Monday. Chelsea forward Estevao has a small muscle issue, coach Enzo Maresca said. Everton was monitoring a potential hamstring complaint for Jack Grealish.

Off the field Expect more protests at last-place Wolves.

Bottom of the standings and looking certain to be relegated, Wolves will equal Sheffield United's 2020-21 record of 17 games without a win from the start of a Premier League season if they fail to beat Brentford at home on Saturday.

There were protests at Wolves' last home match against Manchester United this month and, despite a spirited performance at Arsenal last week, Rob Edwards' team is 14 points adrift of safety.


Global Equestrian Stars Converge in Riyadh for the Final Week of Jump Saudi 2025

Jump Saudi has evolved into a premier global fixture, attracting participants from over 30 countries to date - SPA
Jump Saudi has evolved into a premier global fixture, attracting participants from over 30 countries to date - SPA
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Global Equestrian Stars Converge in Riyadh for the Final Week of Jump Saudi 2025

Jump Saudi has evolved into a premier global fixture, attracting participants from over 30 countries to date - SPA
Jump Saudi has evolved into a premier global fixture, attracting participants from over 30 countries to date - SPA

The fifth edition of the Jump Saudi championship reaches its peak on Thursday as the second and final week of competition begins at the Jump Saudi Arena in Al Janadryah.

Spanning three days, the event features elite male and female riders competing in both two-star and five-star categories, marking a significant moment in the Kingdom's equestrian calendar, according to SPA.

Since its inaugural edition in 2021, Jump Saudi has evolved into a premier global fixture, attracting participants from over 30 countries to date. Notably, 10 nations have maintained an unbroken presence across every edition of the championship.

This list is led by Saudi Arabia, followed by regional peers the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, and Egypt, as well as a strong European contingent including Germany, Belgium, France, Italy, Britain, and the Netherlands.

Organized by the Saudi Arabian Equestrian Federation, the championship has earned a prestigious high-level classification from the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI). This status is a testament to the event's excellence in meeting stringent international standards for organizational quality, world-class infrastructure, elite officiating, and substantial prize money.

Because of this elite designation, the FEI officially recognizes all results from the championship, with points earned contributing directly to the riders' official world rankings. This has solidified Riyadh's reputation as a critical annual destination for top-ranked international athletes seeking to advance on the global leaderboard.


Jeddah Hosts Next Gen ATP Finals

 Next Gen ATP Finals presented by the Public Investment Fund kicked off at the indoor arena of King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah - SPA
Next Gen ATP Finals presented by the Public Investment Fund kicked off at the indoor arena of King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah - SPA
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Jeddah Hosts Next Gen ATP Finals

 Next Gen ATP Finals presented by the Public Investment Fund kicked off at the indoor arena of King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah - SPA
Next Gen ATP Finals presented by the Public Investment Fund kicked off at the indoor arena of King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah - SPA

The Next Gen ATP Finals presented by the Public Investment Fund kicked off at the indoor arena of King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah.

The tournament is organized by the Saudi Tennis Federation under the supervision of the Ministry of Sport, according to SPA.

American Nishesh Basavareddy opened Red Group play with a valuable win over Croatia’s Dino Prizmic, taking three sets to one. Belgian Alexander Blockx defeated Germany’s Justin Engel by three sets to one.

Blue Group matches saw strong competition, as seventh-seeded Spain’s Rafael Jodar defeated top-seeded American Learner Tien, three sets to two. Norway’s Nicolai Budkov Kjaer beat Spain’s Martin Landaluce by three sets to one.