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Arsenal, Tottenham to Play Pre-season North London Derby in Hong Kong

This photo shows a general view from inside the Kai Tak Sports stadium, a multi-purpose sports venue at the site of the former Kai Tak Airport in Kowloon, on the first day of the 2025 Rugby Sevens Hong Kong tournament on March 28, 2025. (Photo by Peter PARKS / AFP)
This photo shows a general view from inside the Kai Tak Sports stadium, a multi-purpose sports venue at the site of the former Kai Tak Airport in Kowloon, on the first day of the 2025 Rugby Sevens Hong Kong tournament on March 28, 2025. (Photo by Peter PARKS / AFP)
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Arsenal, Tottenham to Play Pre-season North London Derby in Hong Kong

This photo shows a general view from inside the Kai Tak Sports stadium, a multi-purpose sports venue at the site of the former Kai Tak Airport in Kowloon, on the first day of the 2025 Rugby Sevens Hong Kong tournament on March 28, 2025. (Photo by Peter PARKS / AFP)
This photo shows a general view from inside the Kai Tak Sports stadium, a multi-purpose sports venue at the site of the former Kai Tak Airport in Kowloon, on the first day of the 2025 Rugby Sevens Hong Kong tournament on March 28, 2025. (Photo by Peter PARKS / AFP)

Arsenal will play Tottenham in a pre-season friendly in Hong Kong, the first North London derby to be held outside the United Kingdom, the clubs said Monday, while Liverpool will meet AC Milan.

The London rivals will play at the southern Chinese city's new 50,000-capacity Kai Tak Stadium on July 31.

"Playing against Tottenham Hotspur in the magnificent new Kai Tak Stadium will be a great experience for both teams and supporters, and will be a very important part of our pre-season preparations ahead of the new season," AFP quoted Arsenal's managing director Richard Garlick as saying.

Liverpool will play Serie A giants Milan on July 26 at the same stadium.

It will be a replay of the classic 2005 Champions League final, which the Reds won on penalties after being 3-0 down at half-time.

Arne Slot's Liverpool are likely to head to Hong Kong as Premier League champions -- they are currently 12 points clear with nine games left.

Liverpool will also travel to Japan for the first time during pre-season, the club said, without giving dates.

Hong Kong this month officially opened a major $3.85 billion sports park with futuristic Kai Tak Stadium the centerpiece of it.

The stadium saw its first major event at the weekend when it hosted the Hong Kong Rugby Sevens with more than 110,000 spectators attending over three days.

It is all part of efforts to restore the city's image, which took a battering after political protests and a Beijing-imposed national security law.

Visitor numbers to Hong Kong also plummeted during almost three years of strict Covid curbs and have only recently begun to recover.

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Arteta Urges Arsenal to Pile Pressure on Man City in Title Race

Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta gives thumbs up during the UEFA Champions League quarter-final first leg soccer match between Sporting CP and Arsenal FC at Jose Alvalade Stadium in Lisbon, Portugal, 07 April 2026. (EPA)
Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta gives thumbs up during the UEFA Champions League quarter-final first leg soccer match between Sporting CP and Arsenal FC at Jose Alvalade Stadium in Lisbon, Portugal, 07 April 2026. (EPA)
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Arteta Urges Arsenal to Pile Pressure on Man City in Title Race

Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta gives thumbs up during the UEFA Champions League quarter-final first leg soccer match between Sporting CP and Arsenal FC at Jose Alvalade Stadium in Lisbon, Portugal, 07 April 2026. (EPA)
Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta gives thumbs up during the UEFA Champions League quarter-final first leg soccer match between Sporting CP and Arsenal FC at Jose Alvalade Stadium in Lisbon, Portugal, 07 April 2026. (EPA)

Mikel Arteta challenged Arsenal to pile pressure on Manchester City by extending their lead at the top of the Premier League before their title rivals play 24 hours later.

Arteta's side host Bournemouth on Saturday and second-placed City travel to Chelsea on Sunday as the title race approaches a pivotal moment.

The Gunners are nine points ahead of City, having played a game more than Pep Guardiola's team.

That lead would increase to 12 points if Arsenal defeat Bournemouth, putting City under intense pressure to take maximum points from their tricky trip to Stamford Bridge.

Asked how important it would be to move further ahead of City, Arteta told reporters on Friday: "The closer we get, the relevance and importance of the match increases, obviously, and tomorrow is a big day for us.

"The players know it, our supporters know it, it's early kick-off, so get up early, have an early breakfast, bring your lunch, bring your dinner, as you say in England, and let's go all together for it because it has to be a big day."

After losing to City in the League Cup final and to second tier Southampton in the FA Cup quarter-finals, Arsenal bounced back with a hard-fought 1-0 win at Sporting Lisbon in the Champions League quarter-final first-leg on Tuesday.

The Gunners are chasing a first English title in 22 years, as well as their maiden Champions League crown.

And Arteta is convinced that they can finish the season with both trophies, which would finally end their six-year silverware drought since lifting the FA Cup.

"First of all, the capacity we have as a club and as a team, the will to win," Arteta said to explain his belief.

"We recognize the opportunity ahead and we are going to do our best to achieve it."

Arteta's Arsenal contract expires in 2027 and the Spaniard remains fully committed to the club after reports of talks over a new deal.

"There's no news on that. We have no time to discuss that now. The full focus is on what we have to do from here until the end of the season," he said.

"I am fully committed and really happy and I feel good. My family is good and I still have so much ambition to do with this football club, and for now we are in a good place.

"This job is about the present and what you do on the day. Give your very best and feel that you are the person that can lead and inspire the group to achieve great things for the club."

Sports

Barca Face Espanyol Derby Dilemma Ahead of Atletico Return

Barcelona's head coach Hansi Flick gestures during the UEFA Champions League quarter-final first leg match between FC Barcelona and Atletico Madrid, in Barcelona, Spain, 08 April 2026. (EPA)
Barcelona's head coach Hansi Flick gestures during the UEFA Champions League quarter-final first leg match between FC Barcelona and Atletico Madrid, in Barcelona, Spain, 08 April 2026. (EPA)
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Barca Face Espanyol Derby Dilemma Ahead of Atletico Return

Barcelona's head coach Hansi Flick gestures during the UEFA Champions League quarter-final first leg match between FC Barcelona and Atletico Madrid, in Barcelona, Spain, 08 April 2026. (EPA)
Barcelona's head coach Hansi Flick gestures during the UEFA Champions League quarter-final first leg match between FC Barcelona and Atletico Madrid, in Barcelona, Spain, 08 April 2026. (EPA)

In the wake of Barcelona's Champions League quarter-final first leg defeat by Atletico Madrid, coach Hansi Flick faces a dilemma for Saturday's La Liga derby clash against Espanyol.

With the champions seven points clear of second-placed Real Madrid at the top of the table, Flick may be tempted to rotate heavily ahead of Tuesday's crucial second leg visit to face Atletico, trailing 2-0.

Alvaro Arbeloa's Madrid host Girona on Friday and could cut the gap down to four points with a victory, which would make Flick's choice harder.

Los Blancos are also in a tough spot following their 2-1 defeat by Bayern Munich in the Champions League, but have a bigger gap between the Girona game and the second leg in Bavaria next Wednesday.

"We have also a derby in three days on Saturday, our next match, it's also important for us to win," said Flick.

"We will see, we will analyze everything, what kind of options we have."

The worst case scenario would be suffering a first league defeat at Camp Nou since its reopening before being eliminated from the Champions League anyway in the Spanish capital.

With the league Clasico against Real Madrid on May 10 appearing on the horizon, Flick is keen to maintain Barca's lead, but the Champions League may take precedence.

Several players who have been reserves for much of the season like Ronald Araujo, Marc Casado and Roony Bardghji could come into the side to take on an Espanyol team in free-fall.

After a strong start to the season Manolo Gonzalez's team have failed to win in 2026, which began with a 2-0 home defeat by Barca that set off their slump.

Midfielder Pedri Gonzalez is fundamental for Barca but came off at half-time in the defeat by Atletico, with a minor physical issue.

"Pedri had some problems. No big problems but in this situation we need him (going forwards) -- so we made the decision to take him off the pitch," said Flick.

Flick will hope to have midfielder Frenkie de Jong available for the second leg at Atletico and the Dutchman returned to training this week after a hamstring injury.

The Dutchman has a chance of being included in the squad to face Espanyol, while Barca can also find encouragement in Gavi's performance against Atletico as a substitute.

It could buy the 21-year-old more game time at the weekend as he continues to find fitness following a long injury lay-off. "Gavi had a fantastic game," said Flick.

Atletico Madrid visit Sevilla on Saturday and Diego Simeone is certain to rest several key players.

The Argentine coach has been focused on the cup competitions in recent weeks with his team fourth in La Liga and unlikely to slip with Real Betis 12 points behind in fifth.

Player to watch: Vedat Muriqi

Mallorca's Kosovan target man Muriqi scored a vital goal last week to help the team beat Real Madrid and boost their chances of avoiding relegation.

The forward has 19 goals this season, trailing only La Liga's top goalscorer Kylian Mbappe and will look to add to his tally against Rayo Vallecano on Sunday in another important game.

Sports

Bayern Eyeing Bundesliga Scoring Record at St Pauli

Bayern players greet fans after the Champions League quarterfinal first leg match between Real Madrid and Bayern Munich in Madrid, Spain, Tuesday, April 7, 2026. (AP)
Bayern players greet fans after the Champions League quarterfinal first leg match between Real Madrid and Bayern Munich in Madrid, Spain, Tuesday, April 7, 2026. (AP)
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Bayern Eyeing Bundesliga Scoring Record at St Pauli

Bayern players greet fans after the Champions League quarterfinal first leg match between Real Madrid and Bayern Munich in Madrid, Spain, Tuesday, April 7, 2026. (AP)
Bayern players greet fans after the Champions League quarterfinal first leg match between Real Madrid and Bayern Munich in Madrid, Spain, Tuesday, April 7, 2026. (AP)

Bayern Munich need just two goals at St Pauli on Saturday to break the 54-year goalscoring record for a Bundesliga season.

Vincent Kompany's runaway league leaders have already scored 100 Bundesliga goals this season -- just one goal short of the best mark in German top-flight history -- with six matches of the 34-game campaign still to play.

The previous record was set in 1971-72 by a barnstorming Bayern side featuring club legends Franz Beckenbauer, Gerd Mueller and Uli Hoeness.

That Bayern have already brought up their Bundesliga century shows their dominance this term.

At their current rate, Bayern are on track for 121 goals, which would be a better mark than the record in either the Premier League or La Liga, which both have 38-game seasons.

Even the all-time mark in a top-five European league of 125, set by Torino in a 40-game Serie A season in 1947-48, would be within reach.

If Bayern may have to achieve the feat without Harry Kane, who is chasing a league record of his own.

With 31 goals in 26 Bundesliga appearances, Kane is 10 short of the all-time record of 41 set by Robert Lewandowski in 2020-21.

Kane missed England's March internationals with an ankle injury but returned to score what proved to be the winner in Bayern's 2-1 Champions League win at Real Madrid on Tuesday.

However, the England captain did not look 100 percent and could be rested against St Pauli with Wednesday's quarter-final second leg in mind.

One player almost certain to start is Michael Olise, who is also on track for a record-breaking season.

Olise, who assisted Kane's goal against Real, has laid on 18 Bundesliga goals so far this campaign, three short of the all-time record set by Thomas Mueller in 2019-20.

One to watch: Angelo Stiller (Stuttgart)

Stuttgart midfield lynchpin Angelo Stiller's form not only earned him a return to the Germany national side last month, it has won him admirers from across the sporting spectrum.

Teenage darts sensation and Manchester United fan Luke Littler called Stiller his favorite German player in an interview at the Premier League Darts event in Berlin last month.

Speaking to DAZN, Littler singled out Stiller, saying "come to United -- we need help".

Stiller's return to form has coincided with an excellent run for Stuttgart, who have lost just two of their past 15 games to close in on a return to the Champions League.

"That's great, he's also my favorite darts player," Stiller said of Littler in an interview with the Bundesliga website on Friday.

Stiller said he was both honored and a tad annoyed by Littler's attempt to lure him to Old Trafford.

"It's part of the business that rumors arise and things are said. You should not deal with it so much and just do your own thing."