FC Barcelona is set to defend its lead at the top of the La Liga standings this weekend, with both they and second-placed Real Madrid facing challenging opponents on home turf. Barcelona currently holds 70 points from 31 matches, while Real Madrid trails with 66 points.

Barcelona will host Celta Vigo on Saturday night, after successfully advancing to the Champions League semifinals, despite a 3-1 loss to Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday night.

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In that match, the Catalan giants appeared fatigued, and coach Hansi Flick may need to consider giving Lamine Yamal a break, as the young talent has played extensively. Inigo Martinez is expected to be well-rested after not featuring on Tuesday, while Gerard Martin will continue in left back due to Alejandro Balde’s injury.

Real Madrid aims to keep their domestic ambitions alive when they face Athletic Club Bilbao at home on Sunday night, following their Champions League elimination (5-1 on aggregate) against Arsenal on Wednesday. Madrid struggled in both matches, leading to speculation in the Spanish press that Carlo Ancelotti could be dismissed at the season’s end. Kylian Mbappe will miss the match due to suspension, but midfielder Dani Ceballos is back after an extended absence.

Athletic, currently in fourth place, travels to Madrid after competing in a Europa League match against Rangers on Thursday.

Fifth-placed Villarreal boosted their Champions League aspirations with a 2-1 victory over Betis last weekend and can take another step toward that goal at home against an inconsistent Real Sociedad.

Betis will visit Girona on Monday night, with the latter seeking to snap a nine-game winless streak that has brought them perilously close to the relegation zone.

Espanyol faces Getafe at home on Saturday, and a victory would likely secure their top-flight survival after recent wins against Rayo Vallecano and Celta Vigo.

Rayo’s coach Inigo Perez has signed a contract extension until 2026, with his team set to play at home against a confident Valencia.

Valencia’s recent win over Sevilla has brought them closer to safety, and under Carlos Corberan, their form suggests they could challenge for a top-four finish if maintained over a full campaign.

Sevilla, having dismissed Xavier Garcia Pimienta following last week’s loss to Valencia, has brought back veteran Joaquin Caparros for a fourth term in charge, starting with a home match against Alaves. Alaves currently sits fourth from bottom but may find themselves in the relegation zone depending on Leganes’ performance against Mallorca, who are vying for European qualification.

Las Palmas could climb out of the relegation zone after their surprising win against Getafe last week, which likely saved coach Diego Martinez’s job. However, they face a tough challenge on Saturday when they host third-placed Atletico Madrid.

Atletico eased past Valladolid on Monday with standout performances from Julian Alvarez, Giuliano Simeone, and Alexander Sorloth, demonstrating a potent offensive threat.

Kyren Wilson is poised to kick off his title defense at the 2025 World Snooker Championships with a first-round match against China’s Lei Pengfei, following the tournament’s draw announcement on Thursday.

The 33-year-old Wilson earned his inaugural world champion title last year after defeating qualifier Jak Jones 18-14 in the final.

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Wilson aims to break the “Crucible curse,” which states that no first-time champion has successfully defended their title since the tournament moved to the Crucible Theatre in 1977.

As the current world No. 2, Wilson is set to face Scottish Open champion Lei, who secured his spot in the tournament by defeating compatriot Gao Yang 10-0 in the qualifying round, according to Xinhua.

In other notable matchups, seven-time world champion Ronnie O’Sullivan will compete against Ali Carter, while veteran John Higgins will go up against Joe O’Connor.

This year marks a record-setting presence of 10 Chinese players at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield. Notably, Ding Junhui, seeded No. 10, will take on newcomer Zak Surety, and Zhao Xintong will face last year’s finalist, Jak Jones, in the opening round.

The 2025 World Championships are scheduled to run from April 19 to May 5. The tournament winner will receive £500,000 from a total prize fund of £2,395,000, while the runner-up will earn £200,000, and semifinalists will each take home £100,000.

Vandana Katariya, a prominent figure in Indian women’s hockey, expressed her heartfelt appreciation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi after receiving a personal letter acknowledging her achievements upon her retirement from international hockey.

On April 1, the 32-year-old forward officially announced her retirement, marking the end of a remarkable journey that began in 2009, during which she became India’s most-capped female hockey player. With 320 international appearances and 158 goals, Vandana leaves an unparalleled legacy in the history of Indian hockey.

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“It is a proud moment for me to receive a letter of appreciation from Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji regarding my hockey career and retirement. I am truly overwhelmed by this honor. This kind of support will always inspire me. Thank you, Prime Minister,” Vandana shared on X.

Her final appearance for the Indian team was during the 2024-25 FIH Pro League in Bhubaneswar earlier this year.

Vandana Katariya’s career is filled with significant milestones. She gained nationwide recognition in 2021 as the first Indian woman to score a hat-trick at the Olympics, achieving this remarkable feat against South Africa during the Tokyo Games, where the Indian women’s team finished an impressive fourth. This campaign transformed perceptions of women’s hockey in India, with Vandana playing a pivotal role.

“Making this decision wasn’t easy, but I believe it’s the right time. Hockey has been my life for as long as I can remember, and representing India has been the highest privilege,” she expressed in her official statement. “Every journey has its timeline, and I leave with immense pride, gratitude, and love for the sport. Indian hockey is in capable hands, and I will always remain its biggest supporter.”

Vandana also showcased her talent at the Rio 2016 Olympics and participated in two FIH Women’s World Cups (2018 and 2022), three Commonwealth Games (2014, 2018, 2022), and three Asian Games (2014, 2018, 2022), serving as a foundational player for the national team spanning multiple generations.

Her contributions have been crucial in several of Indian hockey’s memorable victories. She helped secure gold medals at the Women’s Asian Champions Trophy in 2016 and 2023, as well as the FIH Women’s Nations Cup in 2022. Her steadfast performance was instrumental in India earning silver at the 2018 Asian Games and in two Asian Champions Trophy tournaments (Japan 2013 and Donghae 2018).

Additionally, she captured bronze medals at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, the 2014 and 2023 Asian Games, and during the FIH Pro League 2021-22, further enhancing her impressive collection of accolades.

In acknowledgment of her exceptional contributions to Indian sports, Vandana was awarded the Arjuna Award in 2021, followed by the prestigious Padma Shri in 2022, making her one of the select hockey players to receive this honor.