The Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya will not host a Formula 1 race next year as it begins a new alternating agreement with the Belgian Grand Prix.
This Sunday will mark the first race staged under the specific Barcelona Grand Prix moniker.
The name change comes after the official Spanish Grand Prix title was transferred to a new street circuit in Madrid.
New rotational calendar
Formula 1 confirmed earlier this year that the Catalan venue has signed a contract extension until 2032.
However, the famous track must now share its slot on the calendar with Spa-Francorchamps.
The historic Belgian circuit will host the event in odd-numbered years starting in 2027.
Consequently, the 4.6-kilometre Montmelo course will only welcome the paddock back in 2028, 2030, and 2032.
End of an era
This season represents the first time since 2012 that Spain has hosted two separate Grands Prix.
The facility has been a cornerstone of the motorsport calendar since opening its doors in 1991.
It hosted the Spanish Grand Prix for 34 consecutive years and served as the traditional home of pre-season testing.
Formula 1 president Stefano Domenicali previously praised the region’s enduring commitment to the sport.
“Barcelona is an incredible city, and the Formula 1 fans there always welcome us with such passion, so I am delighted that we will continue to race at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya for years to come.”
“The team have invested heavily in the circuit and hosted fantastic fan festivals in recent years, so we look forward to seeing how they continue to develop the experience, both for attendees at the race and for the city as a whole.”
Mercedes marvel leads the pack
On the track, Kimi Antonelli will look to defend his lead in the drivers’ standings during Sunday’s farewell race.
The young Italian has been a revelation for Mercedes during the current campaign.
Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton is also expected to challenge for victory following consecutive runner-up finishes in Canada and Monaco.
Meanwhile, McLaren will hope to replicate their success from last season when Oscar Piastri secured the win ahead of team-mate Lando Norris.
United States manager Mauricio Pochettino is weighing up crucial selection decisions as his squad prepares for their World Cup opener against Paraguay.
The national team has gathered for a secluded training camp in Irvine, California.
They are currently balancing the intense pressure of a home tournament with mounting fan excitement.
Pochettino must resolve several key positional battles before the squad takes the pitch against the South Americans.
Goalkeeper battle and defensive anchors
A significant dilemma for the Argentine coach revolves around the starting goalkeeper position.
Matt Freese and Matt Turner are currently locked in a fierce competition for the number one shirt.
Further up the pitch, Chris Richards has emerged as a vital component of the defensive line.
The commanding centre-back will be expected to anchor the back four throughout the prestigious competition.
Midfield engine and attacking options
In midfield, Tyler Adams remains an irreplaceable presence for the tournament hosts.
The combative anchor provides essential defensive cover and leadership in the middle of the park.
Pochettino also has a wealth of options to consider when constructing his attacking unit.
Malik Tillman and Weston McKennie are both pushing for prominent starting spots following strong preparations.
Managing expectations on home soil
Meanwhile, Sebastian Berhalter and Cristian Roldan are striving to make their mark during the intensive California camp.
The coming days will be critical as the coaching staff finalise their tactical approach for the upcoming fixture.
With the eyes of the nation watching, the technical team must realistically assess how deep this squad can progress.
Scotland midfielder Caroline Weir has confirmed her departure from Real Madrid following a four-season spell, expressing regret at failing to secure a major trophy during her time in Spain.
The 30-year-old leaves the Spanish giants as their all-time leading goalscorer and assist provider.
She scored 63 times across 125 appearances for the Liga F runners-up.
“The time has come for me to leave this special club,” Weir said.
Overcoming injury and record-breaking impact
The former Manchester City playmaker joined Los Blancos in 2022 and quickly established herself as a vital component of their squad.
Despite her individual brilliance, team silverware consistently eluded her side amid Barcelona’s ongoing domestic dominance.
The Scottish international was sidelined for an entire year after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament tear against Belgium in September 2023.
“With your support and that of my team-mates, managers, staff, friends and family, I overcame my knee injury, the biggest setback in my career,” she posted on Instagram.
International success and future uncertainty
The creative midfielder has kept her next destination a closely guarded secret.
Her domestic exit arrives just days after she captained her national team to the top of their World Cup qualifying group.
The 121-cap veteran was in scintillating form during the international break, netting seven goals across two commanding victories over Israel.
Real Madrid released a statement confirming the departure was driven by the player’s own decision.
The club expressed deep gratitude for the professionalism and commitment shown by the two-time player of the season.
“My only regret is that I could not give you a first title,” she added.
“I therefore say goodbye with sadness but also excitement to watch from afar and see this club continue to grow.”
France winger Ousmane Dembele has heavily criticised the “excessive” scrutiny directed at captain Kylian Mbappe ahead of their World Cup opener against Senegal on Tuesday.
The Paris St-Germain forward insists the relentless focus on his long-time team-mate has gone too far.
The Real Madrid striker has faced intense debate over his leadership and performances since taking the national team armband from Hugo Lloris.
Despite maintaining a prolific goalscoring record, the 2018 champion was heavily targeted after a trophyless season in Spain where Los Blancos failed to secure either La Liga or the Champions League.
‘He is still a human being’
Speaking to Spanish outlet Marca, the Ballon d’Or contender jumped to the defence of his international captain.
“The criticism towards him is very, very unfair.”
“Some people go a bit too far with the criticism of Kylian. He’s an incredible player and a very good person off the pitch.”
Dembele highlighted the forensic analysis of even the most trivial aspects of the forward’s behaviour as evidence of an unfair agenda.
“Whether he ties his shoelaces or not, whether he pulls up his socks or not… it’s too much.”
“He’s still a human being. With the France team, he’s very good with us, he’s a leader.”
Deschamps’ farewell and Zidane rumours
The two attackers are expected to be pivotal as Les Bleus pursue a third global crown across the United States, Canada and Mexico.
This tournament also marks the end of an era for the national side following manager Didier Deschamps’ decision to step down after more than a decade in charge.
The 55-year-old famously guided the nation to global glory in Russia before suffering heartbreak in the final four years later.
“He’s simply an exceptional coach. He will forever remain a legend among French national team coaches.”
Speculation is already mounting that former icon Zinedine Zidane will finally assume the prestigious managerial position.
The former Real Madrid boss has consistently avoided discussing the role while his 1998 World Cup-winning team-mate remains at the helm.
“We hope to welcome him one day to the France bench. I’m convinced he would do a fantastic job.”
Mohamed Salah’s agent has dismissed public speculation surrounding the forward’s next destination as the 33-year-old prepares to leave Liverpool this summer.
The Egyptian international is set to depart Anfield after an illustrious nine-year spell that yielded 257 goals across all competitions.
Despite agreeing a contract extension last April to stay until 2027, a mutual agreement has been reached to curtail his time on Merseyside early.
Since the impending departure was announced, the former Roma attacker has been heavily linked with lucrative moves to the Saudi Pro League and Turkey.
Agent shuts down immediate speculation
Representative Abaas has now moved to quash ongoing public discussion regarding his client’s immediate future.
Taking to social media platform X, the agent insisted that the prolific winger is yet to finalise any plans for next season.
“Mohamed is doing perfectly fine and neither he nor I prefer to discuss sensitive future plans with people not involved in them.”
“Both he and I are very private about these things. Yes, people may ask and they may get a standard polite response but that’s about it.”
International teammate hints at potential stay
The firm statement follows intriguing comments from Egypt goalkeeper Ahmed El-Shenawy.
The international teammate suggested the prospect of leaving the Premier League giants has weighed heavily on the veteran forward.
“The prospect of leaving Liverpool has affected Mo psychologically, but the situation might change and he could still stay with the team.”
El-Shenawy added that the player himself confessed to being entirely uncertain about his next career move.
Turkish giants circle after difficult campaign
On the pitch, the legendary attacker endured a relatively challenging domestic campaign before his scheduled departure.
He managed just 12 goals across all competitions last season, representing his lowest return since arriving in England back in 2017.
This dip in attacking output has not deterred potential suitors, with Fenerbahce openly declaring their interest.
Ertan Torunogullari, an executive at the Turkish club, recently claimed that productive discussions regarding a potential transfer had already taken place.
“He was very keen on coming to Turkey. The meetings we had were extremely positive. We had established common ground with him on many issues, including his salary.”
Torunogullari expressed confidence that a deal could be finalised should the club’s new management team wish to pursue the transfer.
Portugal manager Roberto Martinez is relying on a meticulous collection of tactical notebooks spanning almost three decades as he targets World Cup success with Cristiano Ronaldo in North America.
The seasoned tactician begins his quest for international football’s ultimate prize when his side face DR Congo in Houston next week.
Failure is barely tolerated for the heavily fancied European nation, but their preparation will be exhaustive under the guidance of the famously obsessive coach.
The former Everton and Belgium boss has revealed the remarkable lengths he goes to in order to understand the precise mechanics of winning football matches.
A lifetime of tactical analysis
Since his childhood in Spain, the methodical manager has curated a vast archive of journals detailing every match he has watched, played in, or managed.
He has transported a selection of these records to North America to directly assist his strategic planning for the upcoming tournament.
The 50-year-old attributes this lifelong obsession to the deeply analytical influence of his father.
I watched football through my dad. Because of him.
He would never say, ‘what a good goal’, but ‘why did that happen?’.
I was a young boy wanting to discover why a winger had so much time to cut in and score a goal.
Adapting to different football cultures
The comprehensive records date back to 1995, capturing every single training session the ex-Wigan Athletic midfielder participated in during his playing days.
This diligent documentation highlights a stark contrast in sporting philosophies that initially shocked him upon his arrival in British football.
The possession-heavy Spanish approach he was accustomed to stood in direct opposition to the fast-paced, physical nature of the English game at the time.
When I was in Spain, I didn’t know there were all these methods there. I thought everybody trained the same.
When I arrived in England, I realised I was almost involved in a different sport. It was completely different.
Chasing the ultimate prize
Having previously guided Belgium to a third-place finish at the 2018 World Cup, the experienced manager is now aiming to navigate his current squad all the way to the final.
Securing the coveted trophy would also provide a historic conclusion to the astonishing international career of 39-year-old forward Ronaldo.
With expectations sky-high, the meticulously prepared coach hopes his lifetime of tactical research will finally yield the biggest reward in world sport.
Emma Raducanu has advanced to the quarter-finals at Queen’s Club after defeating Sorana Cirstea 6-4 6-2 in front of a home crowd on Friday.
The British No 1 secured her second consecutive grass-court victory this week to the delight of a packed Andy Murray Arena.
This impressive straight-sets triumph marks her first victory over a top-20 opponent in more than a year.
She will now face either compatriot Harriet Dart or Kamilla Rakhimova in the last eight later today.
Dominant early start thwarted by comeback
The 2021 US Open champion commenced the match with blistering intensity, utilising ferocious forehands to secure two early breaks.
Having established a commanding 4-0 advantage, she allowed her experienced opponent a route back into the contest through costly unforced errors.
Cirstea capitalised on these mistakes to win three consecutive games, shifting the momentum and pressure back onto the home favourite.
Facing a potential break point at 5-4, the young Briton demonstrated impressive resilience to claim two vital points and seal the hard-fought 50-minute opening set.
Cruising through the second set
Oozing confidence after edging a tight opener, the hometown hero immediately broke serve in the first game of the second set with a glorious deep forehand return.
She maintained complete control throughout the remainder of the match, dictating baseline rallies against the Romanian veteran.
A second crucial break of serve in the fourth game ultimately provided the decisive blow in securing progression.
This welcome return to form provides a significant boost for the British star as she builds vital momentum on the grass.
Andre Agassi has urged Carlos Alcaraz to provide greater transparency regarding the persistent wrist injury that forced the Spaniard to withdraw from Wimbledon.
The 23-year-old has been struggling with the issue since the Barcelona Open earlier this year.
This latest physical setback follows his enforced absence from both the Madrid Open and Roland Garros.
Despite posting on social media last month that his recovery was progressing well, no official timeline for a competitive return has been established.
Agassi seeks medical answers
That distinct lack of detailed information has frustrated eight-time Grand Slam champion Agassi.
The American believes the wider tennis community is currently left to blindly speculate about the severity of the problem.
“It would be really helpful if he or someone close to him clearly explained the exact nature of his injury, because at this point, we can only speculate.”
Agassi suffered numerous debilitating wrist problems during his own illustrious career on the ATP Tour.
“If it’s a form of tendinitis, is it a specific inflammation like dorsal capsulitis or a carpal tunnel-type problem? What exactly are we talking about, and what are the treatment options? I don’t know precisely what he has.”
A stalled historic campaign
The prolonged absence represents a significant blow for the Spanish star after a phenomenal start to the season.
He defeated Novak Djokovic at the Australian Open to complete a career Grand Slam at just 22 years of age.
His impressive grass-court pedigree includes lifting the Wimbledon trophy in both 2023 and 2024.
However, he previously confirmed he would miss the entirety of the current grass-court swing.
“They are two really special tournaments for me and I’ll miss them a lot. We keep working to return as soon as possible!”
Title race blown wide open
This high-profile withdrawal significantly alters the landscape for the upcoming Championships at SW19.
Alexander Zverev will arrive in London full of confidence after claiming his maiden Grand Slam title at the French Open.
The German world number three defeated Flavio Cobolli in Paris to strengthen his ranking.
He now joins Djokovic and Jannik Sinner as the clear pre-tournament favourites to secure the prestigious grass-court major.