Manchester City’s second string eased past Crystal Palace 3-0 on Wednesday to climb just two points behind Premier League leaders Arsenal with two games remaining of a captivating title race.

Pep Guardiola made six changes from the side that beat Brentford 3-0 at the weekend, with Erling Haaland and Jeremy Doku among those on the bench, while Palace boss Oliver Glasner also made tweaks.

First-half goals from Antoine Semenyo and Omar Marmoush put Manchester City in control at a damp Etihad and a late strike from Savinho added gloss to the scoreline.

The tide appeared to have turned in City’s favour in the title race over recent weeks but last week’s costly 3-3 draw at Everton put Arsenal firmly back in the box seat.

The City players experienced the agony of seeing a stoppage-time equaliser for West Ham against Arsenal ruled out following a VAR check on Sunday as the Gunners battled to a 1-0 win.

City opened the scoring in style in the 32nd minute after Phil Foden produced an exquisite back pass to set up Semenyo, who finished coolly past Dean Henderson into the far corner of the goal.

They doubled their lead eight minutes later, with Foden again the provider, touching the ball to Marmoush, who celebrated his third Premier League goal of the season.

John Stones, departing at the end of the campaign, came on as a substitute towards the end of a forgettable second period to a rousing reception. Minutes later Rayan Cherki ran with the ball from his own half before setting up Savinho, who swept the ball past Henderson.

The three-goal win takes City to 77 points, two behind Arsenal. City now have a superior goal difference of plus one and have scored seven more goals.

City take on Chelsea in the FA Cup final at Wembley on Saturday, gunning for a domestic cup double after lifting the League Cup earlier this season.

Before kick-off on Wednesday, Guardiola explained his multiple changes, saying: “When the schedule is so tight, everybody is fit, everybody needs to help.”

Despite the narrow gap, Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal remain overwhelming favourites to win their first Premier League title since 2004.

If the Gunners overcome relegated Burnley next Monday, City must beat Bournemouth, who are chasing Champions League qualification, the following day, to keep the title race alive.

On May 24, the final day of the season, Arsenal travel to Palace while City, currently on a 14-game unbeaten run in the league, host Aston Villa. Foden said the title race was still alive.

“It’s a team game at the end of the day. If you want to win titles and trophies it’s about a full squad and everyone playing their part,” Foden told Sky Sports.

“The aim is to keep pushing and keep them on their toes. We’ve seen a lot of things can happen on the final day. “I’ve experienced it many times when the game doesn’t go your way. We just have to keep pushing and doing our part.”

Palace’s focus is on the UEFA Conference League final against Rayo Vallecano in Leipzig on May 27 – Glasner’s final match in charge of the south London club.

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Barcelona, already crowned champions of La Liga 2025/26, still have one task left to complete in the domestic championship: a clean sweep of wins in their remaining three matches would see them set a new record.

Barcelona beat Real Madrid 2-0 on Sunday to be crowned 2025/56 La Liga champions, adding yet another trophy to their haul after also lifting the Spanish Super Cup following victory over their archrivals.

The ‘Cules’, who celebrated the title on an open-top bus parade on Monday, have just three domestic matches left to round off their campaign. 

Away trips to Valencia and Alaves and a home game in between against Real Betis are the last three fixtures remaining for the Catalan side, who could set a historic La Liga record.

Hansi Flick’s side have claimed 30 wins from 35 La Liga matches so far, so if they secure at least two wins in their final three matches, they will equal the record for the most wins in a single season set by Tito Vilanova’s Barcelona in the 2012/13 season and Mourinho’s Real Madrid in the 2011/12 campaign, who recorded a total of 32 wins from 38 matches respectively. 

Should the ‘Cules’ secure a clean sweep of victories by beating the ‘Babazorros’, the ‘Verdiblancos’ and ‘Los Ches’, they would achieve an unprecedented 33 wins from 38 matches, thereby setting a new La Liga record. 

Furthermore, should Hansi Flick’s side win the aforementioned three matches, they would also equal the 100-point mark – an incredible figure that only two teams have ever reached in the history of the Spanish league: Tito Vilanova’s Barca and Jose Mourinho’s Madrid, as mentioned above. 

In fact, the Catalan club could end the domestic campaign with a perfect home record, having won all their home matches so far (18), so if they beat Real Betis, they will achieve another incredible milestone in La Liga. 

Most La Liga wins in a single edition

• 1st — FC Barcelona (2012/13): 32 wins in 38 matches
• 2nd — Real Madrid CF (2011/12): 32 wins in 38 matches
• 3rd — Real Madrid CF (2009/10): 31 wins in 38 matches
• 4th — FC Barcelona (2009/10): 31 wins in 38 matches
• 5th — FC Barcelona (2025/26): 30 wins in 35 matches
• 6th — FC Barcelona (2014/15): 30 wins in 38 matches
• 7th — Real Madrid CF (2014/15): 30 wins in 38 matches
• 8th — FC Barcelona (2010/11): 30 wins in 38 matches

Barcelona are champions of Spain once again. Their victory in Sunday’s Clasico officially sealed a 29th La Liga title and confirmed the dominance of a side that has set the standard throughout the season under Hansi Flick.

The title had felt inevitable for weeks, but beating Real Madrid provided the perfect stage for Barcelona to complete the job.

It marks another major success in Flick’s remarkable start in Catalonia, with the German already adding a Copa del Rey, two Spanish Super Cups and now back-to-back league titles since arriving in 2024.

Barcelona’s triumph has been built on consistency. Despite injuries to several key players during decisive moments of the campaign, the Blaugrana spent 23 of the 35 matchdays at the top of the table, including 21 of the last 22.

Flick transforms early doubts into dominance

The season did not begin without turbulence. Early setbacks against Rayo Vallecano, Sevilla and Real Madrid briefly raised concerns, especially after Los Blancos opened up a five-point advantage early in the campaign.

Narrow wins over sides such as Levante, Real Sociedad and Girona also exposed imperfections in the team’s performances.

Yet Flick remained calm throughout. His confidence proved justified. From the first Clasico defeat onwards, Barcelona won 23 of their next 25 league matches, establishing themselves as the strongest and most reliable side in the division.

The Catalans can now still target the 100-point mark for only the second time in club history if they win their remaining fixtures.

Lamine Yamal becomes the face of a new era

While previous seasons revolved around Robert Lewandowski and Raphinha, this campaign firmly belonged to Lamine Yamal.

Although injured for the title-clinching Clasico, the teenager was central to Barcelona’s success. Wearing the iconic number 10 shirt, Yamal produced a stunning campaign, registering 16 goals and 11 assists while emerging as one of world football’s brightest stars.

At just 18 years old, he has already collected a third league title and now looks set to become the cornerstone of Barcelona’s future.

A project built to last

The championship further strengthens Flick’s standing at the club. The German has maintained a flawless domestic record in Spain, continuing the winning mentality that previously defined his spell at Bayern Munich.

His aggressive, attack-minded philosophy has transformed Barcelona into the league’s most entertaining and effective side. While questions remain over the team’s defensive resilience in Europe, their firepower proved overwhelming in La Liga.

Club president Joan Laporta is already working on extending the coach’s contract beyond 2027, with Barcelona eager to secure long-term stability around a project that appears built for sustained success.

Closing in on history

This latest triumph brings Barcelona to 29 league titles, just one short of the symbolic 30-title mark previously reached only by Real Madrid.

The contrast with the club’s earlier history is striking. Before 1990, Barcelona had won only 10 league championships since La Liga’s creation in 1928. Since then, they have added 19 more, dramatically reducing Madrid’s historical advantage and cementing themselves as one of the dominant forces of the modern era.

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