It is often said that sports are full of heroes and exemplary stories that represent values. Of the very rare occasions when this phrase is true, few were more fitting than in the story of the life of the Italian Alex Zanardi, who passed away at 59 in his native country this Friday, May 1. Zanardi dreamed in his childhood in Bologna of becoming a Formula 1 driver and a champion. He achieved both, but not at the same time.
Barcelona, thanks to its 28 victories, 80 goals scored, and 11-point lead, has earned five championship chances. The first opportunity is this weekend. Although it does not depend on itself, Barça only has one result that matters if it wants to celebrate the title now: winning at El Sadar tonight. Otherwise, there will be no possible combination because in this first scenario it cannot be champion on the pitch but only later.
That the FC Barcelona defense has gained in tranquility with the signing of Joan Garcia (24) as goalkeeper is a reality. That this summer the club will have to decide who takes over as second goalkeeper, too. The Polish Wojciech Szczesny (36), who signed a renewal for one year plus another optional, has pretty much accepted that he will not continue next season. Who will take the role of second goalkeeper? That is one of the questions being asked at the training ground.
“The largest neighborhood in Europe” experienced an unforgettable night, one of those stories passed down from grandparents to grandchildren. Vallecas had never attended a European competition semifinal (two Copa del Rey semifinals, the last in 2022 against Betis) and dressed up for the occasion. Nerves from early morning, a mosaic in the stands, and a smile from ear to ear on the faces of its people, who supported the team until the last breath while the match became tangled and Rayo stoically held the lead (1-0). In a week, the spot in the final will be decided at the Stade de la Meinau, in the capital of Alsace. That could be a football war, judging by what was seen in the first leg.
The incidence of African swine fever that has been affecting the Collserola park for months puts the route of the second stage of the Tour de France at risk. In fact, sources from the Generalitat of Catalonia explained to this newspaper that they have asked the Tour de France organization for a route change so that the race does not pass through the area currently under restrictions. The Generalitat proposes this change “out of responsibility and rigor in managing the outbreak affecting Catalonia since November.” At the same time, the final report from the technicians of the Government’s Department of Agriculture is awaited.
Gianni Infantino, president of FIFA, confirmed this Thursday that Iran will play in the World Cup to be held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico next summer.
The Disciplinary Committee of the Royal Spanish Football Federation has sanctioned Esteban Andrada, goalkeeper of Real Zaragoza, with a total of 13 matches suspension after the brutal aggression committed against Huesca’s captain, Jorge Pulido, following his expulsion with a double yellow card last Sunday in the Aragonese derby of the Hypermotion League.
French mountain guides Mathéo Jacquemoud (35 years old) and Samuel Equy (29 years old) set a new speed record this Saturday for the round trip between Chamonix and the summit of Mont Blanc, at an altitude of 4,806 meters. The duo completed the route on foot and on skis in 4 hours, 41 minutes, and 24 seconds, improving by two minutes the record held by Italian William Boffelli since the end of May 2025.
A team of 21 Sherpas has finished equipping, this morning, a route through the Khumbu Icefall to Everest Camp 1 which, according to news from Nepal, avoids exposing expedition members to the serac. In this way, the more than 400 people from all over the world, and a similar number of Sherpas, could begin acclimatization rounds in the coming days, ascending to the high camps as they are set up. The news has been received as a balm by the companies and their clients, after days of tension and nervousness due to the threat of the unstable ice mass, in the middle of high season.
Europa and Sant Andreu will not share a stadium next season in Primera Federación. Can Dragó was not the ideal solution. Barcelona City Council has found a solution and will install natural grass in the municipal stadiums of Narcís Sala and Nou Sardenya, with the aim of adapting to the regulations that prevent playing in the third category of Spanish football on artificial turf fields.
