Here is what our editors will be watching this weekend:
Saturday, May 9th
Minnesota Timberwolves vs San Antonio Spurs - 03:30 CET
Game 3 of the Western Conference semi-final between the Minnesota Timberwolves and the San Antonio Spurs is perfectly poised. The score is locked at 1-1 with the teams heading to Minneapolis, and there is all to play for.
After stunning the Denver Nuggets and Nikola Jokic in the first round, the Timberwolves keep defying expectations and look like a team built for the playoffs. They reached the Conference finals in the last two years, despite never really being favoured.
They managed to win Game 1 in San Antonio, even though Victor Wembanyama racked up an NBA-playoff record 12 blocks.
However, the Spurs, who crushed the Portland Trail Blazers in the opening round, bounced back in truly emphatic style, winning Game 2 by 38 points, inflicting the largest playoff defeat on Minnesota in the franchise's history.
The Timberwolves were unable to handle the Spurs' fast start, and they had a real off night offensively. Franchise star Anthony Edwards hasn't been fully fit due to carrying an injury in these playoffs, but they will need him to make an impact in the upcoming game, as they look to go ahead.
The other ongoing NBA playoff semi-finals have been very one-sided so far, so eyes will be on this contest to deliver the drama.
Can the Timberwolves continue to prove that they are a tenacious side that you can never bet against, or will Wembanyama and the Spurs be too strong and take another step towards a first Conference finals since 2017?
Tolga Akdeniz
Sunday, May 10th
With just three games to go in one of the most entertaining and unpredictable title races in Scottish Premiership history, the Old Firm derby this Sunday afternoon has huge ramifications.
It is always a big occasion when Celtic and Rangers meet, but with both clubs chasing league leaders Hearts, defeat in this weekend's Old Firm derby means the season is over.
Rangers have lost their last two games, and their 2-1 loss at Hearts last weekend was a hammer blow for both them and Celtic.
That defeat means the title race is very much in Hearts' hands, but given their inexperience being in this position, Celtic and Rangers have to be ready to take advantage of any slip-ups from the league leaders.
It might be too little too late already for Rangers, but don't underestimate how desperate they will be to stop Celtic from winning the league.
Having won their last five games in all competitions, Celtic are the Scottish Premiership's form side, and they will fancy their chances in front of a sure-to-be-bouncing home support of getting a vital win.
A victory for Celtic on Sunday will keep alive the dream scenario for neutrals of a final-day showdown at Celtic Park between Hearts and Celtic.
A mouthwatering scenario that might just provide one of the most exciting season finales in Scottish Premiership history.
Harry Dunnett
West Ham vs Arsenal - 17:30 CET
Title-chasing Arsenal visit relegation-battling West Ham on Sunday in what is the most consequential and important clash of the Premier League season.
Arsenal are on the cusp of a historic campaign for the club. After Manchester City dropped points against Everton, the Gunners now sit five points clear at the summit, albeit having played a game more. They also have a favourable fixture list with three matches to go, as they eye their first title since 2004.
A few days following booking their spot in the Champions League final, they will now be well aware that the trip to their London rivals this weekend is by far their toughest test left if they want to lift the league trophy. A win would surely mean they are going to go on to be Premier League champions.
At the other end of the table, West Ham are battling for their lives. With Spurs' win over Aston Villa last weekend and the Hammers' 3-0 loss at Brentford, West Ham dropped back into the relegation zone, and playing in the Championship next season looks the likeliest outcome.
But if they can stun Arsenal and pick up three points, they would give themselves a huge boost in their quest for safety, while they would also take delight in denting Mikel Arteta's men's title hopes.
It is a match that will have seismic repercussions at the top and bottom of the Premier League. Who will come out on top?
Tolga Akdeniz
Barcelona vs Real Madrid - 21:00 CET
El Clásico is always a huge event, not just in Spain but Europe-wide. The footballing world stops and watches anytime Barcelona and Real Madrid go head-to-head, and this Sunday evening, that’ll be especially the case as the Catalans only need a point to clinch back-to-back LaLiga titles.
With an 11-point lead, clinching the title seems inevitable for Hansi Flick’s side, but to do it in a Clásico, against their great rivals, and in the recently reopened Camp Nou… Well, it just doesn’t get better than that, and they’ll be supremely motivated as a result.
You could say the same about Alvaro Arbeloa’s Madrid, though. They’ll want to spoil the party and delay Barca’s celebrations as long as possible. However, they seem to have their hands and minds full with various internal issues at the moment…
The headlines have been dominated this week by reports of a training-ground bust-up between Federico Valverde and Aurelien Tchouameni, with the former even requiring a trip to the hospital to mend a cut forehead.
What’s more, the viral ‘Mbappe Out’ campaign, led by a section of fans keen to have the French superstar ditched from the side, has brewed its own clouds over the Bernabéu. Add to all that the swirling rumours surrounding who the club might appoint as their new permanent manager, and you’ve got yourself what some might term a ‘sh*tstorm’ in the capital.
That all plays into the hosts’ hands this weekend. However, Barca will still be missing star-boy Lamine Yamal. Kylian Mbappe, meanwhile, is expected to be back in action for Real and out to prove his own point, but the visitors have a lengthy list of absentees, something which has dogged them all campaign.
Back in October, Real won the first Clásico of the season in Madrid, before Barca got revenge in the Super Cup final in January.
Last season, the clubs met four times, with the Blaugrana winning all of those and 23 goals being scored across the matches. Recency says drama is the new norm with these two, so whatever happens, you won’t want to miss out!
Pat Dempsey
Monday, May 11th
Tottenham vs Leeds - 21:00 CET
After last week's momentum-building win over Aston Villa, Tottenham look to move towards safety as they welcome the in-form Leeds United to North London.
Depending on West Ham's result against Arsenal, Spurs could be in a position to move four points clear of the relegation zone with two games to play.
Under Roberto De Zerbi, they have looked better, gaining confidence with two wins from their last two games. But the spectre of relegation still looms, and the pressure is certainly on to pick up points.
They will not find it easy against Leeds either. In their last five games, they have three wins and two draws, which has earned their spot in next year's Premier League. Now, without the pressure of a relegation battle, they can play with more freedom against a side that can still be fragile.
Earlier this year, Spurs won the reverse fixture 2-1 back in December, but a lot has changed in both sides, and this feels like a huge match for De Zerbi's men. A win can almost secure the promise of Premier League football next year, but those have been excruciatingly hard to come by this term.
Tensions will be high. Can Tottenham deliver?
Josh Donaldson
