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The Familiar FinalYou could be forgiven for having a sense of deja vu before a fourth Champions League final between the Spanish champions, Barcelona, and French champions, Lyonnes, on Saturday evening.The three-time champions and eight-time champions played each other in the final of Europe's premier competition three times in six years between 2019 and 2024, with Lyonnes earning a 4-1 win over the Catalan giants in 2019 and a 3-1 win in 2022 before Barcelona delivered a 2-0 defeat of the French side in 2024.However, predicting the outcome could not be harder and Barcelona's talismanic No 11, Alexia Putellas, said there is little that can be discerned from those previous meetings. "We can't compare seasons and we can't compare finals," said the two-time Ballon d'Or winner. "Our squad has evolved a lot, so previous finals don't have an influence on the final we are playing tomorrow."The Tactical Chess MatchA lot has changed. Most notably, Lyonnes are now managed by Jonatan Giráldez, who was a coach at Barcelona as they claimed their maiden UWCL title and at the helm for their second and third. Few managers are better equipped to return Lyonnes to the top of European football after a three-year hiatus than the man who understands the way Barça work and exactly how they ended the domination of the French side.As a result, the tactical approach of those on the sidelines is perhaps the most interesting piece of the puzzle in Oslo's Ullevaal Stadion.Giráldez said of Barça's development since he left: "They have some different players but their identity remains the same; this will to dominate and apply pressure. Not thinking about the result as much as about the show and the performance, that's their identity. I feel privileged to face Barcelona as I'm grateful for the experience I had there and I wish them the best – except when we have to win!"Master and ApprenticeOne of Giráldez's two assistants, Pere Romeu, replaced him when he departed for Washington Spirit in June 2024. "We are the two teams that have done the most in this competition to reach the final in recent years," said Romeu. "Tomorrow is going to be a very demanding match. Tomorrow is going to be a match with a lot of quality from both teams. Tomorrow is going to be a match that, as in all finals, is going to be decided by small details. We are going to try to take care of and control it to the maximum."The 32-year-old Barcelona manager won a domestic treble in his first season in charge, but fell short in the Champions League final last season as Arsenal delivered a shock defeat."I see a team that is more mature than last season," said Romeu. "I see a team with greater capacity to change things during the game than last season and I think we have reached a good point."Putellas described Romeu as a "complete coach", before the showdown on Saturday. "We've been working together for several seasons now and he has always tried to help me evolve as a player, which I'm very grateful for," she said. "He's the most complete coach. This season I've tried to do the best I possibly can without forgetting my own qualities in order to help the team."Romeu is relishing the master-apprentice battle in such a significant game. "I, as a coach, am super-excited to be able to face this match against a former coach of the club in Jonatan," he said. "I'm sure we'll both do everything we can to keep our teams' identities and keep doing the best we can to win."Dominate DomesticallyBarcelona secured another domestic treble on Saturday with a 3-1 Copa de la Reina final win over Atlético Madrid in their final game before travelling to Norway. Meanwhile, Lyonnes are one game away from their own domestic treble, having dispatched Nantes with an emphatic 8-0 win in the semi-final of the Premiere Ligue play-offs, with the final between the holders and Paris FC, taking place next Friday.The Lyonnes midfielder Lily Yohannes told Uefa that the club "just have so much hunger in us," after their three-year European dry spell. "We have so much fight. No matter what happens, we stick together, we rise above the challenges, and we just have such a winning mentality in the group."The 35-year-old centre-back Wendie Renard, who has been involved in each of the club's record eight Champions League wins, similarly spoke about a togetherness and desire in the team after a disappointing European run last season."If I had to sum up our journey this season: dedication," she told Uefa. "A Champions League campaign never comes easy, from one game to another. We've also had doubts and fears at times, but the squad has remained strong, and we've kept focusing on work and humility and performed well together."The Midfield BattleThe midfield battle will be key, with the impact of Melchie Dumornay, who was the difference maker in their semi-final fightback against Arsenal, critical for Lyonnes and Barcelona unsure of the readiness of the three-time Ballon d'Or winner Aitana Bonmatí, who is "feeling better every day", according to Romeu, but has not played 90 minutes for the team since November and only played 18 minutes of the Copa de la Reina final.Contrasting StylesThe Champions League final will ultimately be a contest between two different ways of playing, Barcelona's slick tiki-taka football and the more aggressive way Lyonnes play. Both cannot dominate possession in this game, one will have to cede it and find a different way to win. That is what makes it an enthralling fixture.

The Spygate Scandal That Reshaped the Championship PlayoffsWhen television cameras captured Hayden Hackney crying after Middlesbrough's extra-time defeat to Southampton in the Championship playoff semi-final, little did the Championship's player of the season know that images captured days earlier would ultimately ensure his presence at Wembley. Southampton's expulsion from the playoffs for spying on Middlesbrough's training session has set up an unexpected final between Boro and Hull City, with both teams attempting to disregard the surrounding 'weird and crazy' noise.The Unfolding of the Spygate ScandalThe controversy began when Southampton manager Tonda Eckert dispatched an intern analyst, William Salt, to film one of Middlesbrough's pre-match training sessions on his phone. The mission's aim was to assess the availability of Hayden Hackney, who had been sidelined with a calf injury. Unfortunately for Salt, a freelance photographer on assignment with Middlesbrough happened to capture images of him attempting to conceal himself between a tree and a bush.Middlesbrough promptly submitted a formal complaint to the English Football League (EFL), and 'spygate' began gaining rapid traction in the national news agenda. The disciplinary commission subsequently expelled Southampton from the playoffs and docked them four points for the next season. When Southampton's appeal was dismissed just over 24 hours later, the precedent was set that would ultimately send Middlesbrough to Wembley.The Financial Stakes of the Unexpected FinalThe Championship playoff final represents a potential windfall of at least £205m in additional Premier League revenue for the winner. Hull City owner Acun Ilicali has spent recent days consulting lawyers who believe Southampton's expulsion should result in automatic promotion and the cancellation of the playoff final. Meanwhile, Jakirovic has bought 70 Wembley tickets for family and friends from Croatia, highlighting the personal significance of this unexpected opportunity.For Middlesbrough manager Kim Hellberg, the situation has been particularly challenging. 'The head is tired,' admitted the 38-year-old as he discussed a 'weird and crazy' fortnight. 'There's been a lot of emotion. I haven't been able to sleep.' Hellberg's initial plan to keep the players training between the semi-final and the disciplinary commission was disrupted, making preparation for the final unusually difficult.How the Scandal Echoes Previous Football Espionage CasesThe EFL disciplinary panel's judgment was heavily informed by the so-called 'Canada case' from 2024, where Canada women's coach Bev Priestman was found to have choreographed a spying operation against New Zealand at the Paris Olympics. Canada was docked six Olympic points, and Priestman and two of her staff were banned from football for a year by FIFA.As Eckert contemplates a career in apparent tatters, he can take some heart from Priestman's impressive comeback at New Zealand's A-League women's side Wellington Phoenix. However, Eckert faces not only the sack at Southampton but a Football Association inquiry into his supervision of espionage against not merely Middlesbrough but Oxford and Ipswich, too, with a potential ban looming.Two Managers' Unexpected Paths to WembleyWhile Middlesbrough's Swedish manager Kim Hellberg was a surprise appointment when he swapped Stockholm's Hammarby for Teesside after Rob Edwards's defection to Wolves last November, Hull's Sergej Jakirovic had even more modest ambitions. Back in August, finishing 'somewhere between 10th and 15th' represented the summit of his aspirations when he arrived from Turkey.When Jakirovic took over at Hull, the club had just avoided relegation to League One on goal difference on the final day of the previous season. Moreover, an EFL transfer embargo restricted him to recruiting free agents and loan signings. Hull's sixth-placed league finish and defeat of Millwall in the playoff semi-final emphasizes that Hellberg would be unwise to underestimate the tactical talent of this Mostar-born Jürgen Klopp admirer and gegenpressing disciple.The Future of English Football Post-SpygateThis scandal has raised important questions about the integrity of English football and the measures needed to prevent similar incidents in the future. The EFL will likely face pressure to strengthen its regulations regarding spying and unauthorized filming of training sessions. Meanwhile, both Middlesbrough and Hull City must now navigate the unique challenge of preparing for a playoff final that neither expected to reach just weeks ago.For the players, particularly Hayden Hackney who is expected to make his first appearance since March, the final represents an opportunity to write their own story, separate from the controversy that has dominated the headlines. As both teams prepare for Wembley, the focus will shift from the 'weird and crazy' spygate noise to the football itself, with the winner securing a place in the Premier League and the financial rewards that come with it.

The Growing Rift at Roland GarrosA simmering dispute between players and the Grand Slams over revenue sharing intensified at the French Open, with Novak Djokovic warning the sport risked further fragmentation as leading players pressed for a greater voice in shaping its future. Several players limited their appearances at Friday's traditional pre-tournament media day to 15 minutes and declined additional multi-media interviews in a coordinated display of discontent.Player Demands Beyond Financial ConcernsThe tensions have been building for weeks, but the rhetoric sharpened in Paris, where players, such as Taylor Fritz, insisted that their grievances were not just about "wanting more money". "It's about just wanting what's fair," the American added. "As the tournaments make more money, we obviously want to see the revenue shared back to the players reflect that."Players have pointed to pensions, tournament expansion, scheduling and late-night finishes among the issues fuelling frustration, alongside what several described as a persistent lack of dialogue from organizers. Russian Andrey Rublev painted a picture of a widening disconnect: "When you try to communicate for so many years ... they don't hear you. They don't answer," Rublev said. "When you send the mail in, no one responds to official mail for months."The Financial Divide in TennisWhile top ATP and WTA events redistribute around 22 percent of revenues to players, the Grand Slams are estimated to return closer to 15 percent, a gap that has become a central source of tension. French Open organizers have been arguing that tournament profits fund entire national tennis ecosystems, not just prize money. They are expected to meet player agents on Friday as discussions continue over revenue sharing and player representation.Industry-Wide ImplicationsWorld number one Aryna Sabalenka cast the debate as a struggle on behalf of the sport's lesser lights rather than its leading stars. "It's not about me. It's about the players who's lower in the ranking, who is suffering," she said. "But as the world number one, I feel like I have to stand up and to fight for those players."Djokovic emphasized the broader structural issues facing tennis: "We tend to forget how little is the number of people that live from this sport." He pointed to golf and the divisions caused by the emergence of LIV Golf as a warning for tennis: "Let's learn from that. Let's try to be a bit more united and have a unifying voice into finding better structure and better future for our sport."Path Forward for Tennis GovernanceEven so, players adopted a more cautious tone over the prospect of a boycott after Sabalenka raised the possibility earlier this month in Rome. "I don't know if I want to start throwing around the 'B' word," Fritz said. "It's a really big deal, and I don't think we as players should really make big threats like that unless we're fully ready to do it."French Open tournament director Amelie Mauresmo expressed regret over the reduced media access: "It's always regrettable because media day is an important moment for the tournament, for journalists who come from all over the world and also for the fans through the media coverage," Mauresmo told reporters. "We understand that there are discussions and concerns from the players, but dialogue is always preferable."

The End of an Era: Guardiola’s Departure from Manchester CityPep Guardiola announced his exit from Manchester City after ten seasons that reshaped English football, prompting a fresh look at how his achievements compare with the country’s historic managers.Title‑Winning Records: Guardiola Compared to Paisley, Ferguson and CloughGuardiola’s domestic dominance is measured against three English legends:Pep Guardiola – 6 Premier League titles in 10 seasons (60% win rate), including an unprecedented four‑in‑a‑row (2021‑24).Bob Paisley – 6 league crowns in 9 years at Liverpool (66.7% win rate), the highest percentage among modern‑day English managers.Sir Alex Ferguson – 13 titles in 26 full seasons at United (61.9% win rate from 1993‑2013).Brian Clough – No league titles in England, but back‑to‑back European Cups with Nottingham Forest (1979‑80).Numbers on the Trophy Shelf: Titles, Cups and PointsKey statistics illustrate the scale of each manager’s haul:Total major trophies at a single English club: Guardiola – 17 (City); Ferguson – 28 (United); Paisley – 14 (Liverpool); Clough – 9 (Derby & Forest).Premier League points milestones under Guardiola: 100 points (2017‑18) and 98 points (2018‑19), two of the three highest ever.Champions League record: Guardiola – 1 title (2023) + 1 final loss; Ferguson – 2 titles; Paisley – 3 titles; Clough – 2 titles with Forest.Why the Comparison Reshapes English Managerial LegacyThe juxtaposition highlights a shift in how success is judged. Guardiola’s focus on league consistency and statistical dominance sets a new benchmark, while his limited European haul underscores the growing challenge of translating domestic wealth into continental glory—a hurdle that even Ferguson struggled with despite two Champions Leagues.Moreover, the data re‑orders the traditional “great‑of‑all‑time” conversation, placing trophy count and points efficiency alongside cultural impact.What the Future Holds for English Coaching GreatnessGuardiola’s departure opens a vacuum that could accelerate the rise of home‑grown tactical innovators. Clubs may seek managers who can blend his statistical rigor with the European pedigree of legends like Paisley and Clough. The next decade could see a new generation of English managers aiming to match or surpass the combined league‑title percentages and points totals set by Guardiola, redefining the standards of English football excellence.

The Churchill Exhibition: War Leader's Artistic EscapeBritain's eloquent war leader kept himself sane by puffing on cigars, swilling brandy – and painting the world around him. The Wallace Collection in London is hosting "Winston Churchill: The Painter" from 23 May to 29 November, offering a rare glimpse into the artistic side of the historical figure.New Voices in Contemporary ArtThe London art scene is buzzing with new exhibitions featuring contemporary artists:Kira Freije presents hollow metal people at Modern Art Oxford, showing shadows of Berlin Dada in her work. The exhibition runs from 23 May to 16 August.Miriam Elia, known for her witty take on Ladybird books, turns her eye towards Moses in this exhibition for Jewish Cultural Month at JW3, until 30 June.Liam Young offers futuristic but lo-fi worlds you can walk through at the Barbican, until 6 September, with installations finding hope for our planet.Zsuzsi Ujj presents her first UK solo show at Arcadia Missa, from 22 May until 18 July, establishing her presence from Hungary's dissident art and underground music scenes.Remembering Valie ExportThe art world mourns the passing of Austrian feminist artist and film-maker Valie Export, who died this week. Her 1968 performance piece "Tapp und Tastkinema" (Tap and Touch Cinema) is highlighted as typically provocative but playful, giving people the opportunity to interact with and appraise a real female body: her own. Export's fearless approach to challenging beauty standards continues to influence contemporary artists.Notable Art News and DevelopmentsThe week brought several significant stories from the art world:Taiba Akhuetie makes wild creations out of hair – Rihanna and Cate Blanchett are fansWhistler should have used better paint to capture his motherNina Simone's chewing gum is going on show in a new exhibition celebrating the superfanChristo made the invisible visibleGrayson Perry's life story is to be made into a musicalFlorentina Holzinger rocked this year's Venice Biennale with naked jetskiers, human bells and urine diversGen Z can't get enough of the king of colour, Mark RothkoSanya Kantarovsky's paintings of Christian iconography and children will haunt youMasterpiece of the Week: The Judgement of ParisJoachim Wtewael's "The Judgement of Paris" (1615) stands as this week's masterpiece. The painting depicts the moment when Trojan prince Paris foolishly rates the beauty of Minerva, Venus, and Juno, giving the prize to Venus in return for her helping him seduce Helen. This decision sparked the Trojan War, with the Greeks supported by the furious Juno. Wtewael's mannerist style, with its bony, angular forms and deliberate distortions, creates an overabundance that presages doom, reflecting the war-torn Europe of the 1600s. The painting is on display at the National Gallery in London.

The LeadHundreds of people in Ireland have taken to the streets to protest what is being described as the country's "George Floyd moment," following the death of a man in police custody. The demonstrations reflect growing public outrage over police conduct and racial justice issues in Ireland.The Event DetailsThe protests erupted after the death of an individual in police custody, which has drawn parallels to the case of George Floyd in the United States. Demonstrators have gathered in major cities across Ireland, demanding accountability and reform in policing practices. The incident has sparked a national conversation about racial justice and police treatment of minorities in Ireland.The Data AnalysisWhile specific crowd size figures were not immediately available, reports indicate that hundreds participated in the demonstrations. The protests have gained significant media attention both locally and internationally, with the "George Floyd moment" comparison becoming a focal point of media coverage.The Impact AnalysisThe protests mark a significant moment in Ireland's social justice movement, highlighting issues of racial inequality and police conduct that have often been overlooked in the predominantly white nation. The demonstrations could lead to increased scrutiny of policing practices and potentially spur policy changes regarding police accountability and racial justice initiatives.The PredictionGoing forward, these protests may lead to sustained activism and policy discussions around policing reform in Ireland. The "George Floyd moment" comparison suggests that Ireland may be experiencing a watershed moment in its approach to racial justice, potentially leading to long-term changes in how the country addresses issues of police conduct and racial inequality.

President Donald Trump used his social‑media platform on Thursday to declare that the United States will send an extra 5,000 troops to Poland, a move that overturns a prior decision to reduce the American footprint in Europe. Trump’s Surprise Troop Deployment to Poland The announcement was framed as a personal endorsement of Poland’s newly elected president, Karol Nawrocki, whom Trump praised for his “friendship” and “shared security vision.” Polish Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski welcomed the decision, saying it would keep the U.S. presence “more or less at previous levels.” Details of the 5,000‑Soldier Reinforcement Date of announcement: Thursday, 22 May 2026 Units involved: Not specified; Pentagon has not clarified whether the troops are redeployed from Germany or newly assigned. Previous plan: A scheduled deployment of 4,000 troops was scrapped a week earlier; an earlier proposal to withdraw 5,000 troops from Germany was also announced. Polish reaction: President Nawrocki and Foreign Minister Sikorski praised the move as a sign of “good alliances based on cooperation, mutual respect, and shared security.” Numbers Behind the Move: Troop Levels and Funding While the exact financial outlay was not disclosed, Warsaw traditionally contributes a significant share of the cost for U.S. forces on its soil. Analysts note that maintaining an additional 5,000 troops could increase Poland’s annual contribution by several hundred million dollars, depending on the force composition. Current U.S. troop presence in Poland: Approximately 4,000–5,000 personnel. Potential total after deployment: Up to 10,000 U.S. soldiers. Comparison with Germany: The Pentagon recently announced a reduction of combat brigades in Europe from four to three, signaling a broader re‑balancing of forces. Strategic Ripple Effects Across NATO The abrupt policy shift fuels uncertainty among NATO allies that have already expressed frustration with Trump’s “America First” stance, especially his criticism of European defence spending and the U.S.–Israeli war on Iran. NATO Secretary‑General Mark Rutte welcomed the Polish reinforcement but warned Europe must become less dependent on U.S. troops. Swedish Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard described the situation as “confusing” for both allies and U.S. officials. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is slated to discuss NATO burden‑sharing at the upcoming foreign‑ministers meeting. European concerns now extend to other U.S. statements, such as threats to annex Greenland, further straining alliance cohesion. What Comes Next for Transatlantic Defense Analysts predict a short‑term scramble within NATO to clarify the composition and timeline of the Polish deployment. Potential scenarios include: Redeployment of troops from Germany to Poland, solidifying a forward‑focused posture on the Eastern flank. Gradual scaling back of U.S. forces in Central Europe, paired with increased European defence investments. Intensified diplomatic efforts by the Pentagon and State Department to reassure allies ahead of the NATO foreign‑ministers summit. In the coming weeks, the alliance’s ability to present a unified response to Russian aggression in Ukraine will hinge on how quickly Washington can translate the announced numbers into a clear, predictable force structure.

The LeadAs we celebrate Miles Davis's centenary, his 1957 film soundtrack "Ascenseur pour l'Échafaud" is being repackaged with restored audio, offering a fresh look at the jazz legend's innovative approach to film scoring and improvisation. This mostly improvised soundtrack, created over one night in a Paris studio, showcases Davis's unique harmonic openness that would later influence his masterpiece "Kind of Blue."The Creative Process Behind the SoundtrackComposed by Davis from little more than a handful of chords, this music was mostly improvised straight to a screen showing budding New Wave director Louis Malle's crime thriller "Ascenseur pour l'Échafaud" (Lift to the Scaffold), over one long night in a Paris studio in December 1957. His fine local quartet included expat New York bebop drummer Kenny Clarke, and their harmonic openness created a spacey, ethereal soundworld for a story following two lovers who think they've committed the perfect murder of an inconvenient husband, and the mishaps, farces, ecstasies and fears that populate the long night of their undoing.The Musical Landscape of NoirDreamily sensual sounds mirror misplaced hopes; there are car-chase scurries (Miles's fast-bop horn virtuosity was formidable in this period), desolately bluesy accompaniments to actor Jeanne Moreau's confused wandering in search of her partner, bar-room clamour in the trumpet/tenor-sax counterpoint between Miles and saxist Barney Wilen – but all the music stands alone, without images. A quiet slow-burn, but simmering with all of Miles Davis's timelessly extraordinary light and heat.Jazz Tributes and Contemporary ConnectionsThis month marks Miles's centenary, and a clamour of celebrations of a musical life that led him to be dubbed (by Duke Ellington, allegedly) the "Picasso of jazz" for the many styles he explored. Alongside the reissue of "Ascenseur pour l'Échafaud," other artists are paying tribute: Norwegian guitarist Hedvig Mollestad's power-trio Weejuns nods to Miles Davis' 1969 "Bitches Brew" with "Bitches Blues"; guitarist Jeff Parker unveils fascinating ways of emerging from minimalism to lyricism; and Jason Miles, a former Miles Davis keyboardist, revisits that groove-centric era in his own personal way.The Legacy of ImprovisationWhen Miles Davis was dying in September 1991, an invisible, neighbouring trumpet player began playing homages to Miles' voice-like, blues-inflected melodies instead. It was a poignant personal tribute to a unique instrumental sound, and a unique imagination, that had profoundly enriched 20th-century music. The reissue of "Ascenseur pour l'Échafaud" continues this legacy, showing how Davis's approach to improvisation and harmonic openness continues to influence musicians today.

Retatrutide Delivers Up to 28% Body‑Weight Reduction in Phase 3 StudyA new weight‑loss drug has helped participants in a sizable trial lose much more weight than other obesity drugs already on the market – up to an average of 28% of their body weight, Eli Lilly announced on Thursday. Phase 3 Trial Design and Dosing RegimenThe Indiana‑based company randomized 2,339 adults with obesity or overweight and at least one weight‑related comorbidity (no diabetes) to receive Retatrutide at 4 mg, 9 mg, 12 mg, or placebo for 80 weeks. The drug is a once‑weekly triple hormone receptor agonist targeting GLP‑1, GIP, and glucagon. Quantitative Outcomes and Safety ProfileAverage weight loss: 70.3 lb (28.3%) at the 12 mg dose.Average loss at 9 mg: 64.4 lb (25.9%).Average loss at 4 mg: 47.2 lb (19.0%).45.3% of 12 mg participants lost ≥30% of body weight.65.3% reduced BMI below 30; 37.5% of those starting with BMI ≥ 40 achieved this.Side‑effects increased with dose: nausea (28.6%‑42.4%), diarrhea (25.2%‑34.1%), vomiting (up to 25%).For comparison, Zepbound yields 15‑20% loss over 72 weeks and Wegovy 14‑19% over 64‑72 weeks. Implications for the Obesity‑Drug LandscapeThe magnitude of loss positions Retatrutide as the most effective pharmacologic option to date, potentially shifting prescriber preference away from existing GLP‑1 monotherapies. Its triple‑agonist mechanism adds glucagon, a hormone absent from current products, which may enhance metabolic control and appetite suppression. Future Outlook: Approval Path and Market PotentialAnalysts expect regulatory submissions within the next year, with a likely U.S. FDA review in 2027. If approved, Retatrutide could capture a sizable share of the rapidly expanding obesity‑treatment market, prompting competitors to explore multi‑agonist formulations.