Barcelona watching Espanyol-Real Madrid and hoping to celebrate title win

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Barcelona is looking to city rival Espanyol for a favor to celebrate another Spanish league title.

Espanyol hosted second-place Real Madrid later Sunday with the visitors needing a win to prolong the title fight for another week at least. Anything less than a Madrid victory would hand Barcelona the title with four rounds to spare.

Barcelona opened a 14-point lead over Madrid with a 2-1 win at Osasuna on Saturday. It next hosts bitter rival Madrid in a La Liga “clásico” next weekend, when it could clinch the title without relying on help from others.

Rayo Vallecano prepared for its Conference League semifinal against Strasbourg with a 2-0 win at Getafe.

Rayo coach Iñigo Pérez was able to rest many of his first-choice players with the Conference League semifinal second leg on Thursday in mind. Rayo won the first leg 1-0 at home.

Sergio Camello and Randy Nteka scored in each half for the visitors, while Rayo goalkeeper Augusto Batalla also saved a penalty, to lift the team from the Madrid district of Vallecas to 11th ahead of the rest of the round.

Celta Viga boosted its hopes of European qualification with a 3-1 win at home over Elche that left the promoted team among a host of clubs still in danger of relegation.

Celta moved above Getafe into sixth.

Also Sunday, Cucho Hernández opened and concluded the scoring for fifth-place Real Betis in a 3-0 win at home over last-place Oviedo, a result that left the visitors on the verge of relegation.

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Barcelona's Robert Lewandowski celebrates after scoring his side's opening goal during a Spanish La Liga soccer match between Osasuna and Barcelona in Pamplona, Spain, Saturday, May 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Miguel Oses)

Barcelona's Robert Lewandowski celebrates after scoring his side's opening goal during a Spanish La Liga soccer match between Osasuna and Barcelona in Pamplona, Spain, Saturday, May 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Miguel Oses)

BAMAKO, Mali (AP) — A former Malian minister and critic of the ruling junta was abducted from his home by armed, hooded men, one of his family members told The Associated Press Sunday, as fallout spreads from a wave of armed attacks against the government in the conflict-battered West African nation.

Mountaga Tall’s home in the capital, Bamako, was stormed shortly before midnight on Saturday, his relative Mahmoud Touré told AP. The men did not identify themselves, nor did they say why they were seizing Tall, but Touré said they were from the armed forces.

“They did not explain why and did not present an arrest warrant,” he said. “The soldiers mistreated Mountaga Tall’s wife and took his phone.”

Tall served as Mali's education and science minister from 2016 to 2017 and is the president of the National Congress for Democratic Initiative, a political party opposed to the military government. As a lawyer, he represents politicians and other individuals who have been arrested for criticizing the junta.

Mali was struck on April 26 by one of the biggest coordinated attacks on its army in Bamako and several other cities by jihadis and rebels who seized several towns and military bases. Several people were killed in the attack including the defense minister, Sadio Camara.

The Islamic militant group Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) and the Azawad Liberation Front, a Tuareg-led separatist group, jointly launched the heaviest attack on the government since 2012.

On Friday the military government said it had evidence that soldiers collaborated with the groups to launch the attacks. It has since carried out a wave of arrests.

Tall's family said they have filed a complaint “regarding kidnapping and disappearance” with the security forces. The government has not commented on the arrests.

An ariel view of Bamako, Mali, Saturday, April 25, 2026. (AP Photo)