What caught our eye this week? Here is the best of the best.
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1. Best collapse: Barcelona
Three. Count them. Three successive defeats in the Primera Liga (the first time since 2003) have left Barcelona’s march to the title looking as assured as Bambi negotiating an ice rink. On Sunday, they lost to Valencia, which means the nine-point lead they had on April 1 is now zero. Oh, and they have also been knocked out of the Uefa Champions League. How has it happened? Fatigue, especially among that front three, has been cited as one reason. Tricky though – how do you not play any of them?
2. Best punching bag: Jon Moss
Not that we ever need an excuse to bash referees, but boy did Moss make it easy. He was in charge of Leicester City’s 2-2 draw with West Ham United and as significant a game as it was, it was dominated by Moss. The red card to Jamie Vardy was the right call, but Moss was inconsistent in awarding two penalties while not awarding a fair few others. The penalty that rescued a point for Leicester, in particular, reeked of making up for not awarding a clear one minutes earlier.
3. Best omen: Rafael Nadal
Tennis world be warned. Be a little scared too. The clay season is upon us and Rafael Nadal has won the Monte Carlo Open. In years gone, this was routine (he won here eight years in a row). But this was his first Masters 1,000 title in nearly two years and the first sign, in a long time that he may have just a little more glory left in him. The old dominance was missing but how can you now rule him out of the French Open?
4. Worst spoilsports: UK Home Office
Pakistan are due to make their first tour of England this summer since the series forever known as the spot-fixing series. Two main protagonists from 2010, Mohammed Amir and Salman Butt, are back and likely to be selected. But because both have served time in prison in the UK – for charges arising from that series – the UK Home Office may refuse them visas to travel. Butt’s prospects seem bleak though Pakistan know who they would much rather have there.
5. Best Tweet: Conor McGregor
“I have decided to retire young. Thanks for the cheese. Catch ya’s later.” So tweeted Conor McGregor, the MMA superstar, 27, from Dublin. That has thrown the UFC, of which he its featherweight champion, into a tizzy. No reason has followed, amid speculation that it is part of a power struggle with Dana White, the UFC chief, or in reaction to the death of Joao Carvalho. He has been pulled out of their next card, but the UFC know they cannot do without their biggest draw for long.
