Barcelona took another major step toward retaining their La Liga title with a 2-0 victory over Getafe on Saturday. The win marked their first triumph at Getafe’s Coliseum Stadium in six seasons. Fermín López opened the scoring in the 45th minute and dedicated his goal to injured teammate Lamine Yamal, who will miss the rest of the season due to a muscle injury. Substitute Marcus Rashford sealed the result in the 74th minute with a solo effort.

With five matches remaining, Barcelona extended their lead over second-placed Real Madrid to 11 points, strengthening their position at the top of the table. The upcoming El Clásico at Camp Nou on May 10 could play a decisive role in determining the league champion.

The victory ended a long drought for Barcelona at Getafe’s home ground, where they had managed only one goal in their previous five visits, resulting in four draws and one defeat. Their last win at the venue came in 2019.

Kylian Mbappé left the field in the 81st minute during Real Madrid’s 1-1 draw against Real Betis on Friday, raising injury concerns for both his club and the French national team. The forward appeared uncomfortable and went directly to the dressing room, with Gonzalo García replacing him. Real coach Álvaro Arbeloa said he was unsure about the extent of Mbappé’s problem and that the situation would be clearer in the coming days.

According to media reports, Mbappé may have suffered a strain in his left hamstring, putting his participation in upcoming matches in doubt. Real Madrid could be without him for the May 3 match against Espanyol and the following week’s El Clásico against Barcelona. Having scored 24 goals in 28 league appearances this season, Mbappé’s absence would be a major blow for Real. France also faces concern ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which begins for them on June 16 against Senegal.

Arbeloa also expressed disappointment over the draw with Betis and criticized a refereeing decision, claiming a clear handball penalty was denied.

Barcelona forward Lamine Yamal has been named La Liga’s Player of the Month for April 2026, marking a historic achievement for the 18-year-old. The announcement came on Friday, shortly after confirmation that Yamal’s season had ended due to an injury sustained in Wednesday’s match against Celta Vigo. Despite the setback, his performances throughout April earned him the top individual honor.

Yamal outperformed Vedat Muriqi, Carlos Soler, Lucas Boyé, and Fede Viñas to claim the award. This is his third Player of the Month title of the season, having previously won in November and December. He is now the first player in La Liga history to win the monthly award three times in a single season.

In April, Barcelona won all three of their league matches, with Yamal playing a decisive role. He scored against Espanyol and Celta Vigo, and contributed one goal and two assists against Espanyol, further solidifying his impact before the injury ended his campaign.

Real Madrid stumbled again in the La Liga title race after conceding a stoppage-time equalizer against Real Betis, resulting in a 1-1 draw on April 25, 2026. Despite taking an early lead through Vinícius Júnior in the 17th minute, Real failed to secure victory as Héctor Bellerín scored in the 94th minute to level the match. The draw denied Madrid a chance to close the gap with league leaders Barcelona.

Throughout the match at Betis’ home ground, Real faced strong resistance. Betis controlled 52 percent of possession and took 19 shots, four on target, while Real managed 12 shots with eight on target. Kylian Mbappé and Jude Bellingham missed opportunities to extend the lead, and Mbappé had a goal disallowed for offside. Goalkeeper Andriy Lunin made several key saves to keep Madrid ahead until the final moments.

After 33 matches, Real Madrid remain second with 74 points, trailing Barcelona, who lead with 82 points from one game fewer. Betis stand fifth with 50 points. The late setback adds pressure on Madrid’s pursuit of the league title.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has responded to a reported US threat to suspend Spain from NATO for not cooperating in a military operation against Iran. Speaking at a European Union summit in Nicosia on Friday, Sánchez described Spain as a reliable NATO member and said he was not concerned about speculation surrounding an internal Pentagon email.

According to Reuters, cited by AFP, the email discussed possible punitive measures against NATO allies that refused to join the Iran-related operation, including the potential suspension of Spain. Sánchez emphasized that Spain fulfills all its NATO responsibilities and bases its decisions on official documents and declared US policy, not on leaked communications. He reiterated that Spain supports full cooperation with NATO within the framework of international law.

The report notes that NATO’s founding treaty does not explicitly provide for suspension or expulsion of members. Amid tensions over the Iran conflict, US President Donald Trump has expressed dissatisfaction with allies such as Spain, France, and Italy for denying US military aircraft access to their bases or airspace, calling NATO a “paper tiger.”

A NATO official stated that the alliance’s founding Washington Treaty contains no provision for suspending or expelling member states. The clarification came after reports suggested that the United States had considered measures targeting Spain. According to those reports, an internal Pentagon email mentioned possible actions against allies that did not support U.S. military operations, including Spain.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez dismissed the reports, saying Madrid bases its policies on official communications rather than internal correspondence. Speaking to journalists before an informal European Union meeting in Cyprus, he emphasized that Spain cooperates fully with allies but always within the framework of international law.

The reports followed Spain’s refusal to allow the United States to use its bases or airspace for a potential military operation against Iran. U.S. President Donald Trump had previously criticized Spain and other NATO allies over such decisions and hinted at reducing the U.S. role within the alliance.

Spain’s Minister of Culture, Ernest Urtasun, announced that the government is considering regulatory measures on online book sales to protect independent bookstores across the country. Speaking on World Book Day, April 23, during an interview with Cadena SER radio, Urtasun said one proposal involves requiring large online platforms to impose a minimum delivery charge on book purchases, effectively ending free shipping. The minister noted that similar rules already exist in France, where a minimum delivery fee applies to low-cost online book orders.

Urtasun emphasized that thousands of small bookstores in Spain are at risk and described them as not only retail spaces but also cultural centers. He said the government already provides direct support to these independent shops. Comparing the experience of buying books online and in-store, he highlighted the personal interaction and advice available in physical bookstores.

He added that reading habits in Spain have grown significantly since the COVID-19 pandemic, reaching record levels, particularly among women and young readers. Urtasun also underscored the cultural importance of World Book Day, celebrated in Catalonia as “Sant Jordi,” which promotes reading and strengthens the publishing industry.

The NCP Diaspora Alliance has alleged that Bangladeshi expatriates in Spain are facing administrative complications, delays, and harassment in renewing or obtaining new passports and police clearance certificates. In a statement issued on Tuesday, the organization presented five demands to address these issues, urging urgent action from relevant authorities.

According to the group, Spain’s legalization program has created a historic opportunity for many Bangladeshis, but bureaucratic inefficiency and corruption are preventing them from obtaining essential documents. The alliance emphasized that the problem affects not only individuals but also national interests, as legalization would enhance employment, remittance inflows, and economic strength. The organization called for a one-stop service at the Bangladesh Embassy in Spain, faster passport processing, effective monitoring under the Home Ministry, a special task force for coordination, and strict action against fraud networks.

The NCP Diaspora Alliance warned that without swift measures, thousands of expatriates risk losing this opportunity, which could negatively impact individuals, families, and the state.

Spain has begun implementing a mass legalization program for undocumented migrants under its leftist government, sparking both optimism and anxiety among applicants. Many migrants are rushing to complete the required paperwork before the June 30 deadline, with authorities promising to deliver decisions within 15 days of submission. The process officially began on Thursday, according to reports from Madrid.

Applicants must prove continuous residence in Spain for at least five months and have no criminal record in Spain or their home country. Supporting documents such as transport cards, supermarket loyalty cards, remittance receipts, or hospital appointment records are being accepted as proof of residence. The government expects around 500,000 people, mostly from Latin America, to benefit from the program.

To handle the administrative workload, Spain’s immigration minister Elma Saiz said that about 450 offices are operating extended hours and 550 additional staff have been hired. Legal aid organizations report a surge in requests for assistance, warning that the large volume of applications could strain the system and slow processing times.

Spain’s government, led by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, has approved a program to legalize around 500,000 undocumented migrants, including Bangladeshis. The decision was made on Tuesday, with online applications opening on Thursday, April 16, and in-person submissions starting on April 20, continuing until June 30. The initiative allows eligible migrants who entered Spain before January 1, 2026, and can prove at least five months of residence, to apply for one-year residence and work permits.

Applicants must have no criminal record. Those granted temporary permits will become eligible to apply for permanent residency and broader work rights after one year. The program follows long-standing demands from Spanish civil society and rights organizations for regularization of undocumented residents.

According to the Spanish government, the measure aims to address labor shortages and enhance social security for irregular migrants. Experts have described the move as both migrant-friendly and humanitarian. The decision is expected to bring relief to many Bangladeshi migrants currently living in Spain without legal status.

Barcelona were eliminated from the UEFA Champions League despite a 2-1 victory over Atlético Madrid in the quarterfinal second leg on Tuesday night at the Metropolitano Stadium. Having lost the first leg 2-0, Barcelona fell short on aggregate, losing 3-2 overall. The result sent Atlético Madrid to the semifinals for the first time since 2017 under coach Diego Simeone.

Barcelona started strongly, with Lamine Yamal scoring in the fourth minute and Ferran Torres doubling the lead in the 24th minute, raising hopes of a comeback. However, Ademola Lookman’s goal in the 31st minute restored Atlético’s aggregate advantage. In the second half, Barcelona’s challenge weakened when Eric García received a red card in the 79th minute for fouling Alexander Sørloth, reducing the visitors to ten men.

Atlético Madrid’s progression marks their return to the Champions League semifinals after nine years, while Barcelona’s campaign ended despite a spirited performance in the return leg.

Barcelona recovered from their Champions League quarter-final first-leg defeat with a commanding 4-1 victory over Espanyol in La Liga. The match, held at the Nou Camp, saw Ferran Torres score twice, while Lamine Yamal and Marcus Rashford added one goal each. Paul Lozano netted Espanyol’s only goal. The win strengthened Barcelona’s position at the top of the league table with 79 points from 31 matches, including 26 wins, one draw, and four losses, placing them nine points ahead of Real Madrid.

Real Madrid, meanwhile, continued to struggle in April after a strong March. The team has failed to win any of their three matches this month, dropping points in all. On Friday night, they were held to a 1-1 draw by Girona at the Santiago Bernabéu. Earlier, they lost to Mallorca in La Liga and to Bayern Munich 2-1 in the Champions League quarter-final first leg.

The results have tightened Barcelona’s grip on the title race while Real Madrid’s recent slump threatens their championship hopes.

Spain has announced that it will reopen its embassy in Tehran as part of efforts to promote regional peace. The announcement was made on Thursday, April 9, 2026, by Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares, who said the Spanish ambassador in Tehran has been instructed to resume duties and reopen the embassy to engage directly in peace initiatives from Iran’s capital.

Albares also accused Israel of violating international law and breaking a recently established two-week ceasefire in the Middle East. He claimed that Israel carried out airstrikes in Lebanon on Wednesday, disregarding the truce and international legal norms. Spain has emerged as one of the strongest critics among Western nations of U.S. and Israeli military actions in Iran and Lebanon.

In response to the ongoing conflict, Spain has already closed its airspace to any aircraft involved in the hostilities, signaling a firm stance on limiting military escalation in the region.

Atletico Madrid earned a crucial 2-0 victory over Barcelona at Camp Nou in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League quarterfinals on April 9, 2026. Barcelona, reduced to ten men after defender Pau Cubarsí was sent off in the 44th minute, struggled to recover as Diego Simeone’s side capitalized on their advantage. Julián Álvarez opened the scoring with a free-kick before Alexander Sørloth doubled the lead in the 70th minute.

Despite dominating possession and registering 18 shots, seven of which were on target, Barcelona failed to find the net due to poor finishing. Atletico, meanwhile, made the most of their limited chances to secure their first win at Camp Nou since 2006. The result gives the Madrid club a strong position heading into the return leg.

Barcelona now face a major challenge to overturn the deficit in the second leg at Atletico’s Metropolitano Stadium, where they must win by at least two goals to stay in contention for the semifinals.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has called on the European Union to suspend its cooperation agreement with Israel following a deadly attack in Lebanon that killed 254 people on the same day a ceasefire was declared. Sánchez accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of showing contempt for human life and international law, describing the assault as Israel’s harshest strike against Lebanon. He made the remarks in a post on social media platform X, citing more than 200 deaths and over a thousand injuries.

Sánchez urged the international community to condemn Israel for violating international law and insisted that Lebanon must be included in any ceasefire agreement. He emphasized that no impunity should be granted for what he described as a criminal act. The EU-Israel Association Agreement, signed in 2000, serves as the legal foundation for trade, political dialogue, and economic cooperation between the two sides.

The Spanish leader’s appeal adds pressure on the EU to reconsider its ties with Israel amid growing concerns over civilian casualties and adherence to international law.