Saturday Highlights
F1
6 a.m. (all Saturdays, GMT)Japan Grand Prix Qualifying
Mercedes and Ferrari have excelled in adapting to F1’s most significant changes in power and chassis over the past decade. George Russell and Kimi Antonelli each claimed victories in the first two races, while Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc of Ferrari surged to third and fourth place, respectively. The Suzuka circuit, with its unique figure-eight layout, presents a stark contrast to Melbourne’s street course and Shanghai’s layout, making it a challenging venue for overtaking. With Hamilton having secured the Japanese Grand Prix title five times and Suzuka four, he is quickly moving up the standings post-races. Philip Cornwall is setting the pace during qualifying, with Giles Richards reporting directly from Suzuka.
Football
8:00 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.Matchday Live
While the Premier League may be on hiatus this weekend, the world of football remains active. Billy Monday is up early to deliver the latest updates and reviews of matches both domestically and internationally. Fans are particularly eager for Friday’s friendly between England and Uruguay, led by ex-Leeds manager Marcelo Bielsa at Wembley. Scotland will also face Japan in a World Cup warm-up. Additionally, League One and Two programs are generating buzz, alongside three derby clashes in the Women’s Super League. Join us in the discussion and stay connected.
Women’s Super League
1:30 p.m.Manchester United vs. Manchester City Live
A highly anticipated derby matchup features the top two clubs in the WSL. Andre Jeglarz’s side recently triumphed over Spurs with a remarkable 5-2 victory thanks to Khadijah Shaw’s record-breaking hat-trick. Meanwhile, Manchester United collected three points against Everton but faced a setback with a narrow 3-2 loss to Bayern Munich in the Women’s Champions League quarter-finals midweek. Xaymaka Awoyungbo will spearhead the live blog, with Tom Garry reporting from Old Trafford.
International Soccer
5 p.m.Scotland vs. Japan Live
Four months have passed since Steve Clarke’s Scotland reached the World Cup final for the first time in almost three decades, following an exhilarating 4-2 defeat to Denmark at Hampden Park. Their upcoming friendly against Japan offers Clarke a chance to refine his squad ahead of the Tartan Army’s summer tour of North America. With only a few matches left before the final squad announcement in May, players are eager to impress in Group C clashes against Brazil, Morocco, and Haiti. Scott Murray will host the live blog, with Ewan Murray reporting from Glasgow.
Women’s Super League
5:30 p.m.Arsenal vs. Tottenham Live
In another high-stakes showdown, Renee Sleggers’ Arsenal team ranks fourth, just one spot above Spurs, trailing by six points. They remain undefeated in league play since October. Following a strong 3-1 victory against Chelsea in the Women’s Champions League quarter-finals, Chloe Kelly led a 5-0 rout of West Ham. Conversely, Spurs have stumbled in their last two matches, with just one win against Arsenal in recent encounters, culminating in a goalless draw at Brisbane Road last November. Sophie Downie covers the action at the Emirates, with Rob Smith taking charge of the North London Derby blog.
Sunday Highlights
F1
6 a.m. (all times Sunday BST)Japan Grand Prix Live
Oscar Piastri’s performance in Friday’s practice positions him as a contender for a victory in this season’s unique non-Mercedes championship. McLaren has faced challenges since Lando Norris claimed the drivers’ championship last season, with technical issues preventing them from starting the race in China a fortnight ago. Although the Japanese Grand Prix marks only the third race of the new F1 season, it will be the last before a five-week hiatus following the cancellation of races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia due to escalated tensions in the Middle East. The next race is set for Miami on May 3rd, making this a crucial opportunity for the Papaya Orange team. Joey Lynch will deliver live lap-by-lap coverage, with Giles Richards reporting from the scene.
Football
8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.Matchday Live
Emilia Hawkins is poised to bring her insights back during Sunday’s match coverage. She will be offering updates as England prepares for their upcoming World Cup warm-up against Japan on Tuesday. The day’s soccer slate also features three WSL matches, along with breaking news and vibrant atmosphere from various venues. Share your thoughts at matchday.live@theguardian.com.
Women’s Super League
12 p.m.Chelsea vs. Aston Villa Live
At Kingsmeadow, the day’s top WSL match sees third-placed Chelsea square off against Aston Villa, who recently defeated Leicester following a draw with league leaders Manchester City. Chelsea has stumbled in their title pursuits, being knocked out by Arsenal in the Champions League on Tuesday. With Aggie Beaver-Jones the latest addition to the injury list, all eyes are on the potential return of Sam Kerr after the Asian Cup. Daniel Harris will guide the live blog for this critical match.
