There is some great sport to enjoy throughout May. With big finals in football and rugby, the French Open in tennis and the continuation of a gripping Formula One season, May has a little bit of everything...
Football
Manchester City were crowned League Cup winners last month and the trophies come thick and fast as the football season reaches its conclusion. With just four matches remaining in the Premier League, the question is when, not if, Man City will reclaim the title. Beat Chelsea this weekend and it's guaranteed (Sat 8th May 5.30PM, Sky Sports).
Speaking of Chelsea vs Man City, the title clincher could be a dress rehearsal for the UEFA Champions League final at the end of the month. At the time of writing, both clubs find themselves in a great position after impressive results in their respective away legs. They both know that a win will do in home legs against Real Madrid for Chelsea, and PSG for Man City this week. The big final takes place in Istanbul on 29th May.
English hopes are still alive in the UEFA Europa League too, where Arsenal will need to overcome a first-leg deficit if they are to join a Man Utd side knowing they can lose by 3 on the night and still progress. Hopes of an English whitewash of European finals for the second time in 3 seasons rest on positive outcomes on home soil for 3 sides, and anything bar a disaster for Man Utd in Rome.
Back home, the FA Cup Final takes place on 15th May. No other side has been the bridesmaid more than Leicester City, who'll be hoping for fifth time lucky as they take on Chelsea for the famous old cup. The match is live on BBC & BT Sport with a 5.15pm kick off.
All announced televised Premier League fixtures can be found on our fixture generator.
- Champions League semi finals Tuesday 4th & Wednesday 5th May, final Saturday 29th May on BT Sport
- Europa League semi finals Thursday 6th May, final Wednesday 26th May on BT Sport
Formula One
2021 is shaping up nicely for a legendary battle between Lewis Hamilton & Max Verstappen. The pair have finished 1-2 in the opening three races, with Hamilton coming out on top twice so far. Hamilton holds a slender 8-point advantage as a result, but with 20 races to run and evenly matched machinery, expect the battle to ebb and flow all season.
The calendar gathers momentum this month with two more rounds following last weekend's Portugese GP. First up is the Circuit de Catalunya in Spain, this circuit is usually the hub of pre-season activity, meaning teams often have an intimiate understanding come race weekend. This year saw testing move to Bahrain, and with a tweaked circuit layout in Spain, it looks like being less predictable than in years gone by.
Later this month is the iconic Monaco GP, back after being absent from the rejigged 2020 calendar. The drivers love, fans adore it, and a year away might mean the tight and twisting streets of Monte Carlo pose more of a challenge than usual. This is usually a circuit which plays to the strengths of Red Bull's chasis, will it also provide Verstappen with a first Monaco win to add to the tapestry he's writing in F1?
- Spanish GP Sunday 9th May, 2pm; Monaco GP Sunday 23rd May, 2pm (Sky Sports F1)
Tennis
The second Grand Slam of the year gets under way later this month, with the French Openon on the clay courts of Roland Garros.Novak Djokovic and Naomi Osaka took the titles in February's Australian Open, both will have their work cut out to add to their 2021 grand slams here.
Rafa Nadal is the king of clay and has dominated at Roland Garros over the years, winning 13 of the last 16 French Opens. With a remarkable record like that, it will be tough to see past the Spaniard taking the title once more.
The Womens Singles title has been much less predictable, with a different winner in each of the last 7 French Opens. Osaka's four grand slam wins have all come on hard court surfaces so a win here on clay would see her establish herself as the number one in the womens game.
- French Open, 30th May - 13th June (ITV / Eurosport)
Rugby Union
The finals of both the Champions Cup and Challenge Cup take place at Twickenham this month as the European rugby union season draws to a close. After months of behind closed doors games, Twickenham will open its doors with up to 10,000 expected for each match.
Leicester Tigers booked their place in the Challenge Cup Final with an impressive 33-24 victory over Ulster. Standing in their way will be Montpellier, who beat Bath in their semi-final.
It's an all French affair in the Champions Cup Final, as La Rochelle take on Toulouse. These two sides have contrasting experience at this level. Toulouse are looking for a record fifth European Cup trophy whilst for La Rochelle this is their first appearance in the final.
- Champions Cup Final: La Rochelle vs Toulouse Saturday 22nd May, BT Sport
- Challenge Cup Final: Leicester Tigers vs Montpellier Friday 21st May, BT Sport
Which sporting event are you most looking forward to watching this month? Let us know in the comments below.
