Michael Carrick has refused to rule out the prospect of Marcus Rashford returning to Manchester United once his loan spell with Barcelona comes to an end.

Lamine Yamal set up two goals and scored another as Barcelona took a significant step towards defending their La Liga title with a 4-1 derby win over Espanyol on Saturday.

Real Madrid dropped more points in the Spanish title race with a frustrating 1-1 LaLiga draw at home against Girona on Friday.

Barcelona's main goal this season is to win the Champions League but coach Hansi Flick on Friday told his players to focus on this weekend's La Liga derby against Espanyol.

Second-placed Real were beaten 2-1 at Mallorca earlier on and Barca capitalised at the Metropolitano stadium to take a big step towards defending the league title.

Real Madrid coach Alvaro Arbeloa said Friday that Spain was a tolerant country and not racist, despite Islamophobic chanting during a national team match this week.

Ronald Araujo's first-half header gave Barcelona a 1-0 win at home against Rayo Vallecano on Sunday, with goalkeeper Joan Garcia delivering a standout performance to preserve the Catalan side's lead at the top of LaLiga.

Hansi Flick said on Tuesday that he does not know yet if he will extend his Barcelona contract, but is certain that leading the Catalan giants will be his last job in football.

The champions restored their four-point lead over second-placed Real Madrid, who had temporarily closed the gap by beating Celta Vigo on Friday.

Federico Valverde's heavily deflected 95th-minute drive snatched injury-hit Real Madrid a 2-1 win at Celta Vigo in La Liga on Friday.

Real Madrid fell to a damaging 1-0 defeat by Getafe at home in La Liga on Monday, leaving them four points behind leaders Barcelona.

France captain Kylian Mbappe was in Paris Monday for treatment on a knee injury but no surgery is planned, the Real Madrid superstar's entourage told AFP.

Barcelona's teenage star Lamine Yamal scored the first hat-trick of his career in a 4-1 win over Villarreal on Saturday that took the Catalan giants four points clear at the top of La Liga.

English powerhouse City were charged in February 2023 with over 100 alleged breaches of the league's financial rules, with the club vigorously denying all charges against them.

Coach Hansi Flick has rotated between the veteran Pole and the Spaniard this season to lead the attack, but neither has fully convinced.

Barcelona cruised to a 3-0 victory over Levante to reclaim pole position in La Liga on Sunday.

Real stayed on 60 points, two ahead of Barcelona, who have a game in hand and host Levante on Sunday.

The Catalan giants are bolstered by the return of Pedri Gonzalez and Marcus Rashford after injury as they aim to overhaul Real Madrid in the Spanish title race.

Barcelona winger Raphinha lashed out at perceived refereeing double standards in La Liga on Tuesday after his side fell to a 2-1 defeat at Girona.

Barca remain on 58 points, two behind Real Madrid, and have lost successive games in all competitions for the first time since October.