This Week in Sport: 19th May − 25th May 2025
A thrilling week of sport lies ahead. On Monday, there’s some great MLB action as the St. Louis Cardinals host the Detroit Tigers. On Tuesday, the NBA Western Conference Finals begin, with the Oklahoma City Thunder hosting the Minnesota Timberwolves. That’s followed by the all-English Europa League Final between Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur on Wednesday. The NHL Eastern Conference Finals continue on Thursday, with the Carolina Hurricanes hosting the Florida Panthers and on Friday, the Giro d’Italia continues with a 180km hilly stage.
Entering a truly exceptional weekend of sport, Bordeaux face Northampton Saints in the Final of the European Rugby Champions Cup and on Sunday, Formula 1 heads to Monte Carlo for the Monaco Grand Prix.
MLB: St. Louis Cardinals v Detroit Tigers
Monday 19th May 11:45PM GMT/6:45PM Local
Busch Stadium, St. Louis
The St. Louis Cardinals host the Detroit Tigers at Busch Stadium in St. Louis. As the end of May nears, the Cardinals are firmly in the race for the National League Central crown, sitting two games behind the division-leading Chicago Cubs. The Cardinals’ offensive star is Brendan Donovan, who has a team-high batting average of .330. Meanwhile, the Tigers have a comfortable five-game lead in the American League Central. The team is led by a power-hitting duo of Gleyber Torres and Kerry Carpenter, who could spoil the day of Cardinals’ starting pitcher, Sonny Gray. With both teams eyeing deep playoff runs later in the year, this series should be an exciting one.
NBA: Oklahoma City Thunder v Minnesota Timberwolves
Tuesday 20th May 12:30AM GMT (21st)/7:30PM Local
Paycom Center, Oklahoma City
The NBA Western Conference Finals get underway, with the Oklahoma City Thunder hosting the Minnesota Timberwolves at the Paycom Center in Oklahoma City. The Thunder make their first Conference Finals appearance since 2016 after routing the Nuggets in Game 7 of their Second Round series. Time and time again, the Thunder have shown how they stormed to the league’s best record this season. Meanwhile, the Timberwolves reach the Conference Finals for the second consecutive season. Despite entering the playoffs as the sixth seed in the West, they have dominated the Lakers and Warriors and have only dropped two games so far in these playoffs. Can MVP frontrunner Shai Gilgeous-Alexander lead the Thunder past Anthony Edwards and the Timberwolves?
UEFA Europa League: Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester United
Wednesday 21st May 7:00PM GMT/9:00PM Local
San Mamés Stadium, Bilbao
Tottenham Hotspur face Manchester United in the Final of the UEFA Europa League at San Mamés Stadium in Bilbao. Meeting for the first time in a European competition since 1964, both sides will be eager to end an otherwise disappointing season on a positive note. Spurs appear in their first European Final since 2019 and their first Europa League Final since 1984. They have a strong track record in the competition, having won two of the three finals they have previously contested. Meanwhile, United return to the Final for the first time since 2021 and will look to secure their first European trophy since 2017. Spurs enter the match on a three-game winning streak against United. Can they extend it to four in their biggest game of the season?
NHL: Carolina Hurricanes v Florida Panthers
Thursday 22nd May 12:00AM GMT (23rd)/8:00PM Local
Lenovo Center, Raleigh
The Carolina Hurricanes host the Florida Panthers in Game 2 of the NHL Eastern Conference Finals at the Lenovo Center in Raleigh. This series is a rematch of the 2023 Conference Finals, which the Panthers swept. The Hurricanes reached this season's Conference Finals with a thorough 4-1 series win over the Capitals and remain a popular pick to lift the Stanley Cup. However, the defending champion, Panthers come off a seven-game series against the Toronto Maple Leafs that showcased just how stubborn this team can be. With Game 1 scheduled for Tuesday, who will be taking control of the series after Game 2?
Giro d'Italia: Giro d'Italia Day 13
Friday 23rd May 09:25AM GMT/11:25AM Local
Rovigo, Italy
The 2025 Giro d’Italia continues with an 180km hilly stage between Rovigo and Vicenza. The stage features consistent climbs starting a third of the way in and ends with a particularly challenging final kilometre, featuring a 7.1% climb whose gradient rises as high as 12% before the finish line. Entering the week, the race has proven to be one of the most competitive, and chaotic, in recent memory. Isaac Del Toro currently holds the pink jersey, the fourth rider to lead the race through the first nine stages. Del Toro leads by 1 minute and 13 seconds, with pre-race favourites; Juan Ayuso, currently holding second place and Primož Roglič, down in 10th place in the general classification.
European Rugby Champions Cup: Bordeaux Bègles v Northampton Saints
Saturday 24th May 1:45PM GMT/2:45PM Local
Principality Stadium, Cardiff
Bordeaux face Northampton Saints in the Final of the European Rugby Champions Cup at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff. Bordeaux reach their first European Final on the back of an incredible season for the French club. Damian Penaud has been unstoppable, scoring 12 tries in the competition already. However, they will have to overcome a flying Saints side to ensure the trophy remains in France. Appearing in the Final for the first time since 2011, Saints are hunting their first Champions Cup title since 2000. Leading the way for Northamton is Tommy Freeman, who has scored the tournament’s second-most tries with nine. A win for Saints would bring the trophy back to England for the first time since 2020 and end nearly half a decade of French dominance in the tournament.
Formula 1: Monaco Grand Prix
Sunday 25th May 1:00PM GMT/3:00PM Local
Circuit de Monaco, Monte Carlo
Formula 1 heads to Monte Carlo for the Monaco Grand Prix. Still seen by many as the crown jewel of the F1 season, the race could not arrive at a better time in the 2025 season. After his win in Italy last weekend, defending champion Max Verstappen has closed the gap at the top of the Drivers' Championship standings. Oscar Piastri still leads, but his lead is down to 13 points over teammate Lando Norris and 22 over Verstappen. Furthermore, Monaco native and defending race champion Charles Leclerc must also be considered, as a win for the Ferrari driver could also move him and his team back into the season mix. Monaco is always a spectacle to behold, and this year’s stakes mean it is a can’t-miss event.
Photo by: Tottenham Hotspur
Written and information correct on 19th May 2025 at 6AM GMT.
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