Is {xyx | |x|≥1} context-free? Is $L=\{ xyx \mid x,y \in \{a,b\}^* \text {and } |x| \ge 1 \}$ context-free?
If yes, please explain how we can write grammar or create a PDA for it. If not a CFL, then prove it through pumping lemma.

I have tried to apply the pumping lemma with $w = a^nb^naba^nb^n$ as the word in $L$, but without success.
Consider $w = a^nb^na^nb^n$, then it is similar to proving language {ww} is not CFL.

In the given language there is no restriction on length of y. So, let it be zero.
Now, for any valid decomposition w = uvxyz, $uv^ixy^iz$ belongs to L.