La Liga Lowdown

Papa Cholo sitting on top of the tree: LaLiga Matchday 18 recap Dec 22, 2024

It was billed as the headline act and it certainly delivered. A monumental match at Montjuïc is our top story on this weekend's recap, featuring Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG).

Did Atleti execute the perfect gameplan? Or were Barça unfortunate not to win given the chances they created? Either way, Diego Simeone is on top of the tree this Christmas, with LaLiga fans excited at the prospect of a three-horse race!

Real Madrid also piled on the pressure, as they swept Sevilla aside in Jesús Navas' final game as a player. The emotional scenes overshadowed what ended up being a routine win for Carlo Ancelotti, but they looked somewhat closer to their best version.

Athletic continued their fine form with a comeback win in Pamplona, leaving some to whisper that they might even be in the title conversation.

Villarreal were involved in a 7-goal-thriller at Butarque, while Mallorca are quietly keeping pace with Marcelino's men.

Diego Martínez continues to amaze with his saviour operation at Las Palmas, and there was an 80s pop theme in Vigo.

At the bottom, Valencia just can't buy a win. Neither can Espanyol. They will be hoping the turn of the year brings a reversal in their fortunes.

We want to wish all of our subscribers a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. ¡Feliz Navidad y Próspero Ano Nuevo!

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Pepinazo, adios Navas & a title race for the ages: LaLiga Matchday 17 recap Dec 16, 2024

Drama in the title race! Just one point separates the top three following a dramatic weekend in LaLiga. Join Ben Sully (@SullyBen) and Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) as they discuss all the action from matchday 17.

Real Madrid had to settle for a point after they trailed by two and then led by one in Saturday’s thrilling clash against Rayo Vallecano. As it proved, Los Blancos gained a point on leaders Barcelona, who suffered a shock defeat in their home game against relegation-threatened Leganés.

Meanwhile, Atleti were made to work for three points by a dogged Getafe side, collecting a narrow win to move above Real Madrid and level on points with Barcelona. There was also plenty of drama in Sunday’s clash at the Estadio de la Cerámica as 10-man Betis squeezed past Villarreal.

Elsewhere, Jesús Navas said an emotional farewell to the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán, while Valencia’s woes continued against Valladolid. There was also a precious point for Coudet’s Alavés, a hard-fought win for 10-man Mallorca and a couple of goalless draws.

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How many horses in this race? LaLiga Matchday 16 recap Dec 09, 2024

Join (@SullyBen) and Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) as they recap an exciting weekend of LaLiga action, including big results in the race for the league title.

Assane Diao’s deft touch denied Barcelona maximum points in Saturday’s gripping contest, allowing Real Madrid to close the gap to two points with a Jude Bellingham-inspired victory over Girona.

This isn’t a two-horse race, though, as Atlético Madrid showcased their title credentials in Sunday’s comeback win against Sevilla. Away from the title race, Athletic Club made full use of the San Mamés factor to clinch a crucial win in the battle for Champions League qualification.

In part two, we discuss Kike García’s goalscoring return to El Sadar. We also reflect on Valencia’s disappointing result against Rayo, Sandro’s match-winning display against Valladolid and another win for rejuvenated Real Sociedad. Meanwhile, the evergreen Iago Aspas got on the scoresheet as Celta moved into the top half with a victory over Mallorca.

Thanks for listening, and remember you can access all our content, including a weekly bonus podcast by subscribing at lllonline.substack.com.

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Atleti shine bright as Barça continue to flicker: LaLiga Matchday 15 recap podcast Dec 01, 2024

Matchday 15 provided more dramatic twists and turns in the title race, as well as plenty of action throughout the league table.

It all began on Friday night, when Mallorca extended their fantastic start to the season by coming from behind to beat Valencia.

A potentially pivotal Saturday in the race? Barcelona were celebrating their 125th birthday, but there was nothing left to enjoy on the pitch, as they lost 2-1 at home to Las Palmas. That's three without a win for Hansi Flick's men, with just one point from a possible nine, allowing the chasing Madrid pack back in the fight.

Atleti took full advantage with a crushing 5-0 win in Valladolid, a result which saw them strike 11 goals on the road in the space of four days, and one which spelt the end of the road for Paulo Pezzolano, who was finally relieved of his duties at the Pucela helm.

Real Madrid also put Anfield behind them with a comfortable enough 2-0 win over Getafe, with Jude Bellingham promoted to penalty taker.

It was also a great weekend for Espanyol, and Athletic, the latter capping a superb week with a come-from-behind win at Rayo. Wth Villarreal involved in yet another 2-2 draw with late action, Los Leones took advantage to move up to 4th.

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Emotion, passion & twisting tales: LaLiga Matchday 14 recap Nov 24, 2024

Matchday 14 was full of emotion and goals, topped on both counts at Mestalla.

Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) unpick all the action from Matchday 14.

Paco was at Mestalla for Valencia's first game since the devastating floods, and there was poignancy in large supply. The game was superb, too, with Los Che earning a much-needed win in a six-goal thriller.

The headline partidazo of the weekend ended in favour of Athletic Club, as the Basque Derby points stayed with the hosts yet again.

Barça stumbled in a chaotic last ten minutes at Balaídos, dropping two important points in the title race. Real Madrid took full advantage on Sunday to cut the gap to just four points – and Los Blancos have that game in hand.

In Part Two, we salute Diego Simeone on reaching 700 games at the helm of Atleti, who celebrated in pure style with a healthy dollop of suffering.

Elsewhere, there was a bizarre end to a five-goal show in Gran Canaria, five goals at Montilivi to leave Manolo González on the precipice, and four shared at El Sadar.

Last but by no means least, there were also crucial home wins for Getafe and Sevilla. Paco might just be a fan of Allan Nyom's performance on Friday night.

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The Life of the Bryans in Tenerife: Nations League recap Nov 19, 2024

Ben Sully (@SullyBen) and Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee) recap Spain's triumphal international break with two more wins to seal the top spot in their Nations League group.

As well as analysing the matches and those players that have stood out, they also look into some of Spain's future talents such as Marc Casadó and Samu A., who finally made their official debuts and have promising international careers ahead of them.

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Three goals, three points dropped: LaLiga matchday 13 recap podcast Nov 11, 2024

Matchday 13 proved to be an unlucky one for Hansi Flick as his Barça side lost for just the second time in LaLiga this season.

Join Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Román De Arquer (@Aeroslavee) as they reflect on Real Sociedad's surprise but well-deserved victory, preventing the Catalans from having a single shot on target.

Elsewhere, Vini scored three goals, Real Madrid won three points, but also lost three players to injury, on a freak Saturday that saw players suffer ACL injuries in all three matches.

Villarreal are looking good for a top four challenge, as their rivals Betis and Athletic both stumbled but rallied to get late draws.

Atleti got another suffering single-goal victory in Mallorca, while Leganés put more pressure on Sevilla.

Diego Martínez is enjoying life in the Canaries, successfully turning around Las Palmas with three wins in four.

There is concern for Getafe, Alavés and Real Valladolid ahead of the final international break of 2024.

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Força i ànims, València: LaLiga Matchday 12 recap Nov 04, 2024

Join Ben Sully (@SullyBen) and Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) to review a matchday that should have never happened.

First and foremost, our thoughts are with everyone affected by the recent flash floods that have devastated the Valencian community. At the time of recording, the confirmed death toll sadly stands at over 200 while many more are missing. People have also seen homes, properties and land destroyed by the horrific natural disaster.

If you want to help those affected, you can donate to the Red Cross via: https://cercadeti.cruzroja.es/ayudaafectadosinundacionesdana

Paco begins the podcast by describing the extent of the devastation. We also discuss the response of the authorities and the recent visit of the King, Queen and Prime Minister to the region. Our focus then turns to LaLiga and the decision to push ahead with the majority of the scheduled fixtures on matchday 12.

In part two, we review the action that took place over the weekend. Barcelona claimed derby bragging rights to extend their lead at the top of the table. The Simeone family enjoyed a successful outing against Las Palmas, while Girona and Leganés put on a seven-goal thriller at Montilivi. Betis fought hard for a point at San Mamés, as Real Sociedad took maximum points from their trip to the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán. Meanwhile, Osasuna and Alavés both collected narrow wins in their respective fixtures.

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Crushed in El Clásico as Madrid caught offside: LaLiga Matchday 11 recap Oct 27, 2024

Join Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee) to review 'El Clásico' and all the games that took place during Matchday 11.

This weekend, LaLiga delivered some serious twists, with unexpected upsets, including a shocking 0-4 result at the Bernabéu. For any doubters, now we can confirm that Barça and their youngsters are the real deal, with a promising season ahead. In contrast, Carlo Ancelotti has a lot of work ahead of him to get Real Madrid to react and find a better way to integrate Kylian Mbappé.

Down in the relegation zone, Las Palmas managed their second win in a row since Diego Martínez landed in the island, while Valencia held on to keep a point at Getafe and Real Valladolid suffered a late defeat at the hands of Ayoze Pérez and Villarreal. Leganés were the biggest winners of the weekend, handing a surprise 3-0 defeat to Celta and clambering out of the drop zone.

All of this and other hard fought battles in our recap pod!

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Robert running riot as Bayern & Clásico loom: LaLiga Matchday 10 recap Oct 20, 2024

LaLiga returned from the international break with another pulsating round of fixtures.

Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) are here to reflect on it all as the top three all won in different ways, and a couple of surprises were found in unexpected places.

Barça continue where they left off before the break: scoring lots of goals and winning matches comfortably. They swatted Sevilla aside with another brace from Robert Lewandowski, but surely the best part was Gavi's return after almost a year out injured. With Bayern and El Clásico next up for Hansi Flick, this was the perfect start to a testing week.

Real Madrid also won, but struggled to take all three points from Balaídos. In the end, experience and individual quality came through, but Carlo Ancelotti may be concerned with the lack of rhythm in their playing style.

Atleti also resemble something which has lots of shiny parts but no clear instructions on how to piece them together. Leganés gave them a scare in the partially-closed Metropolitano, but Alexander Sørloth's brace turned the game around.

Athletic found home comforts easier to come by as they dispatched Espanyol, but Villarreal were made to pay the penalty against Getafe. Marcelino was raging post-game, and Paco sympathises, but only so far...

There were also significant away wins for the Reals Valladolid, Betis and Sociedad, all of which leaves the middle of the table looking intriguing and tightly compacted. Perhaps the under-rated story of the season, however, is Mallorca, who are just one point off a Champions League spot as we approach November. Bravo Jagoba Arrasate.

Subscribe to get all the reaction to the matches this week, which includes a battle at the bottom in LaLiga (Paco's beloved Valencia), plus a full round of European action. Join the fun at lllonline.substack.com.

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Zubi off the mark as Spain edge past the Danes: International break podcast Oct 13, 2024

Spain got the better of Denmark on Saturday night, courtesy of Martín Zubimendi's first international goal.

Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) are back to review this game and look ahead to the clash with Serbia, in which Spain can qualify for the final stages of this edition of the Nations League. Which players caught the eye in the absence of so many starters from the Euros? Who will replace Lamine Yamal in the Serbia match? All of these questions are answered.

There is also a quick round-up of Segunda's action, which as always featured plenty of goals and drama.

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Lethal Lewy & listless Las Palmas: LaLiga MD9 recap Oct 07, 2024

Matchday nine produced several talking points ahead of the international window, including an express hat-trick and a stubborn nine-man resistance. Join Ben Sully (@SullyBen) and Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) as they look back at all the action that took place over the weekend.

Robert Lewandowski continued his red-hot form with a rapid hat-trick in Barcelona’s commanding victory over Alavés. Real Madrid also claimed maximum points, but their win over Villarreal was overshadowed by Dani Carvajal’s serious knee injury. As for Atleti, they lost ground to the top two after Luka Sučić produced a sensational strike to rescue a point for Real Sociedad. At the Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán, García Pimienta claimed the spoils in his first experience of El Gran Derbi.

In the second part, we focus on the penalty chaos at Montilivi and Espanyol’s successful home outing. We then discuss Las Palmas’ failure to break the resistance of nine-man Celta in what might have been Luis Carrión’s final game in charge. Elsewhere, De Frutos starred for Rayo, Getafe played out another draw and Valencia fans expressed their frustration after Friday’s forgettable clash with Leganés.

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Mayhem at the Metropolitano: LaLiga MD8 recap Sep 29, 2024

Give our latest pod a listen, and join the conversation between Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee) as they look into all the LaLiga encounters from Matchday 8.

El Derbi Madrileño left plenty of talking points, with a game packed with tension, controversy, a temporary suspension, and even a late goal from the home side. Neither of the two sides managed to shine, and are only a single point closer to league leaders, Barça.

Osasuna ended Hansi Flick's winning streak with a brave and outstanding performance, proving to be a very tough cookie when playing at home.

They also review Getafe's first win, Real Sociedad's slow, yet steady improvement and pose the following question: is Gio Lo Celso be the best signing of the season? So far, he might be... scoring week in, week out for Betis and helping the team grab some essential points. All this and much more in our recap pod!

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Manita en la Cerámica while Isi halts Atleti: MD6 recap Sep 23, 2024

Join Ben Sully (@SullyBen) and Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) as they round up all the action from matchday six of the 2024/25 LaLiga season. Five-star Barcelona continued their perfect start to the league campaign with a sizeable victory over Villarreal. The entertaining affair delivered braces, disallowed goals and a missed penalty as Barça bounced back from the defeat to Monaco.

Elsewhere, Real Madrid fought back from a goal down to dispatch Espanyol, while their city rivals Atlético Madrid dropped a couple of points against a determined Rayo Vallecano side. Meanwhile, Athletic Club warmed up for a trip to the Italian capital with a home victory over Aspas & company.

Valencia ended their long wait for a win, while Alaves piled the pressure on Sevilla boss García Pimienta. There was also a derby draw, another Las Palmas defeat and a frustrating outing for Real Sociedad.

Remember, you can subscribe to our Substack (lllonline.substack.com) to access all our content, including this week’s bonus podcast which will cover the midweek action in LaLiga.

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Flick the switch: LaLiga MD5 recap Sep 16, 2024

Wins galore, penalties, red cards, maiden goals and a hat-trick - LaLiga matchday 5 had it all. Join Ben Sully (@SullyBen) and Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) as they look back at all the action that took place over the weekend.

Lamine Yamal starred for flawless Barcelona, while Real Madrid made Real Sociedad pay the penalty for numerous missed chances. Conor Gallagher and Julián Alvarez scored their first LaLiga goals as Atleti piled more misery on Valencia. There was also another late winner for unbeaten Villarreal, who look set to challenge for the top four.

Elsewhere, there was a hat-trick of assists for Athletic Club’s Iñaki Williams and a perfect hat-trick for Espanyol’s Javi Puado. Celta enjoyed another successful home outing, while García Pimienta celebrated a win and Vitor Roque ended his long wait for a LaLiga goal.

Remember, you can subscribe to our Substack (lllonline.substack.com) where we will review all the Champions League action in our bonus podcast later this week.

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Ten-man Spain reign in the rain: Nations League recap podcast Sep 08, 2024

Spain bounced back from their Serbian stalemate in the best possible fashion on Sunday night. Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) unite to discuss the international break at length.

Luis de la Fuente's side produced a superb all-round performance to beat Switzerland 4-1 in Geneva, despite playing for over an hour with ten men.

Spain raced out of the blocks, with Joselu quickly reminding everyone that he can still provide the answer as Spain's number 9. Lamine Yamal produced yet another goal contribution, leading Paco to make a bold prediction for his season's total output, while comparing him to a certain former Barça player...

Fabián continued his fine form with Spain's second inside the first quarter of an hour. Robin Le Normand's dismissal (harsh, but we are biased) changed the picture, and the hosts pulled one back before the break.

Spain suffered in the second half, finishing with their lowest possession ever recorded. But they were clinical when they did have the ball: Ferran Torres showed his shark-like killer instincts in the pouring rain as he produced an assist and a goal to seal the victory.

We also discuss the Segunda weekend, including Paco's trip to Elda on Sunday night. You won't want to miss out on that!

This pod is free, but by subscribing, you can gain access to so much more content throughout the week. Head to lllonline.substack.com to find out more.

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Seventh heaven, late wins & Mbappé's big night: LaLiga MD4 recap Sep 02, 2024

Review all the fantastic LaLiga action with Ben Sully (@SullyBen) and Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee) in our pod for matchday 4.

There's plenty to go through, starting with Mbappé's scoring debut in LaLiga. Two crucial goals ensure three points against Betis and carry 'los blancos' all the way up to second position in the standings. Barça, on the other hand, thrashed Valladolid and are looking stronger than ever despite the (for many) disappointing transfer window.

Sevilla are feeling the heat as another home defeat brings back not too distant memories of suffering, after losing to an improving Girona. Meanwhile, the Valencian derby ended 1-1, with Villarreal clinging on to a draw after losing a player in the second half.

Find all this and so much more in our pod and remember, you can access all our content throughout the 2024-25 campaign by upgrading at lllonline.substack.com.

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Home is where the start is: LaLiga MD2 recap Aug 26, 2024

No Olmo, no problem. Barcelona make it two wins in two despite being without the services of their star signing. Join Ben Sully (@SullyBen) and Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) as they discuss Barcelona’s successful outing as well as the other nine matches from matchday two.

While Barça maintained their 100% record, city rivals Real Madrid and Atleti celebrated 3-0 victories in their respective home matches. However, there was to be no win in García Pimienta’s first home match as ex-Betis forward Ayoze Pérez proved to be Villarreal's hero against Sevilla.

In part two, we discuss super Celta, Kubo’s statement and Arrasate’s unsuccessful return to El Sadar. There was also a win for Leganés and a typical Bordalás performance.

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LaLiga 24/25 MD1 Recap Podcast: Surprises & Stumbles Aug 20, 2024

LaLiga is back! Join Ben Sully (@SullyBen) and Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee) as they round up all the action from matchday one.

We discuss Real Madrid’s underwhelming start to their title defence and Barcelona’s hard-fought victory at Mestalla. Atlético Madrid’s Alexander Sørloth celebrated his return to Estadio de la Cerámica with a goal, while a LaLiga debutant stole the show for Getafe and Rayo Vallecano claimed a surprise win over Real Sociedad.

In the second part, we focus on Míchel’s new-look Girona side and García Pimienta’s Sevilla bow against his former employers. There was also plenty of time to laud the evergreen Iago Aspas and focus on the three newly promoted clubs.

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LaLiga 2024/25: The BIG Preview Aug 11, 2024

Hot on the heels of the Paris Olympics, football returns to Spain as LaLiga is back this week.

Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Román De Arquer (@Aeroslavee) preview the campaign with some exciting new faces and uncertainty at many of the clubs.

Hansi Flick is in the Barça hotseat. Can he revitalise the Catalans to challenge Real Madrid for the title?

What about the impact of Kylian Mbappé? A signing that has been coming for years, Los Blancos finally have him, but how will he perform?

Atleti have had a busy summer of departures and potential arrivals? Can they challenge again?

How will Girona fare with key players gone and Champions League football to content with?

Athletic, La Real, Betis, Villarreal, Sevilla – can any of those push on into the top four?

We also discuss the rest of the clubs, including the three promoted sides.

It feels hard to predict where things will end up, but we are excited to get back underway!

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Somos Campeones de Europa: Euro 2024 recap podcast Jul 17, 2024

We officially put an end to the season with our recap pod of the Euro 2024 final between Spain and England.

But such a special game deserved a special pod, which is why we brought together Matt Clark (@MattClark_08), Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG), Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee) and Ben Sully (@SullyBen) to cover all the angles and opinions.

In fact, Paco was at the final in Berlin to give us his insight and share his unforgettable experience. All four review the match, the standout players, and provide the keys to Spain's success during the whole tournament. They also relive Spain's post-match celebrations and talk about England and whether it'll ever be coming home...

For more Spanish football, subscribe with us at lllonline.substack.com and get ready for what's coming in the 2024/25 season!

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Checkmate and into the final: EURO 2024 recap podcast Jul 11, 2024

Spain march on, all the way to Berlin for the grand final of the Euros, after beating one of the pre-tournament favourites, France.

Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee) celebrate Spain's latest triumph and the sensational form of Lamine Yamal, still just 16 years old. A goal for the ages saw Spain draw level, before Dani Olmo – another unexpected standout of the tournament – scored the winner.

We praise Luis de la Fuente and his work in winning all six matches so far, before looking ahead to Sunday's final against England.

They came from behind in their semi against the Netherlands, as they have had to do in each of their knockout matches. Can they upset the form book and win the entire tournament, or will Spain's class shine through in Berlin?

Catch up on all the Euros pods so far, and subscribe with us at lllonline.substack.com

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Merino heads Spain into semis: Euro 2024 recap Jul 09, 2024

Spain triumphed over the hosts to reach the final four of Euro 2024, where they will face France in a heavyweight semi-final.

Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Ben Sully (@SullyBen) reflect on the dramatic 120 minutes of action in Stuttgart, before looking ahead to the French clash.

Joselu said in the build-up they wanted to retire Toni Kroos, but it was actually Pedri who was forced to leave the field early, courtesy of a bad challenge from Kroos himself. In an ill-tempered first half, Robin Le Normand saw himself suspended for the semis against the country of his birth.

Dani Olmo broke the deadlock early in the second half, thanks to yet another assist from the prodigious Lamine Yamal. Luis de la Fuente took both wingers off, a gamble that almost backfired when Florian Wirtz equalised late in the game.

Extra time ticked by and it looked like penalties awaited, but up stepped Olmo to cross for fellow sub Mikel Merino to head home, reminiscent of Carles Puyol's momentous testazo in Durban in 2010.

Despite the dramatic chaos of the moment, Merino had the presence of mind to replicate a celebration performed by his father in the same stadium 33 years ago. A precious moment for him and all Spanish fans. We include the fabulous commentary from Antonio Muelas Aberasturi from Radio Nacional de España.

In Part Two we look ahead to the semis, talking Kylian Mbappé and the other strong LaLiga links in the French team, and Didier Deschamps' blasé attitude to his critics.

We applaud the powerful political statements made by many of the French players, in contrast to Unai Simon's recent dead-batting of similar questions.

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'Fourmidable' Spain set date with hosts: Euro 2024 recap Jul 03, 2024

Spain eventually cruised past Georgia to book their place in the quarter-finals of Euro 2024. They were given a scare, but won their first knockout match in 90 minutes since the Euro 2012 final.

Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) reflect on this big win and look ahead to a mouthwatering clash with the hosts Germany.

There is praise for Rodri, Lamine Yamal, Nico Williams and Robin Le Normand and of course consolation for Giorgi Mamardashvili.

Ahead of the clash with Germany, Paco is nervous after Joselu's comments in the press conference, but believes Spain can end the 'curse of the hosts'.

Keep across all of our coverage at lllonline.substack.com.

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100% record and now onto Georgia: Euro 2024 recap Jun 26, 2024

With the Group Stage now complete, La Liga Lowdown reflects on Spain's perfect start and looks ahead to the knockouts.

In the first half of the show, Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Ben Sully (@SullyBen) analyse Spain's 1-0 win over Albania. Luis de la Fuente made ten changes to his side, but the back-ups proved they can certainly do a job for the team. Dani Olmo and Ferran Torres linked up beautifully for the only goal of the game.

In Part Two, we delve into Spain's next opponents: Georgia. Despite being tournament debutants, Willy Sagnol's side have been positive and got their rewards by beating Portugal to qualify. Well known to Spanish fans, these sides met in the qualifying campaign just last year, while Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Giorgi Mamardashvili need no introductions.

We then assess the wider draw for the Last 16, and try to plot a route for Spain to go all the way. On the tougher side of the bracket, is there anyone who Spain should be fearing?

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Qualified and daring to dream: EURO 2024 Recap Podcast Jun 21, 2024

Spain produced another impressive performance at the Euros to seal qualification for the Knockout Stage.

Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) is joined by Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee) to reflect on La Roja's 1-0 victory over the Azzurri to seal top spot in what was deemed the 'Group of Death'.

While the scoreline was slender, the comprehensiveness of the display was not. Spain were worthy winners, with Nico Williams and Lamine Yamal tormenting the Italian full backs.

Can Spain go all the way? Or will their lack of a clinical edge come back to haunt them later in the tournament?

After the break we evaluate the other runners and riders in the competition, as England stuttered, Portugal flattered to deceive, and Germany continued to impress.

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Spain's FABulous start: Euro 2024 recap Jun 16, 2024

The Euros are underway and Spain got off to a flying start! Join Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) as they reflect on the amazing victory over Croatia in their opening game.

Paco wasn't too enthused ahead of the tournament, but now he is "the most Spanish of the Spaniards in the Spanish country".

We salute Álvaro Morata, the least likely leader, Fabián Ruiz proving doubters wrong, Lamine Yamal's remarkable maturity and Dani Carvajal's terrific fortnight.

In Part Two we assess the early stages of the completion as a whole, with Germany impressing but Italy less so.

Join us for coverage of every Spain game over at lllonline.substack.com.

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Guten Tag & Vamos España: Euro 2024 preview podcast Jun 11, 2024

Did you really think we were done for the season? No chance! La Liga Lowdown is also invested in EURO 2024, and we couldn't wait to preview all the excitement with Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee).

In the first half of the pod, we go through Luis de la Fuente's squad selection for Spain, picking out some of its strengths and weaknesses, as well as previewing the first game against a tough and talented nation such as Croatia. Matt even gives us his prediction on how England will fare!

In the second part, we delve into each group and pick some of the favourites to lift the desired trophy, as well as trying to decipher the potential dark horses and disappointments.

So, give our pod a listen and start warming up for what's coming! Also, remember that you can subscribe to our Substack and support our work: lllonline.substack.com.

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The greatest love story in football: Champions League final review Jun 03, 2024

Real Madrid are champions of Europe again, for the 15th time.

For the final pod of the season, Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Román De Arquer (@Aeroslavee) review the game and assess the magnitude of this team's achievement.

With more than double the number of titles as the next best club – Milan – Los Blancos continue to raise their own ceiling.

This one is even more momentous, being the sixth in 11 years, matching the feat of the originals in the 1950s.

One of those stars was Paco Gento, and he was joined at the summit by four current Madridistas as the only players with six European Cups.

We talk about the stories and the subplots, from Jude to Joselu, Courtois to Carletto.

Later in the show we discuss some of the new coaches appointed by LaLiga clubs, as well as check in on how Segunda wrapped up.

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(PART TWO) Champions and beautiful goodbyes: LaLiga Matchday 38 recap May 27, 2024

The 2023-2024 LaLiga season is over! We have quite a few farewells to speak about in out last LaLiga Matchday recap: tears were shed, managers and players were tossed around by the squads, fans got emotional.

Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) bring you the lowdown on the ‘adiós’ by Toni Kroos, Javier Aguirre, Jagoba Arrasate… and, yes, Xavi Hernández, whose additional season at Barça’s helm came to an abrupt end a few days ago after getting rage-sacked by President Joan Laporta.

Hansi Flick will be Barça’s boss next season, even though Xavi’s stats have stuck pretty close to the template he showed in the successful 2022-2023 season.

With only Real Madrid’s showdown against Dortmund pending, another Champions League final was played this weekend in Bilbao, with over 50,000 in attendance and with Barça dominating European football after beating Olympique Lyon (2-0). The lads might have disappointed, but Barça’s women’s team has been absolutely brilliant and the shining light in a dramatic season.

Don’t miss the coda with our predictions regarding Luis de la Fuente’s 26-man squad for Spain in the Euro 2024.

Catch all the reactions, plus the bonus pods, by upgrading at lllonline.substack.com.

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(PART ONE) Champions and beautiful goodbyes: LaLiga Matchday 38 recap May 27, 2024

The 2023-2024 LaLiga season is over! We have quite a few farewells to speak about in out last LaLiga Matchday recap: tears were shed, managers and players were tossed around by the squads, fans got emotional.

Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) bring you the lowdown on the ‘adiós’ by Toni Kroos, Javier Aguirre, Jagoba Arrasate… and, yes, Xavi Hernández, whose additional season at Barça’s helm came to an abrupt end a few days ago after getting rage-sacked by President Joan Laporta.

Hansi Flick will be Barça’s boss next season, even though Xavi’s stats have stuck pretty close to the template he showed in the successful 2022-2023 season.

With only Real Madrid’s showdown against Dortmund pending, another Champions League final was played this weekend in Bilbao, with over 50,000 in attendance and with Barça dominating European football after beating Olympique Lyon (2-0). The lads might have disappointed, but Barça’s women’s team has been absolutely brilliant and the shining light in a dramatic season.

Don’t miss the coda with our predictions regarding Luis de la Fuente’s 26-man squad for Spain in the Euro 2024.

Catch all the reactions, plus the bonus pods, by upgrading at lllonline.substack.com.

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Ánimo Cádiz as everything is decided: LaLiga matchday 37 recap May 20, 2024

The penultimate Matchday in this LaLiga season ended up ultimately being the deciding one. Everything that was left to be settled was indeed confirmed on the 37th round.

Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Román De Arquer (@Aeroslavee) look back at it all, from Cádiz's familiar faults costing them their top-flight status, to a partidazo at La Cerámica, with Alexander Sørloth firing himself into the Pichichi lead.

Elsewhere, there was a huge Europa League decider in Seville, but this one went the way of the visitors. Barça and Girona both won to confirm their spots in 2nd and 3rd respectively.

Atleti suffered perhaps the shock of the weekend, being routed on their own turf by Osasuna.

There were emotional goodbyes at San Mamés, and more home comforts for Alavés.

Catch all the reaction, plus the bonus pods, by upgrading at lllonline.substack.com.

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Jubilation and resignation: LaLiga Matchday 35 recap May 12, 2024

Another one bites the dust. Matchday 35 saw Granada’s relegation confirmed before they had even kicked a ball in anger. Unfortunately for the Andalusians, Real Madrid were in no mood to show mercy as they handed out a 4-0 drubbing.

Join Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Ben Sully (@SullyBen) as they review that one-sided affair and the rest of the weekend’s action.

Cádiz continued their LaLiga survival fight with a crucial win, while Jon Guridi dented Girona’s runners-up hopes. Sergio Herrera dropped two points at San Mamés as Rodrigo De Paul thumped Atleti closer to Champions League qualification.

Elsewhere, Mallorca took a giant leap towards safety against free-falling Las Palmas. We also reflect on two thrilling games at Estadio de la Cerámica and the Benito Villamarín as well as a cagey affair at Mestalla.

We will be back to discuss the midweek round of fixtures over at lllonline.substack.com.

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Champions & Champions League: LaLiga Matchday 34 recap May 06, 2024

Matchday 34 proved to be a momentous round of fixtures in LaLiga. Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Ben Sully (@SullyBen) review it all in this episode.

Real Madrid's 36th league title was decided in Catalunya, after Girona beat Barça in a pulsating match at Montilivi. The home fans were celebrating too, as they secured Champions League qualification for the first time in their history. We salute the stars of both teams, the composure of Carlo Ancelotti and the magic of Míchel.

Elsewhere Celta took a giant leap towards survival by beating Villarreal in another goal-fest, while La Real and Betis moved further clear in the final European places.

Granada aren't relegated quite yet, but their defeat in Seville makes it a matter of time. In truth, Cádiz look doomed too.

For more reaction and analysis, subscribe and upgrade at lllonline.substack.com.

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All but sealed: LaLiga Matchday 33 Recap Apr 28, 2024

Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee) review Matchday 33, starting with the battle for the 4th spot between Atlético de Madrid and Athletic Club, which favoured the home side. Lamentably, there were more incidents of racist abuse from the stands, this time directed at Nico Williams. He promptly scored and celebrated with real bravery and class.

Real Madrid got the job done, with Carlo Ancelotti's rotations working to perfection, Girona are now just one win away from their Champions League dream, and 'El Gran Derbi' ended with a draw. Almería are officially relegated, whereas Granada and Cádiz are doing all they can to stay in the fight for survival. Celta, Mallorca and Rayo cannot sleep easy just yet.

All this, and more, in our weekend recap. So, give us a listen, and don't forget to subscribe at lllonline.substack.com for the latest on Spanish football!

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Hey Jude, no hay Liga: LaLiga Matchday 32 recap podcast Apr 21, 2024

Jude Bellingham did it again. Scoring a stoppage-time winner in El Clásico. A goal which sealed a five-goal thriller and surely another league title for Los Blancos.

Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) reflect on this game and the rest of the action in LaLiga this weekend.

There was goal-line controversy, golazos and much more to get stuck into. Atleti compounded a bad week by losing at Alavés, keeping Athletic in the hunt for fourth spot. Valencia lost to Betis, but Real Sociedad were unable to take full advantage.

Girona sealed European qualification for the first time ever, while Iago Aspas did what he does best and led Celta to a massive three points in their battle against the drop.

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Atleti's weekend as Villarreal spoil Athletic's party: LaLiga Matchday 31 recap Apr 14, 2024

Join Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee) as they review Matchday 31 and preview the Champions League quarter-final second-leg fixtures.

As always, we look at all the games, starting with Atleti's massive win against Girona, before keeping an eye on their upcoming return at Signal Iduna Park. Barça & Madrid both obtained routine 0-1 away wins, with João Félix and Aurélien Tchouaméni scoring beautiful goals. Betis finally snapped their bad streak, but another is ongoing, as Las Palmas can't stop losing after falling to Sevilla.

This, and much more, in our weekend recap of all the action. So don't forget to follow us on lllonline.substack.com if you don't want to miss a thing!

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The Lions roar again: Copa del Rey Final review podcast Apr 08, 2024

Athletic Club are Copa champions, 40 years later.

Join Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) to review a spectacular night in Seville.

We congratulate Athletic and Mallorca for a thrilling approach to a final, laud the two coaches, and discuss the key players in the game.

Ernesto Valverde has sealed his place in Athletic Club history, as has Iker Muniain and company.

After the break, we react to Valencia's win over Granada and the race for 7th which has now opened up.

We also preview the Champions League quarter-final first legs, as three Spanish sides look to reach the final four.

Subscribe and upgrade at lllonline.substack.com.

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One step closer & singing in the rain: LaLiga Matchday 30 recap Mar 31, 2024

Join Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Ben Sully (@SullyBen) as they hop to it to discuss all the LaLiga action from the Easter weekend.

We delve into an egg-citing game at Montilivi, where Cristhian Stuani delivered a sweet treat for the home faithful in a five-goal thriller. Real Madrid bounced past Athletic Club thanks to a Rodrygo brace, while Álvaro Valles chicks out early in Las Palmas’ defeat to Barcelona.

Elsewhere, Jon Pacheco scores the decisive goal to leave La Real feeling hoppy, as Osasuna experienced an egg-cellent outing against Almería. Birthday boy Sergio Ramos gifts Sevilla a precious victory in their quest for resurrection, Cádiz enjoy a Good Friday and Celta fail to come out of their shells in Rayo stalemate. We then go on a hunt for talking points in a goalless affair at Mestalla.

April promises to be an egg-ceptional month for Spanish football – sorry, that’s the last pun, we promise. To keep across all of the domestic and European action, come and join us over at lllonline.substack.com.

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Euro blows and Almería win at last: LaLiga Matchday 29 Recap Mar 18, 2024

As we head into the international break, it was an important Matchday for the sensations, clubs trying to jostle for position ahead of the final straight.

Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Román De Arquer (@Aeroslavee) reflect on another big weekend in LaLiga.

Barça remain unbeaten on the road after taking all three points from the Metropolitano, just as they did 26 games ago back in January 2023. Of course João Félix had a part to play, but it was Robert Lewandowski who was the main man. More vindication for Xavi?

As for Atleti, they drop out of the top four and have a daunting task ahead of them.

Real Madrid continue clear at the top after a 4-2 win at El Sadar. Despite Vini's brace and Fede Valverde's trio of assists, it is a certain Moroccan who we discuss...

Girona's woes on the road continued at the Coliseum, while Athletic continued to power at San Mamés.

Almería stole headlines on Sunday, picking up their first win of the season in Pepe Mel's first match in charge.

There was also a new manager bounce for Claudio Giráldez at Celta, as they came from behind to beat Sevilla. The game even featured Lucas Ocampos peacemaking between his teammate and his coach.

Rayo also tasted victory after what seemed like an eternity, but the troubles go on for Granada.

Betis are in a slump at the wrong time, but Real Sociedad and Villarreal picked up important wins to keep their European goals alive.

Join us at lllonline.substack.com for all our content throughout the international break and through to the end of the season. Access everything for just a fiver a month.

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Homesick Atleti as Cádiz believe: LaLiga Matchday 28 recap Mar 10, 2024

Is this what winning feels like? Join Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Ben Sully (@SullyBen) as they reflect on a weekend where Cádiz ended their long wait for a victory.

First up, we discuss a five-goal thriller at the Benito Villamarín and another red card for Chimy Ávila. Attention then turns to Cádiz's surprise win over Atlético Madrid, reigniting the battle for survival and piling the pressure on Atleti and Diego Simeone. Real Sociedad showed great fight to beat Granada, while Real Madrid swept past Celta Vigo to take another step towards the title.

Elsewhere in the top four, Barcelona prodigy Lamine Yamal produced a stunner as Girona made full use of home comforts to reclaim second spot just 24 hours after they had lost it. Meanwhile, Valencia’s European charge gained more momentum, Alavés ramped up Rayo’s relegation fears and Athletic Club basked in the Gran Canarian sun.

We also look ahead to the midweek Champions League fixtures, and remember you can catch our recap of the European action over at lllonline.substack.com later in the week.

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Bells, whistles and blow-offs: LaLiga Matchday 27 recap Mar 03, 2024

This season's "big 3" all dropped points in Matchday 27, and Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee) are here to to tell you all about it.

Starting with the controversy in Valencia, where the referee was the unfortunate protagonist of the night after blowing the final whistle just seconds before Jude Bellingham scored what could've been a match winner. They also cover Girona and Barça's missed chance to revive the title race, as well as Atlético's bounce-back from their Copa del Rey elimination.

Goals were also a big part of the weekend, with a crazy 3-3 draw between Getafe and Las Palmas, Villarreal thrashing Granada and Sevilla sticking their finger a bit deeper into Real Sociedad's wounds. At the bottom there was late drama, relief for Rafa and a hailstorm at Vallecas.

Remember you can support our content by upgrading your subscription and helping ensure LLL's future at lllonline.substack.com.

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Luka's stunner ruins the Ramos return: LaLiga MD26 recap Feb 26, 2024

Matchday 26 was a belter, and Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) are here to break it all down.

Time waits for no man, and as one Real Madrid legend returned to his former home, another nearing the end of his time stole the show with a typically magical strike. Luka Modrić doesn't score many, but when he does they are spectacular. It needed to be to break down a stubborn Sevilla.

Barça found things much easier for a change, easing past Getafe at Montjuïc, as they climb to second in the standings.

In Seville, Betis put aside their European disappointment with a statement victory over Athletic Club. The Basque side don't travel well lately, and will now be without Nico Williams for their next game. His sarcastic applause of the referee earning him an early bath. Paco ponders whether this rule is applied consistently enough?

Real Sociedad also lost 3-1, at home to Villarreal as their mini-resurgence continues.

At the bottom it was a huge six-pointer at the Nuevo Mirandilla but ultimately Celta were left to count the cost of conceding late yet again. From a position of 2-0 up against a side who don't score, this was a damaging loss of two points. Darwin Machís' golazo keeps Cádiz alive and keeps Celta in trouble.

Atleti had another poor result on the road, drawing in Almería, who remain winless. Luka Romero (remember him?) stole the show with his brace.

It's the Copa del Rey semi-final second legs this week, so subscribe and upgrade at lllonline.substack.com to gain access to all our extra content.

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Five-star Atleti as Real stumble: LaLiga Matchday 25 recap Feb 18, 2024

Just a week after we confidently declared that there is no league, Real Madrid stumble to recover the possibility that there actually might be a little bit of league.

Join Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) to review Matchday 25 in LaLiga. Real Madrid did extend their lead to six points, but Girona have the opportunity to cut that in half, should they win at San Mamés on Monday. A huge game just got even bigger.

Atleti warmed up in style for their Italian job by putting five past Las Palmas. Marcos Llorente up front...who says Diego Simeone isn't a revolutionary?

As for Barça, it was the same old story. They were made to struggle and suffer, this time with a winning outcome, but the doubts still remain strong. Rafa and Celta can't catch a break, and continue to stutter along, as Robert Lewandowski stuttered from the penalty spot.

Elsewhere, there were important wins for Real Sociedad and Osasuna, and a plethora of draws, most of which were unsatisfactory for the clubs involved.

This was especially true for Granada and Almería, who seem destined to play each other again next season back down in Segunda.

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Title hopes emphatically crushed: LaLiga Matchday 24 recap Feb 11, 2024

No centre-backs, no problem. Join Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Ben Sully (@SullyBen) as they look back on a weekend where Real Madrid overcame a defensive injury crisis to smash Girona’s dreams of achieving their fairytale ending.

Vinícius Júnior and Jude Bellingham played starring roles in the demolition job, moving Carlo Ancelotti’s side five points clear at the top. Elsewhere in Part One, we discuss another poor home result for Barcelona as they play out an entertaining 3-3 draw against relegation-threatened Granada. There was also disappointment for Atlético Madrid, who lost out to a rejuvenated Sevilla side at the Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán.

Real Betis swept past struggling Cádiz to move into sixth place as goal-shy Real Sociedad dropped down to seventh with a home defeat to Osasuna. Meanwhile, Celta showed all their fighting qualities at the Coliseum to come back from two goals down, only for Getafe to land the killer blow late on. Matt and Ben also discuss all the other fixtures from the weekend, including another solid win for surprise European hopefuls Las Palmas.

With the UEFA competitions set to return, make sure to subscribe to lllonline.substack.com to get unlimited access to all of our content throughout the week.

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Late Llorente leveller: LaLiga Matchday 23 recap Feb 05, 2024

¿Hay Liga? To find out, join Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Román de Arquer (@aeroslavee), who analyse all the weekend's fixtures and look back at some of the never-ending VAR controversy that overshadows Spanish football.

First off is the Madrid derby, in which Marcos Llorente gave Los Blancos a taste of their own medicine with a very late equaliser. A goal that opens up LaLiga and gives Girona a massive shot next weekend at the Bernabéu.

Matt and Román then talk about Girona's messy draw, Barça's convincing win, Athletic thrashing Mallorca, Celta taking home three massive points from El Sadar and all the other fixtures, as well as previewing the first legs of the Copa del Rey semi-finals.

Be sure to subscribe and upgrade on our Substack to get access to all our content throughout the week. The place for that is lllonline.substack.com.

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LaLiga MD22 Recap: Xavi bows out as top two keep on rolling Jan 29, 2024

There's never a dull weekend in LaLiga. Especially not in Barcelona. Join Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Román De Arquer (@aeroslavee) on the weekend in which Xavi pressed the quit button.

Following weeks of discussion and a calamitous 5-3 defeat at home to Villarreal, there were backroom discussions, a delayed press conference and then the bombshell. Xavi will leave at the end of the season.

We spend most of Part One discussing the news, its timing, and how things fell apart so quickly for the club legend.

Real Madrid, Girona and Atleti all won their respective matches to keep up the pace at the top end of the table, but the main Basque pair both suffered Copa hangovers and had to settle for stalemates. A worthy debut point for new Cádiz coach Mauricio Pellegrino. Betis and Manuel Pellegrini were the beneficiaries of those results as they closed the gap on the top six.

Elsewhere, there was more misery for Sevilla and Almería, who are making Groundhog Day look refreshingly different. Spare a thought for the fans.

Be sure to subscribe and upgrade on our Substack to get access to all our content throughout the week. The place for that is lllonline.substack.com.

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LaLiga MD21 Recap: Comebacks galore, kicking an underdog while they’re down Jan 22, 2024

Matchday 21 in La Liga was full of goals, controversy, comebacks and a sacking. Hosts Ruairidh Barlow (@RuriBarlow) and Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) are on hand to lament the underdog story that never was for Almería.

Real Madrid managed what should have been a heroic comeback, against Almería of all sides, but three highly controversial VAR reviews even had some Madridistas feel raising their eyebrow. Paco explains how the circumstances were damaging to the La Liga product, but at the end of it all, Los Blancos are closer to the title.

Girona ensured they would not sleep at the top of the table though, as Artem Dovbyk trampled Sevilla and put himself top of the Pichichi standings in the process. Barcelona are hanging on by their fingernails, as we discuss a potential sea change in the Catalan capital.

In the second half of the show, we bid farewell to Sergio González in a sacking that even he saw coming. The picture still seems somewhat bleak for the Yellow Submarine though. Valencia halted Athletic Club’s march in its tracks, and Osasuna’s Jesús Areso impersonates Roberto Carlos. Paco looks ahead to the Copa del Rey quarter-finals too.

We'll be back on Thursday at lllonline.substack.com for subscribers - join us there for exclusive content and our review of those quarter-finals!

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Supervini in the Supercopa as Bilbao bask with beaming Berenguer Jan 14, 2024

Catch up on all the latest in Spanish football with Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee). In Part One we delve into the the Spanish Supercopa final in which Real Madrid pounced first and last to celebrate their first title of 2024, while Xavi keeps digging his grave. Will he make it to the end of the season? How good was Vini Jr? How bad was Barcelona's defending? Can Real Madrid win all four trophies on offer this season?

In Part Two we look at all the LaLiga action from the weekend: Sevilla and Villarreal's unstoppable downfall, Girona's shock result against Almería, the Basque derby and plenty more. Remember you can subscribe to our Substack for a very small sum to support our work and get unlimited access to all our content! With action coming thick and fast, there has never been a better time to upgrade.

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Copa del Nay and Spanish Supercup preview Jan 08, 2024

The Copa del Rey saw the kings of Spanish football mix it with the anymen, but there was to be little in the way of success for the little guys. With 15 of the 16 sides going through decided, 14 of them are from La Liga. Hosts Ruairidh Barlow (@RuriBarlow) and Román de Arquer (@aeroslavee) discuss why.

The new format has largely been regarded as a success over recent years, and the pros and cons are broken down after a largely uninspiring Round of 32. Alavés did cause one of the few upsets, beating 2022 winners Real Betis, and causing a sour start to 2024 for Manuel Pellegrini. Elsewhere there was a Real Madrid debut six months in the making.

In the second half of the show, we break down the Spanish Supercup semi-finals on the way, beginning with the Madrid derby. Atlético are looking as shaky as they have done since 2022, and El Cholo is backed to double down. However coming up against them are the seemingly impregnable Real Madrid. The contrast between side that were beaten in September and this one is pretty stark. Osasuna face Barcelona in the other semi-final - neither side is looking especially special right now, as we discuss Vitor Roque's first minutes too.

Happy New Year, and to join us for our Thursday episode, upgrade to our premium subscription at lllonline.substack.com

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Athletic on the rise as Sevilla fall further: LaLiga MD17 Recap Dec 18, 2023

Join Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Román De Arquer (@Aeroslavee) to review Matchday 17 in LaLiga as the Christmas countdown begins.

For those hoping for a four-horse title race, hopes were dashed as both Barça and Atlético Madrid stumbled on the road. Xavi's side are now winless in three following their point at Mestalla, as the doubts and questions continue to mount.

For Atleti, they simply couldn't cope with a rampant Athletic Club, spearheaded by the Williams brothers. We ask how Ernesto Valverde is getting such a tune out of a side that struggled for goals last season.

Real Madrid made a statement by dispatching Villarreal with ease to put the ball back into Girona's court ahead of their game on Monday night. With a clear gap over their usual rivals, is the title race a two-horse race?

Elsewhere, Sevilla lurched from chaos to full blown crisis as they suffered a hammering at home to Getafe, after which Diego Alonso was promptly sacked. We review his miserable tenure and ask whether Quique Sánchez Flores is capable or arresting the slide.

At the bottom there were positive results for Celta and Cádiz but more misery for Granada, Almería and Mallorca. The bottom two look cut adrift now, is there any way back for them?

Upgrade your subscription for access to all our content at lllonline.substack.com. It would make a great Christmas gift to yourself or those around you who love LaLiga.

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LaLiga Matchday 16 Recap: The iconic Girona game, an iconic Girona team Dec 11, 2023

This might not be a vintage Barcelona, but this Girona side are just a little bit special. Join hosts Ruairidh Barlow (@RuriBarlow) and Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) as they break down a brilliant weekend in La Liga.

The first half of the show is dedicated to the first time ever that Girona have beaten Barcelona - and what a way to do it. Míchel's side showed Culers the football they've been desperate to see all season, and even if Barcelona had their chances, Paco explains why Girona were so much better. Then there's the post-mortem for Barcelona and Xavi Hernández - we have a checklist.

In the second half of the show, we start with Aitor Ruibal's screamer to earn Real Betis a point against Real Madrid - one that both sides were content with. Real Sociedad gave the Yellow Submarine a bath and Diego Alonso is on borrowed time. Meanwhile Valencia get Bordalás'd. Subscribe for extra content at lllonline.substack.com.

Our thoughts go out to the Granada fan that tragically lost their life to a heart attack during their clash with Athletic Club. Descansa en paz.

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It had to be him: LaLiga Matchday 15 recap Dec 04, 2023

Join Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) to review a significant weekend with a few surprise results.

The weekend culminated with a heavyweight clash at Montjuïc as Barça took on Atleti knowing they could be effectively out of the title race had they lost. João Félix – on loan from Atleti – proved to be the match-winner, and how he enjoyed that. Iñaki Peña was also vital with a couple of superb saves to deny Diego Simeone's men.

Athletic Club routed Rayo with both Williams brothers on the scoresheet, celebrating Nico's contract renewal.

Real Madrid and Girona keep winning at the top. Ruairidh Barlow (@RuriBarlow) drops in to give us his reaction from the capital. Meanwhile, Girona made hard work of it against Valencia, requiring a late doblete from Cristhian Stuani to complete the remontada.

In Part Two we review the rest of the games, including controversy denying Marcelino a fourth win in four, praise for revelatory Las Palmas, and some stalemates which suited nobody.

We end by reacting to Spain's tough Euro 2024 group draw.

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Morales boosting and RIP El Tel: LaLiga Matchday 14 recap Nov 26, 2023

Join Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee) as they review Matchday 14, game by game.

They look into the Marcelino - Morales connection that has brought Villarreal back to life, Umar Sadiq's glorious goal that saw Real Sociedad overpower Sevilla, Rodrygo recovering his best version, Rayo becoming Xavi's worst nightmare and Paco López's untimely departure, among all the other stories of the weekend.

Is Antoine Griezmann the best player in the league? Were Sevilla wrong to fire José Luis Mendilibar? Is Barcelona's season on the line this week? All these questions and more are pondered.

They also take a moment to remember Terry Venables, who sadly passed away this weekend. 'El Tel' leaves behind a great legacy that will be remembered for years to come. From the La Liga Lowdown team we send out our condolences to his family and friends.

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A hollow victory and season-changing international break Nov 20, 2023

Spain finish their European qualifying group top, with seven wins from eight, but there was nobody celebrating by the end of it. Join hosts Ruairidh Barlow (@RuriBarlow) and Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) as they reflect on a sombre night for La Roja.

Luis de la Fuente called it the most bitter victory he's ever experienced after Spain defeated Georgia 3-1, the only thing anyone was talking about was Gavi. The 19-year-old star came off before the half-hour mark with what is all-but-confirmed a season-ending anterior cruciate ligament tear. The impact of this is discussed, both for Spain and Barcelona, as it looks like it might keep him ouof the Euros next year. Paco tries to assess De la Fuente's spell up until now - the next time Spain play, de la Fuente will have been in the job over a year.

The second half of the show unfortunately has to deal with injuries too: Real Madrid have lost Eduardo Camavinga and Vinícius Junior for multiple months. The upshot is a rather thin set of options for Carlo Ancelotti, who has nine injuries to deal with as things stand. Have Real Betis left Manuel Pellegrini with one too many miracles to work? Their defensive options are analysed. There was some bright news for Barcelona fans, who thumped Real Madrid 5-0 at Montjuïc, which wraps up a chastening show.

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Familiar saviours as Marcelino set to return: LaLiga Matchday 13 recap Nov 13, 2023

The culmination of Matchday 13 means we are a third of the way through the season, and there are plenty of things to make pre-season predictions look rather silly.

Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) review a goal-filled weekend which saw every team score, contributing to 3.66 goals per game, four comebacks from the top five, and familiar heroes coming to the rescue.

The Seville Derby may not have been too high on quality, but the narratives stayed strong. All square at the Sánchez-Pizjuán courtesy of Ivan Rakitić.

The game of the weekend was on Friday in Bilbao, as Athletic grabbed a late winner in a seven-goal thriller to condemn Celta to yet another defeat.

Atleti had to come from behind too, but succeeded in defeating managerless Villarreal to extend their home winning run. Of course Antoine Griezmann was at the heart of things. Marcelino is seemingly all but in the door, and Paco says he should be given the keys to the Submarine hatch.

The leaders are still Girona, who once again trailed at Míchel's old stomping ground but turned it around. Their powers of recovery are almost as impressive as their league position.

In Part Two we discuss the other two horses in the race, both of whom won but in very contrasting circumstances.

Robert Lewandowski made his own scoring return to wake Barça up from their slump while Real Madrid won without Jude Bellingham. Xavi still has plenty of issues to solve, but Madrid appear to have passed this test with flying colours.

We round up the remainder of the action before assessing the table as it stands.

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Unstoppable Girona as Madrid pair drop points: LaLiga Matchday 12 Recap Nov 06, 2023

Girona es líder and other phrases you might need if you're learning some Spanish football vocabulary. LaLiga delivered in a big way this weekend with all of the big three put through their paces, while La Liga's biggest storyline rolls on. Join Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Ruairidh Barlow (@RuriBarlow) as they gorge on a filling nine-course tasting menu.

Part One begins at El Sadar where Míchel's side showed little apprehension about the difficulty of their task when they went down to Osasuna. Why are they so much better this season than last? Why is football cruel, and why should Real Sociedad fans continue to watch it after they were beaten by Barcelona? Our pair discuss the silver linings of their robbery, and the puzzle for Imanol Alguacil. Made all the sweeter for the Catalans by both Madrid giants stumbling in the face of frisky opposition.

In Part Two, everyone is moaning. All sides went home in a cantankerous mood from Celta Vigo-Sevilla, and even Pacheta's puppy-dog enthusiasm is wilting in the face of Villarreal's performances. Elsewhere Alavés win a crucial clash at the bottom of the table, Paco López and Javier Aguirre have reason to bring out their inner Benítez too.

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La Liga Matchday 11 Recap: Late show in 'El Clásico' & beyond Oct 30, 2023

El Clásico didn't disappoint, with a late twist as the headline acts delivered and gave us plenty to discuss and debate.

Join Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Román De Arquer (@Aeroslavee) as they review the game in depth.

Román was in attendance so shares his matchgoing experience, as well as wondering whether Real Madrid deserved to win, or Barça in fact let it slip. We talk tactics, substitutes, key players, and of course, a lot about Jude Bellingham. As always it seems. There is time for discussion of İlkay Gündoğan's post-match comments too, and where it leaves the respective sides for the rest of the season.

In Part Two we travel on a whistle-stop tour around the rest of the matches from the weekend, one that saw two thirds of the fixtures decided by stoppage time goals. There were late winners, high-scoring draws, magical goals... and Getafe with another bore draw.

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La Liga Matchday 10 Recap: The Sergio Ramos adrenaline derby and the best debut yet? Oct 23, 2023

It's hard to ask La Liga for much more this season. Despite one or two sour notes, La Liga is full of juice. Join hosts Ruairidh Barlow (@RuriBarlow) and Paco Polit (pacopolitENG) as they react and assess the weekend's action, as La Liga continues it's entertaining start.

Part one begins with the Sergio Ramos derby. Ramos had Real Madrid pulling faces, as Carlo Ancelotti turns to irony. Diego Alonso's Sevilla debut was interesting watch - Jude Bellingham has failed to score or assist in just three games this season, and Real Madrid have dropped points in two of them. Elsewhere, discretion advised if you want to mess with Girona, and Antoine Griezmann shows Rafa Benítez just how rainy it can be in Vigo.

Part two begins with the Sunday night partidazo in Barcelona - which was decided by yet another Barcelona youngster. Marc Guiu makes his case for the best ever opening minute of a debut. Villarreal fail to beat Alavés at home, as they sink to their worst start in La Liga ever. Manuel Pellegrini is the latest to get the Papa Bordalás treatement.

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International break recap: Germany awaits as Spain qualify Oct 15, 2023

Guten Tag! Spain have qualified for Euro 2024 following back-to-back wins in this October window.

Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) discuss the two close encounters, beginning with Thursday night's win over Scotland in Seville.

Ruairidh Barlow (@RuriBarlow) - our Scot living in Spain - was at La Cartuja to witness the match, and shares his thoughts on the match and Luis de la Fuente's tenure so far.

We examine the controversy surrounding Scott McTominay's disallowed goal and explain why Spain were able to kick on from that point.

In Part Two we analyse Sunday's win in Oslo against a rather disappointing Norway side. There were more debatable decisions here too, with Álvaro Morata at the heart of most of it.

We conclude by assessing Spain's likelihood of contending next summer.

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LaLiga Matchday 9 Recap: The life of Bryan Oct 09, 2023

Some things in life are bad. But not LaLiga.

Matchday 9 brought us a colossal amount of goals, drama and narratives.

We've had records broken, comebacks, a new coach, a sacking and more. Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) break it all down in this bumper pod before the international break kicks in again.

We start with Zaragoza in Granada, not to confuse the geographers. Bryan is the revelation of the season, and in just 17 seconds, he made sure Barça knew about it. If his first was quick, his second was more spectacular, earning him the Spain call up his fans were clamouring for. Barça had to dig deep to get themselves out of another hole. They thought they had won it, but were denied by a controversial offside decision. Lamine Yamal will never forget the game, as he became the youngest goalscorer in LaLiga history.

In Madrid, there was more drama, with handballs this time. Paco laments the level of officiating this season, but praises the grittiness of Atlético and the quality of La Real.

Another week, another Bellingham showcase, who is challenging journalists to find new superlatives and fresh copy. A thumping win leaves Los Blancos top of the league, with Girona their closest challengers.

In Part Two, we look at remaining games and the managerial movements. José Luis Mendilibar was sacked by Sevilla as a late draw at home to Rayo was not enough to fend off the doubters. The vicious cycle is continuing in Seville, and there are similar predicaments for Rafa Benítez at Celta and Pacheta at Villarreal. Celta saved a point against Getafe but Villarreal fell to Las Palmas. All seem to be suffering from seasons "born in a twisted way", opines Paco.

What will the coming days bring? A nervous wait for many.

Athletic beat Almería, who subsequently appointed former-Athletic coach Gaizka Garitano as the man to try and save them. We discuss this choice and whether or not he can have the luck required.

After rounding off the matches, we play out on Lamine Yamal's moment of history.

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LaLiga Matchday 8 Recap: Madrid on top as La Real Take the Derby Oct 01, 2023

Matchday 8 is in the books as we career through another round, full of goals, major clashes and one star giving us a preview of his night out. Join hosts Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Ruairidh Barlow (@RuriBarlow) as they round up the action and the major talking points.

Part One begins in Catalonia - Girona naturally. Real Madrid returned to the top of the table in ruthless fashion, stomping all over Míchel and his magic full-backs. There was a surprise benching, and back down in Barcelona, it was a Real Madrid legend doing the Blaugrana a big favour. The Basque derby delivered, if you were in Txuri-Urdin - and even if you weren't, well, you may as well enjoy it. The partidazo of the week came in the depths of the LaLiga table, with the bottom two sides wondering 'if only' in a wild game.

Part Two sees us round up the rest of the games, including an unexpected partidazo at the Metropolitano, a vital win for Osasuna, and Real Betis show that there's a new generation coming after losing some key veterans. Finally we wonder if Villarreal manager Pacheta might already be in must-win territory just five games in.

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LaLiga Matchday 6 Recap: Real Madrid imperfect as Girona gol crazy Sep 25, 2023

La Liga enjoyed a goal-fest this weekend, as 35 goals flew in across 10 games. The Metropolitano saw four of them, but perhaps was the happiest of the lot as they slayed an unbeaten Real Madrid in relatively comfortable fashion. Carlo Ancelotti has some thinking to do, but it's a tough puzzle to solve, while perhaps Cholo Simeone can see a route towards a title challenge. Elsewhere, Las Palmas win story of the week - and their first game.

In part 2 we're back at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys where Román witnessed a historic comeback for Barcelona. The João's and Xavi would have deserved the criticism lined up for them with 15 minutes to go, but 8 minutes of magic made it just another happy headline. Problems in Andalusia, but Catalonia is flying. Girona are joint-top, and nobody who enjoys entertaining football will begrudge them that. Find out who our revelation of the season is six games in.

Follow us on Twitter @LaLigaLowdown, but if you can subscribe to our premium Substack deal to receive a bundle of extra written and audio content. Enjoy your (midweek La Liga) semana!

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La Liga Matchday 5 Recap: Shark attack and Valencia go to Guerra Sep 18, 2023

LaLiga showed that it isn't just Spain that can bang in the goals, with nearly three a game over the weekend. A series of debuts provided talking points on their own, but hosts Ruairidh Barlow (@RuriBarlow) and Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee) have some fascinating results to pick through as well.

Part one kicks off in Barcelona, where Román was present to see Barcelona devour a depleted Real Betis, with some sensational debuts too. Are we looking at a change of approach from Barcelona? Atlético Madrid were humbled by Valencia, who have their own young stars showing they can mix it in LaLiga, while Rafael Benítez is doing a lot of complaining - that could soon be drowned out by groans at Balaídos though.

In part two, Real Madrid continue to get the job done, even without Jude Bellingham on the scoresheet. Are Real Madrid and Barcelona essentially playing the same setup now? Sergio Ramos is back at Sevilla, but the big news is that they're off the bottom. Pacheta also squeezed three points out of his first game, and he's really very happy about it.

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International break pod: The button of greatness Sep 10, 2023

In the middle of the international break, there is no LaLiga but plenty of stories to dig into. Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) do just that, including Spain's historic win in Tbilisi.

Before the pod begins, Matt brings you up to date with the breaking bombshell that Luis Rubiales will resign from the RFEF and as UEFA vice-president. The news came on Piers Morgan's Uncensored show, just to add to the surrealism.

To the main pod, and a magnificent seven for La Roja, with an Álvaro Morata hat-trick and history made by Lamine Yamal. He became the youngest player and youngest goalscorer in all of Spanish national team history. We discuss this feat, as well as our hopes that he doesn't follow the path of difficulties endured by Ansu Fati recently.

Does this win reinforce Luis de la Fuente's position as head coach? Paco shares his view.

We then discuss the wider international break, with Hansi Flick also sacked by Germany on Sunday.

In Part Two, we analyse the managerial movement at the Estadio de le Cerámica, with Juan José Rojo Martín appointed at Villarreal. That's Pacheta of course, and we evaluate whether the mixed reaction to the news is warranted or a little unfair.

Finally we discuss the return of Sergio Ramos to Sevilla, a big name who rejected "yummy offers" and a man who is sure to provide "spicy quotes". A journalist's dream.

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LaLiga Matchday 4 Review: Weathering the storm Sep 03, 2023

When it rains it pours. LaLiga continued its exciting start with several games seeing goal-fests, while others were slightly drier affairs. Join hosts Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Ruairidh Barlow (@RuriBarlow) as they pick through the wreckage.

Part One begins with a breakdown of your weekly Jude Bellingham winner, but there's perhaps cloud on the horizon above the silver Santiago Bernabéu. Barcelona come out with all their teeth in tact after a trip to the dentist, but not their ear, and we look at two very different sides of the Alexander Sørloth transfer this week.

In Part Two, we round up the rest of the matches, with wins for Girona, Real Betis, Alavés and Celta Vigo. João Félix has played a grand total of 20 minutes for Barcelona, but already there's a seed of scepticism. We wrap up with a look at a rather pleasant European tour for the final edition of the Champions League in its current format. Finally, there is a bombazo to close the show, with Sergio Ramos set for a sensational return to Seville.

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LaLiga Matchday 3 Review: From Rubi to diamonds Aug 28, 2023

Join Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Román De Arquer (@Aeroslavee) to review a thrilling third round in LaLiga.

We begin with an update on the scandal rocking Spanish football and discuss the future of now-suspended President Luis Rubiales.

Happily, there was a lot of football to enjoy, with 27 goals in eight games.

There were partidazos galore on Sunday, with young talent shining bright on an otherwise dark week for Spanish football.

Lamine Yamal is only 16 but he is already being decisive for Barça, who ended up winning a thriller at La Cerámica, a game which also featured another Ferran Torres cameo.

At San Mamés there were six goals and a remontada, as Athletic came from 2-0 down to beat Betis comfortably in the end. Isco is looking sharp and almost back to his best, but it was the Williams brothers who stole the show, albeit with some controversy.

Real Madrid are still top of the pile and Jude Bellingham is still the main man. We discuss how freakishly good he is to already be running things for Carlo Ancelotti. But is it actually a concern that they are already so dependent on him?

In Part Two we round up the remaining games, including an impressive Girona and a goalfest in Granada.

Osasuna shook off their Conference League disappointment to beat Valencia at Mestalla thanks to a 95th-minute overhead kick, which left Los Che feeling blue.

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La Liga Matchday 2 and World Cup Review: Spain - Your World Champions Aug 21, 2023

Join hosts Ruairidh Barlow (@RuriBarlow) and Paco Polit (@PacoPolitENG) for a celebratory podcast, as they look back on a momentous day for Spain, Spanish football, and women's football.

Part one is exclusively dedicated to Spain ruling the world again, 13 years later. Overcoming England, La Roja dominated the game and were rewarded with the World Cup. We bring you on the ground accounts from the celebrations, look back on the game and look ahead to the future. Also a word on the tragic post-match for scorer Olga Carmona.

Football doesn't rest though, and there was a full round of La Liga matches this weekend, which forms our basis for the second half of the show. Barcelona battle their way to three points, Jude Bellingham is that guy and Ruben Baraja's teenage kicks hold Valencia fans tight. That and all the talking points from Matchday 2 in La Liga.

Follow us on Twitter @LaLigaLowdown and make sure to subscribe to us on Substack, whhich is our main platform this season and we would love it if you subscribed and upgraded for less than a fiver a month, allowing you access to an extra podcast and multiple articles on our Substack home. We think it is great value, and we hope you do too.

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LaLiga Matchday 1 Review: Bordaball is back as brilliant Bellingham bosses Bilbao Aug 14, 2023

Welcome to a new season of LaLiga and the return of the La Liga Lowdown podcast. Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) is joined by Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) for a review of the opening weekend which saw plenty of drama, dream debuts and dubious decisions. Plus, not a single home team won!

We begin in the south of Madrid after a fiery stalemate between Getafe and defending champions Barcelona. Xavi saw red, and he wasn’t the only one in a game which saw 25 additional minutes played. Bordalás ball is back with a bang!

Elsewhere there were late wins for Valencia and Betis, as well as a perfect start to post-Iraola life at Rayo.

In Part Two we begin in Bilbao where Jude Bellingham angered the crowd and wowed the rest of us with his performance. The Madrid press are falling at his feet already, going early with the Zinedine Zidane comparisons.

Paco offers his view of the title race this season, as well as his assessment of the rest of the runners and riders across the league. Plus, find out who he fears could be in for a “rude spanking” in their next game.

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2022/23 Season Review Jun 10, 2023

Join us for the last podcast of the season to review the 2022/23 LaLiga season. Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) is joined by Román De Arquer (@Aeroslavee) and Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) for the storylines, the good and the bad.

For ten long months, with an unprecedented World Cup in the middle, it has been a unique campaign.

The title changed hands for the fourth time in a row, while we had a relegation battle for the ages.

We discuss Barça's success, Real Madrid's difficulties, Atleti's improvement, La Real making the top four, Euro Osasuna and more.

Carlo Ancelotti's side won three trophies but for many their season was underwhelming. How will they replace Karim Benzema?

In Part Two we break down the relegation battle and discuss the comings and (mostly) goings at the end of the season. Adios to some legends and some not so iconic.

Thank you to everyone who supported us this season. We will be back for 23/24.

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LaLiga Matchday 38 Recap: A photo finish Jun 05, 2023

LaLiga came to a sudden end as all 20 teams signed off for the summer in heart-stopping fashion. Join hosts Ruairidh Barlow (@RuriBarlow) and a relieved Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) for the aftermath of a thrilling final day which saw us bid farewell to La Pucela and welcome Osasuna to Thursday night football.

Part one deals with the second slate of games in the day, and the relegation battle, as six teams sweated into the final stages of Sunday evening. Ultimately, Ronaldo Nazário’s Real Valladolid were the victims of something he’s never had to deal with - lack of goal. José Bordalás’ trundled Getafe to safety, and none of the other teams had the required slips for La Pucela. We also deal with the first of two major farewells.

Part two is dedicated to the European race, but there too, the team that started the day in the position in question finished it there. Victory for Osasuna meant a return to Europe for the first time in 16 years. Karim Benzema scored with his final touch as a Real Madrid player, on a weekend of goodbyes at the Santiago Bernabéu. Athletic Club said sayonara to their European hopes in frustratingly familiar fashion.

Follow us @LaLigaLowdown on Twitter for the latest Spanish football news, and tune in to our written work right here.

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Magnificent Seven: Sevilla are champions again Jun 01, 2023

Sevilla have done it again!

After more than 150 minutes of brutal football in Budapest, in a game which traversed the end of May and the beginning of June, the Spanish side beat Roma on penalties to seal a record-extending seventh Europa League title. After all, nobody loves it like they do.

Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) review a dramatic and emotional final, breaking down the key moments and discussing methodical Mendi and the Machiavellian Mourinho.

Perhaps the most unlikely of Sevilla's seven, they won it having been in danger of relegation a matter of weeks ago, when they had just fired their second coach of the season.

We salute the efforts of the players, the marvellous job undertaken by José Luis Mendilibar, his halftime tactical tweaks, his long road to glory, Jesús Navas, Ivan Rakitić, the Argentine connection, brilliant Bono and much much more.

In Part Two we look ahead to the last act in the enduring drama that is LaLiga 22/23, as one club will hop onto the European train and six try to avoid the final curtain.

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LaLiga Matchday 37 Recap: Farewell Camp Nou, hello relegation drama May 28, 2023

We have just one matchday left in LaLiga after another thrilling round of games - nine all at the same time, with so much on the line, was nearly too much for us. Join hosts Ruairidh Barlow (@RuriBarlow) and Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee) as they piece back together the penultimate round of La Liga action and all the consequences.

There is nowhere else to start than the relegation battle, and with three different ties involving direct rivals, even three 0-0 draws would have been the height of drama. As it was, there was no shortage of action, with Getafe and Cádiz coming out winners. Espanyol, were very much the losers. This podcast was brought to you by the Barcelona metro service, which quickly transported one of our hosts from Camp Nou to our recording location, and we close out part one with reaction direct from the final game before it becomes the Camp Vell.

Part two sees us head north, as we reflect on the ongoing European battles with heavy representation from the Basque country - La Real continue to make their case for being the best run club in Spain. That Europa Conference League spot was always going down to the last day, but nobody thought that it would end up with six teams still in the running. Finally we close out part two with Sevilla, who lost to Real Madrid, but in an unusual turn of events for Los Blancos, have bigger fish to fry.

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LaLiga Matchday 36 Recap: There's life in seven of the dogs yet May 26, 2023

The relegation battle continues to be the best white-knuckle thrill in Spain, so make sure you don't miss it. Join hosts Ruairidh Barlow (@RuriBarlow) and Román de Arquer (@aeroslavee) as they look at some major results, and analyse more fall out from the racial abuse received by Vinícius Júnior.

Real Valladolid and Espanyol kept their hopes of playing in La Liga alive with major results against the two best teams in the division in 2023 - it sets up a Sunday showdown for both. It's tight at the bottom in general though, with six of the bottom eight separated by just two points. La Bordaleta chugged into life this week in Andalusia, but Getafe also lost their best driver. For a region famed for its rain, things are also uncomfortably warm in Galicia.

In part two, we discuss the dying embers of the Champions League race and one player who is all but unstoppable right now. The Europa Conference League race is a matter of intrigue too. Just the six teams are involved in that, four of them separated by two points. Finally, there's an update on the actions being taken in Spain in the aftermath of a major international reaction to Vinícius being abused again, an assessment on the general reaction within Spain, and where perhaps there is room for growth.

Follow us on @LaLigaLowdown on Twitter to keep across all of the latest in the Spanish game, and ensure you visit lllonline.substack.com for all of our written content.

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LaLiga Matchday 35 Recap: Racism relegates football to background May 22, 2023

La Liga was back hot off the heels from a big week in Europe with a big week in the relegation battle, but one which like all of the football, fell into the background due to a very serious problem - racism.

On Sunday evening Vinícius Júnior was racially abused by a Valencia fan, and some time later, ended up being sent off. It was the boiling point in a absurd and awful situation that has been bulding for some time. We give you an objective and correct timeline of events, and discuss the problems with both the dealing of the situation, and the discussion surrounding.

With some degree of difficulty, we then discuss some major results in the relegation battle, including major results for Cádiz and Almería.

In part two, we attempt a little less gloom, and at the very least Real Sociedad provided that, as they continue their march towards the Champions League at Camp Nou. There's also Sevilla's heated clash with Real Betis in the derby, a twist of fortune for Villarreal with one of the in-form forwards in La Liga, and a smash and grab from Espanyol. The final European spot looks as if it may go down to the wire.

Follow us @LaLigaLowdown on Twitter to keep up to date with all the goings on, and ensure you are subscribed to our Substack in order to receive our written content - lllonline.substack.com.

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European Review: Nobody loves it like Sevilla do May 19, 2023

Nobody loves it like they do. After a phenomenal week of European entertainment, Ruairidh Barlow (@RuriBarlow) and Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) come fresh off the back of another heroic victory in Andalusia to bring you all of the reaction and analysis you need.

The entirety of part one is dedicated to the simply stupendous goings on in Nervión. An electric game, a swaying Sánchez Pizjuán, and another Europa League final. Sevilla dispatch Juventus, we break down the man behind that success, José Luis Mendilibar, how they managed to beat Juventus, peak at the final itself. Another familiar José awaits.

Grit your teeth for part two Madridistas. Part two sees us look at what went wrong during Real Madrid's pummeling at the hands of Manchester City... It's not as bad as you think. Paco picks through Carlo Ancelotti's mistakes, but just give more praise to City for stopping Real Madrid doing the one thing they do best. How exactly does it affect the Italian's future, and we touch on a major problem for Ancelotti that really isn't his fault. Finally, we take a brief look ahead to the fixtures in La Liga this weekend.

Follow us on Twitter @LaLigaLowdown and subscribe to our substack for all of our written content at lllonline.substack.com

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LaLiga Matchday 34 Recap: Campeones and outrage, a truly LaLiga combination May 15, 2023

LaLiga has its third champions in the last three years, after Barcelona sliced through rivals Espanyol to secure the title, and write a sweet chapter in the club’s history. Hosts Ruairidh Barlow (@RuriBarlow) and Román de Arquer (@aeroslavee) are on hand to tell you how and why.

In part one, we break down who the main culprits for the Blaugrana victory, and which were the key moments in ensuring that it was they that triumphed. Román closes out part one with a wish and a worry for the summer months.

Part two comes onto the numerous other goings on in Spain this weekend, including a fiery relegation battle or three. Only Valencia won out of the relegation candidates this weekend, which is worth four more places in the table to Los Che. Real Valladolid were up in arms about defeat to Sevilla, which tightened the race for Europe right down to 12th-placed Real Mallorca. Up in top four country, La Real lost ground to give Villarreal narrow hope.

Follow us on Twitter @LaLigaLowdown, where we will be covering the title celebrations, and find all of our written content at lllonline.substack.com

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Bittersweet: European recap & Matchday 34 preview May 11, 2023

Summer is fast approaching and that means the season is reaching boiling point. Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Román De Arquer (@Aeroslavee) review all the midweek action and look ahead to an important Matchday in LaLiga.

In the European competitions, Real Madrid and Sevilla both had to settle for 1-1 draws following two hugely entertaining and different first legs.

In Madrid, City resisted the City pressure and managed to keep Erling Haaland quiet, but were unable to generate any advantage to take to Manchester next week.

In Turin, Sevilla were seconds away from a famous win, but should be happy enough to come away unscathed. Having dominated the first half, to concede in the last play of the game was a suckerpunch, but this disappointment illustrates the progression made by the side in recent weeks.

In the second half of the show we pay homage to Sergio Busquets, undisputed legend of Spanish football, as he announced his imminent departure from Barça. We delve into his unique attributes as well as asking how he can be replaced, if at all.

We then look ahead to MD34, including discussion on Barça's chances of wrapping up the title at Espanyol, as well as some key games in the relegation battle and the fight for European spots.

Follow @LaLigaLowdown for all the latest, and subscribe to our Substack at lllonline.substack.com.

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King Carlo and his champions: Copa del Rey final review May 07, 2023

Real Madrid are Copa del Rey champions.

Nine years since their last, Los Blancos have the Copa back in their possession after beating Osasuna 2-1 in a pulsating final at La Cartuja. Join Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Thom Harris (@ThomHarris_) to review the showpiece in Seville, which saw a fifth winner of the competition in as many seasons.

We talk about the key protagonists of the game, including Vini Jr, Rodrygo and Dani Carvajal.

Vini showed his blistering best and his frustrating worst at times in this game, and we evaluate whether this can be resolved before it costs him or his team dearly.

In Part Two we analyse what this triumph means to the club and to Carlo Ancelotti. Real become the first Spanish side to win 100 trophies, 10% of which have been won under the affable Italian.

Before we're done we salute Osasuna on a proud and persistent performance, and then look ahead briefly to the huge European semi-finals this week.

Follow us @LaLigaLowdown and subscribe to our Substack at lllonline.substack.com.

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Covered in gold: LaLiga Matchday 33 recap & Copa final preview May 05, 2023

A regal theme on this week's podcast after a frenetic week of action.

As the UK is set to officially crown Charles III, in Spain it is the King's Cup which is the focus this weekend. Join Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) to review Matchday 33 and look ahead to Saturday's showpiece in Seville.

In LaLiga, a few big questions were answered and others moved a long way towards being resolved.

Barça recorded a record-equalling 11th 1-0 victory to put themselves one step away from confirming their title. They will be crowned if they win away at Espanyol next weekend. We also discussed some significant off-field developments at Camp Nou.

Real Madrid's abdication from the throne is confirmed as they slipped to third after a defeat at Real Sociedad. Imanol’s side are getting closer and closer to securing Champions League football.

Atleti are now a free-scoring Antoine Griezmann machine and they scored five for the second successive match.

At the bottom, Elche's relegation was confirmed as Almería beat them 2-1. Elsewhere, José Bordalás was back at the Coliseum and it was as if he had never left.

The battle to avoid joining Elche is hotter than ever, with five points separating six clubs.

There's praise for Girona too, as they are 7th and now best-placed to grab a potential European spot.

In Part Two, we preview the highly-anticipated Copa del Rey final on Saturday night. We deliberate on how the teams arrive, what it would mean to win it, and how the game might pan out.

Before we finish, Paco gives us his take on the outcome of the final, with both his head and his heart competing. Whatever the end result, we hope it provides a spectacle fit for a King.

As always, keep across everything @LaLigaLowdown and subscribe to our Substack at lllonline.substack.com.

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Home comforts: LaLiga Matchday 32 recap Apr 30, 2023

Almost as soon as Matchday 31 had concluded, Matchday 32 arrived hot on its heels. Join Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Román De Arquer (@Aeroslavee) to review the weekend action with crucial fixtures at the top, and most importantly at the bottom. Home is where the heart is, and for the majority of the weekend, it was where the points were too. Six of the eight matches played were won by the hosts.

We start at the bottom, with Espanyol gaining a much-needed victory over Getafe, who have just reappointed José Bordalás. There was no immediate effect for returnee, instead it was his counterpart Luis García who registered a first win of his own. Espanyol had been the team with the longest winless run in the division, but that baton now passes to Getafe themselves.

Down in Andalucía, Cádiz also needed to react after three games without a goal, taking on a resurgent Valencia who had won their last two games. Once again it went the way of the hosts, a valuable three points for Sergio's side. Valencia's momentum is stalled.

Elsewhere Elche stunned everyone by pulling a 4-0 win out of the bag. Every game is now a must-win or they will be officially relegated.

Real Valladolid went punch for punch with Atleti, but came out on the wrong end of a seven-goal thriller.

In Part Two, we discuss the big two who scored four goals each, but it was Karim Benzema who closed the gap on Robert Lewandowski in the Pichichi race. For the title, Barça require just three wins to seal it.

Lastly we look at the race for 4th, as La Real continue to hold firm, while Villarreal are trying their best to pressure them all the way.

Matchday 32 concludes on Monday and Matchday 33 begins on Tuesday. Subscribe to our Substack at lllonline.substack.com and follow us on Twitter @LaLigaLowdown for all the latest at this crucial stage of the campaign.

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Guerra brings liberation: LaLiga Matchday 31 recap Apr 28, 2023

We are back with a midweek pod to review a pulsating Matchday 31 in LaLiga.

Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) reflect on a midweek which saw both giants lose in the same jornada for the first time in 18 months, history made at Montilivi, and a rocket-launching 19-year-old changing the mood of 40,000 inside Mestalla.

Of course we begin with the Poker in Girona as Taty Castellanos and Co caused Carlo Ancelotti to raise his eyebrow ever further. Real Madrid picked a bad time to produce that performance and Éder Militão will have to improve when he faces Erling Haaland...

We continue the theme of underdogs earning deserved victories over at Vallecas. Andoni Iraola has the midas touch over Xavi's Barça without a doubt, as the Catalans missed the chance to go 14 points clear and lost the option of hitting 100 points.

Then it's all about Valencia and their triumphant win courtesy of their latest youngster. Los Che move out of the relegation zone at the expense of Getafe, who sacked Quique Sánchez Flores after they lost at home to Almería. Yes, Almería won a game on the road. It really was a wild week.

In Part Two we talk Atleti, Villarreal and the battle for Europe. At the other end it is looking bleak for Elche and Espanyol – the former could be officially relegated as soon as this upcoming weekend.

We end by looking at the scrap at the bottom and running through the fixtures for MD32. Time is running out and the tension is rising.

Subscribe to our Substack at lllonline.substack.com and follow us on Twitter @LaLigaLowdown to stay in touch.

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Valencia win a game and Barcelona get closer: LaLiga Matchday 30 recap Apr 23, 2023

Matchday 30 was a surprising weekend in many ways. There were no penalties, no red cards...and Valencia won a game of football.

A delighted Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) joins Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) to review all ten matches of the round.

The European race took more twists as Betis lost in Pamplona, La Real produced a remontada and Sevilla knocked the stuffing out of Villarreal. Don't sleep on Athletic Club either.

In Part Two we look at some more familiar things. Barça winning 1-0, Real Madrid winning 2-0 and Quique Sánchez Flores with a verbal zinger in the press.

Following Barça's win over Atleti, no hay Liga. Valencia had a good weekend and so too did their former-academy players Ferran Torres and Kang-In Lee, who both scored for their respective sides on Sant Jordi.

We wrap up the show by assessing the relegation picture, which still involves around a third of the league, and briefly look ahead to the midweek round.

Follow us @LaLigaLowdown and subscribe to our Substack at lllonline.substack.com.

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Mendimiracles at the Pizjuán: European round-up and LaLiga Matchday 30 preview Apr 21, 2023

A hectic midweek in Spain as Sam Leveridge (@samleveridge) is joined by a man from the biggest party in Europe as Rafa Garrido (@RGarrido2210) connects from Seville in the aftermath of Sevilla’s 3-0 thrashing of Manchester United in the Europa League to reach the semi-finals.

We then pan across to Madrid, where Jorge López-Torrecilla (@Jorge_ltg_) jumps on to discuss Real Madrid’s routine 2-0 brushing off of another Premier League side, Chelsea, on route to a semi-final rematch against Manchester City.

Finally, we also turn our attention to the upcoming domestic action where Atlético Madrid travel to Camp Nou to take on Barcelona on Sunday, alongside some relegation six-pointers as we near the business end of the season. Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) joins us for that.

Stay tuned to La Liga Lowdown on Substack at lllonline.substack.com and on Twitter at @LaLigaLowdown throughout this weekend and in the build-up to next week’s midweek matchday.

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Misery at Mestalla as Bilbao bounces: LaLiga Matchday 29 recap Apr 16, 2023

Join Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Thom Harris (@ThomHarris_) to review a pulsating weekend in LaLiga which had local derbies, intense relegation six-pointers and some surprises thrown in too.

We begin at Mestalla where Valencia needed a result to keep the belief but faced a Sevilla side who salvaged a draw impressively at Old Trafford on Thursday. A game full of controversy and drama ended up going the way of the visitors as José Luis Mendilibar continues his unbeaten start. We ask how Valencia were undone yet again, how precarious their position is, and whether Sevilla are now safe.

We then turn our attention to the Basque Country and the European race. Athletic dealt their rival's Champions League hopes a significant blow as they enhanced their own prospects. We discuss the form of Iñaki Williams in particular.

Villarreal did a Villarreal and Betis were able to cash in with a convincing win over freefalling Espanyol.

In Part Two we focus on the big three, as Barça were held to another stalemate at Getafe. Real Madrid won at Cádiz to cut the gap to 11 points. With Barça's profligacy in front of goal, is there a hint of a title race once again?

One team in full force is Atlético Madrid and Antoine Griezmann was differential once again. They are hunting down the top two and face Barça at Camp Nou next weekend. Game on.

Follow us @LaLigaLowdown on Twitter and subscribe to our Substack for plenty of content at lllonline.substack.com.

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Mendilibar's Theatre of Dreams: European recap and Matchday 29 preview Apr 14, 2023

In this podcast, we recap on the latest from Spanish football with both action in midweek in Europe and an exciting matchday round coming up. Sam Leveridge (@samleveridge) and Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee) break down the action.

We start off with a recap from the capital on Real Madrid's convincing win over Frank Lampard's Chelsea before moving on to discuss another recent coaching appointment as José Luis Mendilibar secured a dramatic draw with Sevilla against Manchester United.

In part two, we take a look at another huge game for Mendilibar's men, a tricky away trip for Barcelona and a big Basque derby.

Stay tuned to lllonline.substack.com and @LaLigaLowdown on Twitter for all the latest coverage of everything going on in Spain.

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LaLiga Matchday 28 Recap: Mañana día libre Apr 09, 2023

La Liga took centre stage again after the Copa del Rey, and it did not disappoint. Averaging over three goals per game this weekend, it was the Matchday of the entertainers, as hosts Ruairidh Barlow (@RuriBarlow) and Thom Harris (@ThomHarris_) discuss.

There is no other place to begin though than perhaps the most entertaining tie of the weekend, as Villarreal and Samu Chukwueze put Real Madrid to the sword at the Santiago Bernabéu. We talk through his strides forward and the impact it's having on the top four race. It was Semana Santa in Spain, but in Seville the only thing rising this weekend was an unholy wave of frustration as both Real Betis and Sevilla saw red again, costing them points in the process.

Sevilla do at least have some breathing room between themselves and the relegation zone, unlike Valencia and Espanyol. We start part two with a focus on the relegation zone, and a crucial victory for Almería over Los Che. Then we analyse our first impressions of the new managers at Espanyol and Real Valladolid. Atletico Madrid march onwards, they now have Real Madrid in their sights.

Follow us on Twitter @LaLigaLowdown, and find our written content on lllonline.substack.com.

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Copa del Rey Semi-Finals Review: El Clásico analysis, Osasuna are heading to Sevilla Apr 05, 2023

The Copa del Rey semi-finals were all set up for stories in midweek, and they did not disappoint. Real Madrid humble Barcelona, Osasuna make their second ever Copa del Rey final, Ruairidh Barlow (@RuriBarlow) is joined by Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee) and Jorge López-Torrecilla (@Jorge_ltg_) to break down all the goings on.

Part one kicks off with El Clásico, as we come fresh off a 4-0 win at Camp Nou for Real Madrid, a thrashing not seen since the 1960s. We start off with where the match was won and lost, Real Madrid's most underrated but rated player, and how Carlo Ancelotti vindicated his position. Then we have a go at both fanbases, all is fair in love and war. Finally, we work out how this result influences what remains of both of their seasons.

The second half sees us work our way through an historic achievement for Osasuna - but also a bitter defeat for Athletic Club. Within that we look at the protagonists for Osasuna and the lack of them for Athletic Club. Our extra time is devoted to Espanyol and Real Valladolid who both appointed new managers this week.

Follow us on Twitter for more coverage of all things Spanish football (@LaLigaLowdown).

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LaLiga Matchday 27 Recap: A rise, a fall and a look ahead to the Copa del Rey Apr 03, 2023

La Liga was back after the international break - one perhaps best forgotten in Spain - but there were plenty of memorable matches across Jornada 27 for a number of reasons. Join hosts Ruairidh Barlow (@RuriBarlow) and Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee) as they navigate their way through the narratives.

Part one begins with Real Madrid and Barcelona, who combined for ten unanswered goals against Real Valladolid and Elche respectively. Ahead of their Copa del Rey crunch match both had confidence building victories, but Román is grilled on a number of questions hanging over Carlo Ancelotti and Xavi Hernández. We also touch on the Ansu Fati drama, as well as a first win for José Luis Mendilibar as Sevilla manager.

The second half of the show kicks off with an enthused Sam Leveridge (@samleveridge), fresh off the back of Atlético Madrid's sixth victory in their last seven matches. What might have been? Then we dig into Athletic Club and Osasuna, with the onus on Los Leones to turn around their 1-0 deficit. Finally we may be on the verge of a sacking (this might have happened by the time you're listening), find out why Espanyol and Diego Martínez has not worked out.

Make sure to follow us on Twitter @LaLigaLowdown and keep across all of our written content on lllonline.substack.com.

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Norwegians in Málaga: Spain preview and LaLiga latest podcast Mar 24, 2023

To preview Luis de la Fuente’s first international break as Spain coach, Sam Leveridge (@samleveridge) is joined by Paco Polit (@PacoPolitENG) to break down all to expect from this new-look Spain squad.

By delving into the squad choice, captain selection and possible line-up to take on Norway for De la Fuente’s first match in charge in Málaga on Saturday evening, we look at how the new coach can put his stamp on the squad.

We also look at Spain’s opponents, with Ruairidh Barlow (@RuriBarlow) joining us to share his insights on his home nation, Scotland, while we discuss some familiar faces to LaLiga fans that feature in the Norway squad.

Finally, we wrap up by looking at the managerial merrygoround in LaLiga with an old friend returning as José Luis Mendilibar took charge of Sevilla and a complete novice starting out with Sebastián Beccacece appointed Elche coach.

Stay tuned for more across our Substack in the coming days and on Twitter at @LaLigaLowdown.

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LaLiga Matchday 26 and El Clasico recap: One líder with mucha Liga below them Mar 20, 2023

Hay poca liga. Barcelona win El Clásico and move themselves 12 points clear, as the relegation battle gets increasingly hot and sticky. Join hosts Ruairidh Barlow (@RuriBarlow) and Thom Harris (@ThomHarris_) as they break down a crucial Jornada ahead of the international break.

Part 1 begins and stays with the big one for the most part as we break down the anatomy of the match itself, the consequences for the two teams going forward, and the Copa del Rey semi-final coming up between the two. We round off the first section with the other two teams charging onwards currently; Atlético de Madrid and Celta de Vigo.

Part 2 sees us plunge into the hot mess that is the relegation battle. With a single win Getafe can breathe and sleep a lot easier outside the relegation zone. They were the only side to win in the bottom nine, and it the pressure is starting mount on the men in charge. In more temperate climes, the European race is threatening to get a little messy too. Finally, we end on one of the most bizarre penalties seen for many years on Spain.

Follow us on Twitter @LaLigaLowdown to keep across our Spanish football coverage, and subscribe to lllonline.substack.com for all of our written content.

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Dearth, defeat & disappointment: European review & Clásico preview Mar 17, 2023

La Liga Lowdown is back with another podcast with plenty on the agenda.

Hosts Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) begin by reflecting on a disappointing night in Europe for the Spanish sides.

After three defeats and not a single goal scored across Thursday's Europa and Conference League matches, only Sevilla progressed, suffering and holding on in Istanbul.

It opens up questions about the state of LaLiga and we ask to what extent these negative results serve as a diagnosis on the health of Spanish football?

At least Real Madrid made it through in the Champions League, with an air of serenity not seen in their momentous campaign last season. Their comfortable and controlled performance against Liverpool is also touched upon.

Surely the Clásico on Sunday will be more taxing for them, as they seek to cut the gap to Barça at the top.

In the second half of the show we preview that game in full, including the importance of Pedri's potential return, what Real Madrid should do with Eduardo Camavinga and more.

Then there is a segment on questions from listeners and followers. Paco does his best to dive into the Clásico culture and whet your appetites for the big game.

Stay across our coverage on Twitter @LaLigaLowdown and subscribe to our Substack for fresh daily content at lllonline.substack.com.

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Xavi Simeone and the wrath of relegation: LaLiga Matchday 25 recap Mar 13, 2023

On Oscars weekend there was no shortage of drama in LaLiga. From blockbuster encounters to thrilling epics, heroes and villains, Matchday 25 wouldn't look out of place on the red carpet. Hosts Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Román De Arquer (@Aeroslavee) pore over the action and leave their reviews.

As it went, Barça maintained their nine-point advantage at the summit ahead of El Clásico next weekend, but they had to dig in deep in Bilbao. Another 1-0 win to add to the catalogue, this new-look resilience reminds Román of a different club and manager of recent LaLiga times.

Elsewhere there were humongous victories for two of the giants struggling at the bottom as Sevilla and Valencia both put themselves above the water line for another week at least.

In the race for Europe, it was a lap of consolation for the pretenders, as Real Sociedad, Villarreal and Betis all drew, keeping the contest intriguing.

The big weekend winners were Celta, and we salute them, Iago Aspas and Carlos Carvalhal, who has quietly transformed their outlook this season.

Ahead of another important week of European action, follow us @LaLigaLowdown on Twitter and subscribe to our Substack for more analysis: lllonline.substack.com.

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European review from Old Trafford and the Mafia Mar 10, 2023

It was a topsy, but mostly turvy week for Spanish sides in Europe, but no less interesting to unpack. Hosts Ruairidh Barlow (@RuriBarlow) and Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee) do so in your midweek podcast, before turning their attention to some of the other major storylines.

In part one, Matt Clark (MattClark_08) calls in from the snowy, blustery and generally torrid weather outside Old Trafford - he wasn't much more of a fan of Real Betis' second half in their defeat to Manchester United. Manuel Pellegrini has an uphill task in the second leg of their Europa League tie, as is true for Real Sociedad. Villarreal got a better result in the Europa Conference League, but here's the fun part - they are all battling it out for the top four at the same time. We break down the key weaknesses that might hamper both European and domestic aspirations.

In the second half of the show, we turn to Sevilla. Imagine a world where Sevilla win the Europa League but get relegated? One seems more likely than the other, but will Jorge Sampaoli even see the season through? More questions than answers in Seville - a problem that is very much the case in Barcelona too. Román gives his view from Catalonia on El Caso Negreira.

Follow us on Twitter @LaLigaLowdown, and subscribe to our substack at lllonline.substack.com for all of our written content.

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LaLiga's gone all sixes and nines: LaLiga matchday 24 recap Mar 06, 2023

In our match day 24 recap podcast, host Sam Leveridge (@samleveridge) is joined by Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) to delve into a crazy weekend of LaLiga action where we may have seen the death of a title race.

First we head to the red and white part of Madrid, where a special celebration for Diego Simeone was marked in style as he took charge of his 613th game with the club in a seven-goal thriller. We then move on to Camp Nou, where Barcelona won with very little style, and the Benito Villamarín, where Real Madrid had just as little style but lacked Barça’s cutting edge, as Hasan Karim (@TheHasanKarim) tells us.

In part two, we look at the relegation battle, where Getafe secured a crucial and nail-biting win over Girona, while Elche clung onto a faint tinge of hope until the very end against Mallorca in two of the weekend’s most eye-catching results.

Stay tuned across lllonline.substack.com and @LaLigaLowdown on Twitter for all the latest in another action-packed week of Spanish football.

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El Clasico preview, Galicia's worst kept secret and the best value signings in La Liga Mar 02, 2023

La Liga Lowdown get down to the nitty gritty of El Clásico on its 5th birthday! Join hosts Ruairidh Barlow (@RuriBarlow) and Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee) as they break down the big Copa del Rey semi-final.

It's likely to be a game defined by injuries with both sides missing players, although the Barcelona limp is a little more obvious at this point. We discuss how both sides might line up, where the weaknesses lie, and how it could leave the La Liga race after the first leg at the Santiago Bernabéu.

The second half of the show sees us travel around Spain to discuss some of the most interesting statistics and stories from around Spain. Once again Román demands more time for Quique Setién at Villarreal, we break down one of the most exciting and talented youngsters cutting his teeth at Celta Vigo, and make the case for the two best value signings of the season.

Follow us @LaLigaLowdown on Twitter, and tune into our Substack too - lllonline@substack.com - where we have daily content and will work our way through the El Clásico reaction.

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Madre mía, Almería: La Liga Matchday 23 Recap Feb 27, 2023

Comebacks, shocks, goalfests, upsets and twists. That was Matchday 23 in LaLiga, as the form table almost turned upside down and we witnessed another twist in the title race. Hosts Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Thom Harris (@ThomHarris_) are here to break it all down, in a weekend bookended by 3-2 thrillers involving Seville sides.

We begin with probably the surprise of the season so far. Following their defensive horror show last weekend, Almería went into their game against the league leaders with little more than blind faith. However, they caught a Barcelona still in hangover mode from their latest European exit, and the Andaluz side took full advantage, scoring early and defending well. As a result, Xavi's side missed a golden opportunity to open up a double-digit gap on Real Madrid.

The defending champions could not win either, even against the ten men of Atlético Madrid in El Derbi de Madrid. Teenger Álvaro Rodríguez saved a point for Los Blancos with his first senior goal but most observers felt it was an insufficient point. Little did we all know that Madrid would actually cut the gap at the top this weekend.

Elsewhere, Rubén Baraja got his first win as Valencia suffered and earned a much-needed three points while Espanyol and Cádiz registered important home wins too.

In the European race it was a fantastic weekend for Real Betis, who battled back from 2-0 down at Elche to get a crucial victory.

At the end of the show we take stock of the tightening races for Europe and to avoid relegation, as well as looking ahead to the first legs of the Copa del Rey semi-finals.

Follow us @LaLigaLowdown on Twitter and subscribe to our Substack at lllonline.substack.com.

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Sliding doors in North West England? Spanish football midweek catch-up Feb 23, 2023

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LaLiga Matchday 22 Recap: a falcon in Pamplona, a parakeet in Alicante Feb 20, 2023

We’ve been averaging three goals a game on this 22nd weekend of an enthralling LaLiga season, and with one more to go crunch-match to go, there could be plenty more drama still to unfold.

Join your hosts Ruairidh Barlow (@RuriBarlow) and Thom Harris (@ThomHarris_) as they discuss the best of the action, including an eight-goal thriller at Montilivi, a last-minute screamer in Elche, and a wonder-assist at Camp Nou.

Our experts also dive into a tense top-four, as Villarreal slump to a fourth defeat in a row for the first time in 24 years, before looking ahead to some tasty mid-week European ties, as Real Madrid travel to Anfield, and Barcelona gear up for round two with the Red Devils.

Wild celebrations, uncontrollable tears, and fists literally being swung, you don’t want to miss this.

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The dream of my life: Baraja is back Feb 15, 2023

It has been another momentous week at Mestalla and appropriately we have Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) on the pod to tell Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) all about it.

Fresh from attending Rubén Baraja's presentation on location, we start there as Valencia's third coach of the season begins an unenviable task. A cheap option on a short-term contract, is this simply a move by Meriton to pacify an angry fanbase?

Paco assesses the move to bring a club legend into the fray, as well as analysing Baraja's first statements as coach. His first match will be a relegation six-pointer away at Getafe, the importance of which cannot be overstated.

In Part Two we discuss the other big news from Wednesday; the bombshell involving Barcelona and alleged payments to a company linked to a former senior referee in the CTA. We discuss the reports and where it might leave the Catalans.

Then we turn our attention to this weekend's fixtures in LaLiga, featuring some attractive match-ups and a European showdown in Madrid.

Last but by no means least, we salute Jakub Jankto, who this week made the brave public announcement of his true identity.

Remember to follow us @LaLigaLowdown on Twitter and subscribe to our daily content at lllonline.substack.com.

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LaLiga Matchday 21 Recap: The tightest league in Europe Feb 12, 2023

La Liga continues to tighten up all over the table - everywhere except at the very top, where the gap between Barcelona and Real Madrid continues to expand, if perhaps only temporarily. Join hosts Ruairidh Barlow (@RuriBarlow) and Román de Arquer (@aeroslavee) as they work their way through a weekend that may have serious employment consequences.

We start at the top as Barcelona suffer against Villarreal but ultimately get the job done. Another rearguard action, another Pedri goal. Ronald Araújo was the star of the show but how concerned should Barcelona be about the form of Robert Lewandowski, with Manchester United on the horizon? Elsewhere Atlético Madrid mugged Celta Vigo at Balaídos, and Quique Sánchez Flores teeters on the brink.

In part two, there's only one place to start - Mestalla. Valencia are deep in crisis mode, and right now it feels like quicksand. Román has his doubts about even Pep Guardiola's ability to turn things around. Sevilla are only four points above them, but are feeling terrific that they are no longer the giants in crisis. It was a happy Saturday on the whole in Seville, with one player in particular coming in for praise in the Andalusian capital. With matters so tight at the bottom, every result continues to grow in size.

Follow us on Twitter @LaLigaLowdown, and join us at lllonline.substack.com for our latest written content.

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A final to play and Iraola set to stay: La Liga Lowdown midweek podcast Feb 08, 2023

On the midweek pod are Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Román De Arquer (@Aeroslavee) to discuss all the talking points from Spanish football.

In the first half of the show, we break down Real Madrid's win over Al Ahly which sealed progression to the final of the Club World Cup. It was a scoreline which ended up flattering Carlo Ancelotti's side, but that's not to say it was a performance without positives.

Andoni Iraola and Rayo Vallecano are also high up on the agenda after the Vallecas side moved up to fifth in LaLiga. Iraola attracted the advances of Leeds United but has reportedly turned down a move to the Premier League in order to continue his fine work with Rayo. Rejoice.

In Part Two we look ahead to the nine matches in LaLiga this weekend, which sees coaches have reunions with their old clubs and giants in need of home wins to boost morale as much as their respective points tallies.

Remember to follow us @LaLigaLowdown and subscribe to our Substack (lllonline.substack.com), where you can read articles on everything from Celta's new goalkeeper to the lost edition of the Club World Cup.

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Wait... did that really happen? LaLiga Matchday 20 Recap Feb 06, 2023

LaLiga provided us with a weekend full of surprises as five of the top six dropped points, with everyone but Barcelona allowing the Catalans to extend their lead at the top to eight points courtesy of a thrashing of Sevilla.

To discuss the action, Sam Leveridge (@samleveridge) is joined by Paco Polit (@PacoPolitENG) who brings his insight from Valencia with updates on fan protests and the club's search for a new manager as they fight off relegation.

Elsewhere, Elche stunned Villarreal to record their first win of the season, but was it too little too late for Pablo Machín's team? Stay tuned to @LaLigaLowdown on Twitter and LLLonline.substack.com for all the latest.

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La Liga Lowdown Transfer Round-Up: Beaten to the punch Feb 02, 2023

Following a furious rather than frantic end to the transfer window, hosts Ruairidh Barlow (@RuriBarlow) and Román de Arquer (@aeroslavee) pick through combative few days in Spanish football.

Part one opens with the people that can be feeling pleased with themselves after rushing to hand in their assignments, before coming onto remarkable second transfer window in a row where one president has been in physical danger after his decision-making. Gavi wore number six on Wednesday night, he is registered as a first-team player, but it isn't over until Javier Tebas sings.

In part two, we pick through more of the debris of Gennaro Gattuso's Valencia departure, where he surrendered before he was cast off, and the return for what we feel we can now call an icon of Spanish football in Voro. Plus signs of encouragement for Real Madrid, Rayo Vallecano (on the pitch) and Quique Setién.

Enjoy our written content at lllonline.substack.com and keep up-to-date @laligalowdown on Twitter.

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Mind the gap: LaLiga Matchday 19 Recap Jan 30, 2023

187 down, 193 to go. We’re just a few games from the half-way point of the 2022-2023 LaLiga season, and what a primera vuelta it’s been.

Join your hosts Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Thom Harris (@ThomHarris_) as they dissect the weekend’s results, starting at the Santiago Bernabéu, where not even Vinícius Júnior’s 20 dribbles were enough to break down a sensationally structured Real Sociedad side, who remain just three points off Los Blancos in third.

Part One also sees our experts analyse big wins for Barcelona and Atlético Madrid, who continued the theme of 1-0 wins across the weekend. Pedri and Saúl the midfield match-winners in those.

Not all the games this weekend were low scorers though, as Sevilla thumped Elche by three goals to nil on Saturday, to extend the visitor’s winless streak to nineteen games. The guys also have high praise indeed for Cádiz and Almería, who continued their fine form in front of their own fans.

Make sure to follow us @LaLigaLowdown on Twitter for all the latest news and reaction, and don’t forget to subscribe to our Substack for free, daily LaLiga content emailed straight to your inbox! That's lllonline.substack.com.

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Copa del Rey quarter-final Recap: Arrasate's having a party Jan 27, 2023

The business end of the Copa del Rey is fast approaching, as this week's crunch-match quarter-finals have whittled the remaining candidates down to the final four.

Join your hosts Thom Harris (@ThomHarris_) and Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) as they dissect two pairs of thrilling clashes between Spain's greatest teams, as Barcelona, Real Madrid, Athletic Club and Osasuna all took one more huge step to cup glory.

In Part one, don't miss Paco's in-depth analysis of the situation in Valencia, speaking to us just moments after witnessing the incredible events that unfolded outside Mestalla. We also have plenty of praise for the Basque visitors, who make their fourth Copa semi-final in succession.

After the break, our experts get stuck into Osasuna vs Sevilla, paying particular attention to their sensational coach, before looking ahead to some of the weekend's big games.

Make sure to follow us on Twitter, @LaLigaLowdown, for all the breaking news, reaction and analysis from our team of journalists, and subscribe to our substance below, for daily content emailed straight to your inbox, free of charge!

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Cheers, tears and fears: LaLiga Matchday 18 Review Jan 23, 2023

As we approach the halfway stage of the season, LaLiga Matchday 18 was a weekend low on goals but not short of drama.

Join hosts Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Román De Arquer (@Aeroslavee) to reflect on the talking points and the implications of all the results.

We start at the top, and it's as you were as both Barça and Real Madrid record victories, both having to endure some suffering. Winning championships isn't supposed to be easy, after all.

The most impressive team is in third, however, so we laud Real Sociedad once again as they set a new club record for consecutive victories in impressive fashion at Vallecas.

Atleti were also impressive, led by their pink prince Antoine Griezmann. They round off the top four and the first half of the show.

Into Part Two, we analyse two late victories of significance in Seville and Vila-Real, both courtesy of late pressure penalties. There was emotion and relief in equal measure.

Elsewhere there is more pain for Betis, a small glimmer of hope for Elche and a golazo from Segunda.

Follow us @LaLigaLowdown for all the latest transfers and news from Spanish football, and go deeper by subscribing to our Substack at lllonline.substack.com.

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Scoring with washing machines: La Liga Lowdown's midweek roundup Jan 18, 2023

It's not often a football team plays on three different continents in a week, but that's exactly the challenge that Xavi's Barcelona will face over the next few days, as they return from Saudi Arabia with the Spanish Supercopa tucked under their arms.

Join your hosts Thom Harris (@ThomHarris_) and Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) as they discuss the week's news, starting with their analysis of the title race ahead of a gruelling period for Real Madrid. Before part one is out, Paco reflects on Valencia's current situation, before some exciting transfer business for Girona is assessed.

After the break, the guys look ahead to the weekend's action, with a relegation six-pointer between Sevilla and Cádiz at the top of the bill.

Make sure to follow us @LaLigaLowdown on Twitter for all the latest news, analysis and insight, and subscribe to our substack below, absolute free of charge, for quality LaLiga content emailed to your inbox every single day!

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Barcelona are Super Champions: Supercopa and LaLiga matchday 17 recap Jan 16, 2023

It was a dramatic weekend of football in Spain, and Saudi Arabia, this weekend, as Barcelona were crowned champions of the Spanish Super Cup with Xavi getting his hands on silverware for the first time as Barcelona coach. To break down the Clásico final, Sam Leveridge (@samleveridge) is joined by Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee).

Then, we turn our attentions back to the Iberian Peninsula, where there was a thrilling Basque derby on Saturday night. Athletic Club fan Beñat Gutiérrez (@beinatguti) joins us to share his thoughts on the game, a controversial refereeing decision, and what it means for both teams.

Sam and Román also run through all the rest of the action, including a game of golazos in Getafe, Girona's late win to send Sevilla into the drop zone, and more dropped points for Atletico Madrid and Villarreal. Stay tuned for more coverage at lllonline.substack.com and twitter.com/laligalowdown.

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Supercopenalties: Semi-final review & LaLiga MD17 preview Jan 13, 2023

A packed midweek podcast this week as Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Thom Harris (@ThomHarris_) discuss the marathon pair of Supercopa semi-finals before looking ahead to a slightly-reduced schedule of LaLiga matches at the weekend.

In the first half of the show, the hosts dissect and chew over the semis which saw both giants start well, fade and then rely on their superb goalkeepers to secure passage to the final on penalties. There is praise for the conquered Valencia and Betis and questions about the performances of the big two: is it tiredness or something more fundamental? Both were more Casio than Rolex.

Before the break we discuss the dramatic debut of João Félix at Chelsea which went from red hot to red card. Diego Simeone was unavailable for comment.

In Part Two we turn our attention to the LaLiga weekend, featuring the Basque Derby as its designated partidazo. Two sides looking to make strides up the table, this should be a fascinating encounter. There are some huge games at the bottom too, which could give hope to some or reinforce the despair of others.

You won't want to miss it. Claramente.

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LaLiga Matchday 16 Recap: This season isn't like the others Jan 09, 2023

In this week’s podcast, the La Liga Lowdown squad review the Matchday 16 action. Host Ruairidh Barlow (@RuriBarlow) starts with the Sunday night partidazo and talks to Sam Leveridge (@SamLeveridge) in Madrid about the atmosphere at the Estadio Cívitas Metropolitano and what the Barcelona win means for both Barça and Atlético Madrid.

Then, Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) joins the action from Valencia to break down Villarreal’s win over Real Madrid, Real Sociedad’s surge on the top four, Joselu’s incredible goalscoring record and Valencia’s struggles after a home defeat to Cádiz.

With the January transfer window open and the Spanish Supercopa coming up this week, stay tuned for more at lllonline.substack.com and twitter.com/LaLigaLowdown for all the latest insights and action.

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LaLiga Matchday 16 Preview: He goes a bit bonkers Jan 04, 2023

Join Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Román De Arquer (@Aeroslavee) for a midweek dip into the deep pool of Spanish football.

On the agenda today is Copa del Rey, LaLiga and the new Kings League. We review the shocks and surprises from the first day of Last 32 matches in the Copa, starting in north Africa, where Elche's nightmare season got even more horrible, if that was even possible. Their agony is ecstasy for AD Cueta, who themselves are bottom of their league.

Elsewhere, three other LaLiga sides fell on Tuesday night, including last season's semi-finalists Rayo Vallecano. We discuss all the action and talking points.

Román then gives us a fascinating insight into Gerard Piqué's new project: the Kings League. Find out what it is, how it works, and the multitude of big names already involved.

In Part Two, we look ahead to the weekend in LaLiga, which features tough away games for the title challengers and plenty of other intriguing games besides.

Keep up to date by following @LaLigaLowdown on Twitter and subscribe to our Substack at lllonline.substack.com.

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La Liga Matchday 15 Recap: Welcome to 2023. Jan 01, 2023

10 games, 21 goals, and a 16-card special from Mateu Lahoz. LaLiga is officially back.

Spanish football returned with a bang this weekend, as Jornada 15 squeezed itself into the calendar before 2022 was out. Join your hosts Thom Harris (@ThomHarris_) and Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee) as they pick apart the big results from the top and the bottom of a tasty looking table heading into the new year.

In part one, the guys dissect a bizarre game at Camp Nou, a professional performance at the José Zorrilla, and the return of some of the World Cup's shining stars, before they move on to discuss a tantalising race for European qualification after the break, as Real Sociedad and Villarreal both picked up statement wins in the fight for a precious top-four spot.

Make sure to follow us on Twitter @LaLigaLowdown, and to follow our blog at https://lllonline.substack.com for completely free, fresh content sent to your inbox every day!

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LaLiga Matchday 15 Preview: The Bald Beckham Dec 27, 2022

LaLiga is back and after six weeks off, we are being plunged back into the middle of a season. Join hosts Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Ruairidh Barlow (@RuriBarlow) as they try to ease you in slowly to the first Jornada back.

The league leaders/failed European side Barcelona begin with a tricky proposition early on, without their leading scorer. Yet Real Madrid's proposition has all the ingredients of a bumpy landing too. Outside of those two, Athletic Club take on Real Betis in a match that could see either side go third or slip to 9th. Also included are Diego Simeone's shopping trolley, an over-extended metaphor and will the real David Beckham please stand up?

In the second half of the show, Celta Vigo-Sevilla sees two sides trying to keep their head above water. We discuss which manager will go into 2023 with the most pressure and find out how you could spend Nochevieja with Paco Polit.

Follow us on @LaLigaLowdown on Twitter and make sure you catch all of our written content on lllonline.substack.com.

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La Liga Part Two Preview: We're back. Dec 22, 2022

The celebrations have barely settled down in Buenos Aires, but ten of those players on that open-top bus will be back on Spanish shores soon enough, as LaLiga makes an almost immediate return after the 2022 World Cup.

Following perhaps the most dramatic international tournament of all time, join Thom Harris (@ThomHarris_) and Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) as they discuss how Qatar 2022 might impact the second half of the Spanish season.

In Part One, we discuss the best performers from LaLiga throughout the tournament, focusing in on Sevilla and Atlético Madrid and their Moroccan, French and Argentinian heroes, before touching on the titanic tussle between Barcelona and Real Madrid at the top of the pile.

After the break, we look at some of the activity back home while the World Cup has been in full flow, analysing new managers for Celta Vigo and Elche, before talking about a very exciting transfer indeed for Rayo Vallecano...

Make sure to follow us on Twitter @LaLigaLowdown, and to follow our blog at https://lllonline.substack.com for completely free, fresh content sent to your inbox every day!

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World Cup Final Recap: Better than they dreamed it Dec 19, 2022

La Liga Lowdown are back to discuss the World Cup final because... how could we not? Jarring though it may be, Spanish football is back just two days after the World Cup ends, so Ruairidh Barlow (@RuriBarlow) and Román de Arquer (@aeroslavee) cast an eye over some relationship troubles in LaLiga.

Some are calling it the greatest World Cup final ever and whether you agree or not, it everything the neutral could possible have hoped for. Lionel Messi added the missing jewel to his crown in an iconic moment. Lionel Scaloni got it right, but they were facing the Real Madrid of international football. Kylian Mbappé gets some love and we discuss how La Liga's representatives fared too.

In part two, we pick out the most appealing ties from the Copa del Rey second round. Beyond that, three of La Liga's bigger names who all started the season with European aspirations return to work with tension in the camp. That includes one of the most bizarre stories of the season, as a Spanish international is mistaken for a local waiter, and could João Félix be leaving in January?

We'll be back again before La Liga returns, so make sure you tune in as we remind ourselves where we are in the season, check out our written content at lllonline.substack.com, and follow us at @LaLigaLowdown on Twitter for more coverage of the greatest game in the world.

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Fountain Man: The nicest man in football Dec 12, 2022

As the dust settles on Spain's World Cup campaign, we take a look at the consequences of elimination to Morocco as Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Sam Leveridge (@samleveridge) analyse the fall-out.

First up, a discussion about Luis Enrique, what went wrong, and what led to his dismissal as Spain coach. What's next for Lucho? There's enough to talk about to fill out a whole stream...

After a short break, Matt and Sam are back to tell us about Luis de la Fuente. Who is this unknown entity? Beyond the white trainers and jeans, he's a man with as much in-depth knowledge of the Spanish system and youth set-up as you'll find out there.

For more insight and reaction to the change, as well as the final stages of the World Cup, follow us on Twitter at @LaLigaLowdown and subscribe to our Substack at lllonline.substack.com.

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Spain Round of 16 Review: La Maldición Mundial Dec 06, 2022

It's over. Spain are out of the World Cup. Their exit comes at the Round of 16 stage once again, falling on penalties, just like they did four years ago in Russia.

This campaign promised so much more, from the togetherness of the group to the charismatic leadership of Luis Enrique. But it wasn't to be. The inquest has already begun in terms of his future and the direction of the national team, who still haven't won a knockout game at the World Cup since 2010.

Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) is joined by a sorrowful Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) for the postmortem. We review the match against Morocco, assess where it went wrong for Spain, and evaluate the campaign as a whole.

In Part Two we give credit to the Atlas Lions and their coach Walid Regraugi for their momentous achievement, becoming only the fourth African side ever to qualify for the World Cup quarter-finals. We then turn our attention to the ramifications of this unexpected Spanish failure, looking in particular at the futures of the senior players and Lucho himself.

Check out our Substack (lllonline.substack.com) for more reaction and analysis, and follow us @LaLigaLowdown for ongoing coverage of the World Cup and more.

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Spain Round of 16 Preview: Time to plug in Dec 04, 2022

We're into the business end of the World Cup and there will be no more room for error as Spain face Morocco in a fiery derby of sorts on Tuesday. Join hosts Thom Harris (@ThomHarris_) and Ruairidh Barlow (@RuriBarlow) as they preview the La Roja's Round of 16 tie.

Part one is dedicated to Spain's faults and flaws. Where did things go wrong against Japan and what changes should Luis Enrique make to counteract those issues? Somehow, we're having the Alvaro Morata debate again with a new angle to it.

Part two focuses on Morocco. The Atlas Lions surprised everyone by topping their group ahead of Belgium and Croatia. They did so conceding just one goal in their three games. Beyond their defence, we look at where they might cause Spain's downfall and what their key threats are.

Follow us @LaLigaLowdown on Twitter and head to lllonline.substack.com for more written content and analysis.

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Spain World Cup MD3 Review: "Por los pelos" as Spain are stunned by Japan Dec 01, 2022

Spain made it through por los pelos up against a Japanese side who stunned them with a 2-1 defeat in La Roja’s final group stage match of the World Cup. To analyse the action, Sam Leveridge (@samleveridge) is joined by Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) in his usual animated form.

They discuss what went wrong for Luis Enrique’s team and what that means for the rest of the tournament as Spain look to bounce back ahead of their last 16 clash with Morocco on Tuesday. Don’t worry though, there’s also a dose of Paco rage about VAR and goal-line technology to add into the mix too.

We’re also joined by Sam Robson (@FRsoccerSam) of J-Talk Podcast (@jtalkpod) with the point of view from Japan on their win and their impressions of Spain having topped Group E.

For more analysis and insights from Spain’s World Cup camp, stay tuned to our Twitter @LaLigaLowdown and also to our Substack channel for more content as the competition continues.

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Spain World Cup MD3 Preview: The Prince of Spain Nov 30, 2022

It's crunch time in Qatar as the final round of Group Stage matches dawns. Spain are in a strong position and are in full control of their own destiny, but Japan stand in their way. Join Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Román De Arquer (@Aeroslavee) as they look ahead to the match and discuss everything from Luis Enrique's Twitch streams to Gavi's potential future royal prospects.

In Part One the focus in on Spain, pondering whether there will be any changes to the lineup, and how they will go about their task.

In Part Two we discuss the Japanese and how they will approach a game which is effectively a must-win for them. Following that, the hosts chat about the World Cup in general, picking their favourites to win, the best players and the most disappointing sides so far.

Check out our Substack over at lllonline.substack.com and follow us on Twitter @LaLigaLowdown.

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Spain World Cup MD2 Review: A special day for Luis Enrique Nov 28, 2022

We're back again to review Spain's second game of the 2022 World Cup. Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Román De Arquer (@Aeroslavee) reflect on a pulsating game between two former World champions that turned definitively into a tale of two substitute forwards.

In Part One, we discuss the game from a Spain perspective, analysing what went well and what could have gone better, before Román gives his verdict on what it all means for Spain's chances of qualification.

In the second half of the show, German football expert Jasmine Baba (@_jasminebaba) joins us to provide the German point of view. Expect tactical insight, praise for both Niclas Füllkrug and Jamal Musiala, and a considered prediction on Germany's long-term future in Qatar.

Beyond the football, it was a poignant anniversary for Luis Enrique, and he surprisingly spoke about the tragedy he and his family suffered in 2019. We conclude with his own words on the most emotionally agonising thing imaginable.

We are releasing fresh new content every day on our Substack (lllonline@substack.com), and you can keep up to date with all things Spanish football on Twitter. We are @LaLigaLowdown.

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Spain World Cup MD2 Preview: The most iconic celebration of all Nov 26, 2022

Join us for our preview podcast ahead of the biggest game yet at the 2022 World Cup as Spain take on Germany on Sunday night in Qatar. Host Ruairidh Barlow (@RuriBarlow) is joined by Sam Leveridge (@samleveridge) in the first half to discuss how Spain could line-up and what we expect from the tactics board that Luis Enrique hasn't shown on his Twitch streams.

In part two, we're joined by German football consultant Adam Khan (@XxAdamKhanxX) to analyse the point of view from Spain's rivals in what is a must-win encounter after their shock 2-1 defeat to Japan in the opening game of their participation.

Make sure to follow us on Twitter @LaLigaLowdown, and to subscribe to our Substack at LLLonline.substack.com, for free, fresh content sent to your inbox every day!

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Spain World Cup MD1 review: Not the worst start Nov 24, 2022

Following the most sensational start to a World Cup in living memory, Thom Harris (@ThomHarris_) and Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) revel in the joyful aftermath of Spain's SEVEN-nil win over Costa Rica.

In part one, hear what our experts have to say about the performances of Pedri, Dani Olmo, and Gavi, who became the third-youngest goalscorer in World Cup history, at just 18 years and 110 days.

With the likes of Ansu Fati, Marcos Llorente and Pau Torres on the bench, we assess Luis Enrique's selection headaches ahead of a crucial encounter with Germany in part two.

Make sure to follow us on Twitter @LaLigaLowdown, and to follow our substack at lll.online.substack.com, for completely free, fresh content sent to your inbox very day!

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2022 World Cup: Spain vs Costa Rica preview & our new favourite streamer Nov 23, 2022

On this podcast, Sam Leveridge (@samleveridge) and Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee) preview Spain's 2022 World Cup debut up against Costa Rica, featuring expert insight from Ellie Manville of The Rica Football Podcast. They discuss Luis Enrique's selection headaches and what La Roja can expect in their opening game.

There's also discussion of some of the major talking points in Qatar, including more disappointment for LaLiga's Argentine trio, a Barça star showing his bouncebackability for The Netherlands, and a certain high-profile figure going famous for his streams... Tune in to find out more.

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Spain's World Cup Preview - Can they do it? Nov 18, 2022

With just one more sleep to go until the 2022 World Cup kicks off in Qatar, host Thom Harris (@ThomHarris_) is joined by experts from all over the globe, as Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG), Adam Khan (@XxAdamKhanxX) and Dan Orlowitz (@aishiterutokyo) discuss a tantalising Group E.

In Part One, Thom and Paco discuss all things Spain, from Ansu Fati to José Luís Gayà, with a heavy dose of optimism as Luis Enrique's men continue to seem to fly under the radar...

Part Two sees German football expert Adam Khan assess Hansi Flick's impact since taking over as Germany coach, before Dan Orlowitz talks about Karol Mitoma, Take Kubo and a few dark horses...

Make sure to follow us at @LaLigaLowdown on Twitter for plenty more reaction to the World Cup over the following weeks, and be sure to subscribe to our substack, at lllonline.substack.com, to receive fresh analysis from our excellent team of content writers straight to your inbox, absolutely free of charge!

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LaLiga Matchday 14 Recap: They just need the break Nov 11, 2022

Don't ever let anyone tell you LaLiga isn't fun. Join hosts Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Ruairidh Barlow (@RuriBarlow) as they break down four days of action which swung like a pendulum.

Part One begins at the top - with Barcelona. Not many saw it coming, but are they now favourites for the league? Real Madrid suffered their first defeat of the season and look less than imposing these days. Atlético Madrid - the less said the better, but we still said quite a lot.

Part Two deals with the rest of the European race and relegation skirmish - the two aren't even that far removed from each other. The Basque sides can smile at their position for now, while Real Betis are sick of the sight of red. More so than usual. At the bottom, there are scoldings galore for any number of teams, managers, owners and more. Finally, in a shock turn of events, Luis Enrique will not spring any surprises in his Spain squad.

Follow us @LaLigaLowdown on Twitter for more coverage of Spanish football and over the coming weeks, the World Cup.

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LaLiga Matchday 13 Recap: The Red Mist Nov 07, 2022

Two major events dominated Matchday 13, despite several storylines emerging elsewhere and demanding our attention. Join hosts Ruairidh Barlow (@RuriBarlow) and Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee) as they break it all down.

Part one begins in Andalusia and it might be November, but temperatures and tempers ran hot in the Seville derby on Sunday night. Atlético Madrid bumbled their way to a draw with ten-man Espanyol - awkwardly, João Félix was their most dangerous player again. In Valencia, Villarreal's Quique Setién might be the first manager to be told to leave in their first home game in La Liga.

Part two begins with a different type of emotion - Gerard Piqué inevitably struggled to hold in the tears. Román was there to give us a first-hand account of a historic moment. Down in the boggy bottom half there was another big win in Catalonia, while Elche look hopeless after a third of the season.

With another midweek round on the way this Tuesday, follow us on Twitter @LaLigaLowdown to ensure you don't miss a beat in a busy week before Luis Enrique announces his Spain squad for the World Cup.

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Bonus: Gerard Piqué se va Nov 04, 2022

Gerard Piqué has announced that he is retiring from football, leaving Fútbol Club Barcelona after 14 years and 30 trophies. To mark this momentous occasion, we had to jump behind the microphones to record a special bonus pod.

Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) is joined by Román De Arquer (@Aeroslavee) and Ruairidh Barlow (@RuriBarlow) to reflect on the timing of the decision, whether it is the right one, and what factors have contributed to bring events to this end point.

Part Two is a nostalgic reflection of 'Peak Piqué', looking back on his best moments, memorable manitas, grand goals and his propensity for the presidential.

Always honest, sometimes nakedly so, Piqué has left an indelible mark on Barcelona and Spanish football in general. It's not adios but hasta luego, for Geri will be back in some capacity someday. For now though, gràcies Geri.

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LaLiga Matchday 13 Preview: A coat of prestige paint Nov 03, 2022

After the European group stages concluded this week, another round of LaLiga is upon us once more. Join Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) for a full discussion of the fixtures this weekend.

There was a bit of soul-searching to do for some Spanish sides, namely Atlético Madrid. Knocked out of Europe entirely, the first time that has happened before Christmas in the Diego Simeone era. Paco discusses Cholo's future and whether he has another trick up his sleeve to recover yet again.

We turn our attention to El Gran Derbi on Sunday night which promises to be as fiery as ever, although this time there is one overwhelming favourite.

In the second half of the show, we discuss the latest managerial change in the division, as Chacho Coudet waves goodbye to Celta and Carlos Carvalhal lands in Vigo to take the reins.

While discussing Barcelona's upcoming match, the news of Gerard Piqué's retirement breaks LIVE on the show. Hear how Matt and Paco react to this bombazo!

After rounding up the remaining games, Paco reflects a little more on the legacy of Piqué before the close.

Follow us @LaLigaLowdown and subscribe to our new substack for FREE: lllonline.substack.com.

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LaLiga Matchday 12 Recap: ¡Hay Liga! Oct 31, 2022

As the clock struck ninety at Mestalla on Saturday night, it was looking as if the gap at the top would be five points by the end of Matchday 12.

Nonetheless, last-minute goals, controversial penalties and downward pressure on a football means that only one point separates Real Madrid and Barcelona at the summit of Spanish football, after another enthralling round of LaLiga Santander.

With another 20 goals to get their teeth stuck into, join Thom Harris (@ThomHarris_) and Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) as they dissect all the big decisions, big winners and big losers of October’s final fixtures, covering huge wins for Barcelona and Betis, and a damaging defeat for Atlético Madrid.

Part One begins in Madrid, where a Uruguayan stunned the Bernabéu, but for a change it wasn't Fede Valverde. The significance of a second consecutive stumble is assessed.

In Part Two, our panelists reflect on terrifying new lows for Sevilla, more home wins for Osasuna and Athletic Club, and incredible flukes against a luckless Mallorca.

Make sure to follow us on Twitter, @LaLigaLowdown, where we’ll keep you up to date with Monday night’s crucial fixture between Elche and Getafe, before European competition returns, whether the Spanish clubs like it or not, in what promises to be another jam-packed midweek schedule!

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LaLiga Matchday 12 Preview: No Plan B Oct 28, 2022

Disaster, catastrophe and cruelty - Spain did not enjoy a good week in the Champions League. Join hosts Ruairidh Barlow (@RuriBarlow) and Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) as they pick through the wreckage and then look ahead to a crucial weekend in LaLiga.

Part one focuses on the European woes and La Ley del Deporte - the increasingly famous Spanish Sports Law. Atlético Madrid could scarcely have imagined a more ridiculous way to go out, the referee blowing full time on their Champions League twice. We analyse how it came to that and react to the failure in Barcelona. The Blaugrana may still make it into the Superleague though, after a draw was declared in parliament.

In the second section we look ahead to some decisive matches in the European race. Barcelona must respond at Mestalla, while their former manager Quique Setién takes on former manager Ernesto Valverde in search of his first win with Villarreal. In the Sunday night partidazo, Manuel Pellegrini is running out of fingers upon which to count Real Betis' injuries on and they travel to Donostia-San Sebastián knowing the victor will head into next week in the Champions League spots. Stay until the end for Paco's pick of the week, this weekend's most fun fixture.

To keep across all of the happenings this weekend follow us on Twitter @LaLigaLowdown.

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LaLiga Matchday 11 Recap: A mosquito bite for Valverde on his return to Camp Nou Oct 24, 2022

With games coming thick and fast, join Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Román De Arquer (@Aeroslavee) for a review of Matchday 11 in LaLiga. It was a tale of contrasting fortunes if your name is Valverde: Fede scored again as Real Madrid kept up their unbeaten run, while Ernesto suffered a 4-0 defeat on his return to Barcelona. The form of the big two is discussed, including the question of whether anyone can beat Los Blancos, a formation tweak from Xavi and an impressive performance from Ousmane Dembélé.

Speaking of Frenchmen, Atlético Madrid are still unbeaten away from home and once again they owed their victory to Antoine Griezmann. His brace against Betis, including an Olympic goal no less, got Diego Smeone's side into the top three.

In part two, we discuss the remaining matches, featuring plenty of drama and talking points. It was an emotional game for Villarreal and they won in thrilling style with a last-gasp goal from Nico Jackson, not bad at all. Controversy reigned with the dismissal of Álex Baena - was it the right call or should some common sense have been applied?

Elsewhere, there were problems with the ex for Valencia, a 5-star Rayo performance, another win for Real Valladolid, and more dropped points for Girona, Espanyol and Elche.

Follow us @LaLigaLowdown on Twitter and don't miss any of our written content by subscribing to our newsletter at laligalowdown.substack.com.

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LaLiga Matchday 10 Recap: Qué Embarbaridad Oct 21, 2022

You know that Mitchell and Webb sketch about the football? The constant, dizzying, twenty-four hour, year-long endless football? It all fell a bit too real this week.

No sooner did LaLiga finish for Jornada 9, did it start again for Jornada 10, as Sevilla and Valencia played out an enthralling draw to kick off the midweek action. We also saw an incredible game in the rain at Valladolid, a goal-of-the-decade contender at Almería, and penalties, VAR, and penalties galore. Breathless stuff, once again, in the greatest league in the world.

Join your hosts Thom Harris (@ThomHarris_) and Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) as they round up another breathless game week. And if that's not enough for you, make sure to follow us on Twitter, at @LaLigaLowdown, and subscribe to our newsletter at laligalowdown.substack.com, for all the latest news, reaction and analysis.

Because if you want to stay up to date with all the football, your best chance is here!

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LaLiga Matchday 9 Recap: A quiet Sunday afternoon Oct 17, 2022

We can't quite remember the last time that we were so excited for a Clásico. We've been counting down the sleeps ever since that first lever was pulled...

But Sunday was finally the day, and it was Real Madrid ran out 3-1 winners over Xavi's Barcelona in a thoroughly entertaining game, to swing the title race back towards the capital club's favour.

Join your hosts Thom Harris (@ThomHarris_) and (@pacopolitENG) as they run through the ins and outs of the 250th meeting between these two clubs, before they close Part One with an analysis of Atlético Madrid's classic Atlético Madrid win at San Mamés.

Part Two sees a thorough run through of the other European contenders, as Paco makes his prediction as to who will take that final Champions League spot.

Make sure to subscribe to our substack - laligalowdown.substack.com - for some fantastic written content on the topics discussed, and follow us on Twitter, @LaLigaLowdown, for all the latest news, reaction and entertainment!

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LaLiga Matchday 9 Preview: The greatest game in World football Oct 13, 2022

It's the (joint) biggest weekend of the year in Spanish football and there's only one place to get your preview. Join hosts Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Ruairidh Barlow (@RuriBarlow) as they go into detail on the first El Clásico of the season.

Part 1 is exclusively dedicated to all your Clásico needs as we talk through how each side is arriving at the Santiago Bernabéu - Blaugrana are aptly looking a little blue and quite red-faced after midweek. Then we break down the major question marks hanging over Xavi Hernández and Carlo Ancelotti, where this match will be won and lost, as well as what kind of game we can expect.

In the second section we get into it with regards to the rest of the league - there's more than enough to dig into without either of the big two. We get the thesaurus out for a flummoxing decision in Alicante. That leads us into derbies galore across Spain, accompanied by a feverish Saturday night at San Mamés. Oh, and always watch Girona.

Have a look at our substack - laligalowdown.substack.com - for more written content about the week past and the weekend ahead. To keep across all of the happenings this weekend, El Clásico and otherwise, follow us on Twitter @LaLigaLowdown.

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LaLiga Matchday 8 Recap: Raging Doubtfire Ahead of El Clásico Oct 10, 2022

As the games stack up, it was a tight and tense La Liga weekend from top to bottom. Join hosts Ruairidh Barlow (@RuriBarlow) and Román de Arquer (@aeroslavee) as they break down the all the doubts plaguing them this weekend.

Part one begins with analysis on perhaps the team that raised the most questions about themselves, Barcelona. They go into a crucial week in the Champions League against Inter and de Arquer gives his thoughts on that clash. New Sevilla manager Jorge Sampaoli just about survived Athletic Club, Villarreal were not so lucky against Real Sociedad in a set of battles with European repercussions.

In the second half of the show we look at both Madrid sides, who were in action on Saturday. In many ways it was same old for pair of them - although whether that's a good thing is another matter. Further down the table there was a crazy game at El Sadar, a barren run broken for Almería and a curse afflicting one particular position.

Follow us on Twitter @LaLigaLowdown and for written analysis, head to laligalowdown.substack.com.

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LaLiga Matchday 8 Preview: So long, Julen Oct 06, 2022

We have a feature-length pod for you this week as Julen Lopetegui's long and drawn out departure from Sevilla was finally made official. Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) are on hand to bring you reaction to that and the arrival of Jorge Sampaoli, before the usual comprehensive preview of Matchday 8 in LaLiga.

We begin by telling the story of Sevilla's season and how things got so untenable that a change had to arrive. You'll hear from many of our contributors in clips from previous pods, as well as the sounds from the stands, with fans reacting to the poor start and sending their ultimate farewell to a coach whose time was successful in the main.

Looking ahead to the weekend's matches, there is plenty to discuss, including Sampaoli's baptism of fire, Barcelona in need of a reaction, and coaches who could be following Francisco and Lopetegui out of a job. Find out which team Paco compares to a wrestler and what his predicted game of the weekend is.

You can also follow us on Twitter @LaLigaLowdown and go in depth on these stories and more at laligalowdown.substack.com.

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LaLiga Matchday 7 Recap: Goals galore Oct 02, 2022

There were goals all over the place in LaLiga this weekend, and they brought about a new leader to the Spanish league as well. Sam Leveridge (@samleveridge) and Thom Harris (@thomharris_) break down the action across the division.

Athletic Club thrashed Almería to start us off, but Getafe and Real Valladolid and later Girona and Real Sociedad brought us the real entertainment in some thrilling encounters.

Sam and Thom also discuss the future of Julen Lopetegui at Sevilla after defeat to Atlético Madrid, and what's going wrong for Karim Benzema that has allowed Robert Lewandowski to usurp him as LaLiga's goal king and put Barcelona ahead of Real Madrid in the standings.

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LaLiga Matchday 7 Preview: Here Comes Your Man Sep 28, 2022

Here comes your man sang the Pixies and after 87 minutes of hard graft, there was Álvaro Morata for Luis Enrique. Join Ruairidh Barlow (@RuriBarlow) and Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) as they react to Spain's victory over Portugal before looking ahead to the LaLiga Matchday headed our way.

Part one is exclusively dedicated to pulling apart this Spain side. What exactly were we taught by this international break? And how does that influence the World Cup? Paco explains what success means for this Spanish side and who has won themselves a guaranteed place on the plane to Qatar.

In part two, we meander on to a weekend hinting at upsets. The FIFA virus has taken multiple casualties and Barcelona certainly aren't fully recovered. Find out which two managers are leading the sack race and finally Paco picks out his game of the weekend.

Follow us on @LaLigaLowdown for further reaction and you can find th latest written pieces from our team of scribes at laligalowdown.substack.com.

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Nations League Recap: Swiss stumble for sloppy Spain Sep 25, 2022

Midway through the international break, Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee) convene to discuss Spain's surprise defeat against Switzerland in Zaragoza, introduced by some exasperated commentary from Cope.

They dissect the lineup, the problems at both ends of the pitch, the positives, and the possible solutions. Ultimately, their Nations League destiny will be decided on Matchday 6 in Portugal, and Lucho's side must win to reach the final four.

In Part Two, other stories are on the agenda, including the explosive crisis engulfing the Selección Femenino, with 15 players in open mutiny against the coach, Jorge Vilda. Román opines on the situation and how he sees events unfolding.

Elsewhere, frustration is the theme for Barça as they lost not one but two key defenders to injury. Román laments this bad luck, before discussing some of the other results from the Nations League, which most of the major European nations have found challenging to say the least. Does this mean anything with less than 60 days until kick off in Qatar?

As always, there is plenty more content on our Twitter (@LaLigaLowdown) and via our newsletter (laligalowdown.substack.com).

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Nations League Matchday 5 and 6 Preview: The struggle is real Sep 22, 2022

As LaLiga takes the back seat for the next seven days, international football makes a frantic return with the World Cup just under two months away. Join hosts Thom Harris (@ThomHarris_) and Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) as they dissect another interesting convocatoria, as selected by Luis Enrique, ahead of two tantalising Nations League ties against Switzerland and Portugal.

In Part Two, we're delighted to be joined by Swiss football expert Craig King (@FootballSwissEN) and Breaking the Lines co-creator Zach Lowy (@ZachLowy) to analyse Spain's stubborn opposition, with in-depth analysis, players to watch, and predictions ahead of the closing two group games.

Make sure to follow @LaLigaLowdown on Twitter for news, reaction and expert analysis, and subscribe to our newsletter at laligalowdown.substack.com to receive fresh content every Monday, Wednesday and Friday morning straight into your inbox, for absolutely FREE!

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LaLiga Matchday 6 Recap: Bailando Sep 19, 2022

The international break is upon us, leaving the LaLiga table frozen in time for another 12 days. Real Madrid go into the mini-break perfect, sealing their sixth win from six with a huge three points at the Cívitas Metropolitano, while Barcelona make it 18 goals scored and just one conceded to remain the closest challengers to Ancelotti's Champions. Join Thom Harris (@ThomHarris_) and Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) as they discuss what looks to be one of the most tantalising title races in living memory.

Also on the show, hear our experts dissect the race for European qualification, as Real Betis continue their best ever start to a LaLiga season, before turning their attention to an increasingly tense relegation battle, as basement boys Cádiz finally score their first goal to seal a dramatic away win at fellow strugglers Real Valladolid.

Make sure to follow @LaLigaLowdown on Twitter for even more reaction to another dramatic week of LaLiga action, and subscribe to our newsletter to have our in-depth analysis sent straight to your inbox. Simply follow the link (https://laligalowdown.substack.com) type in your email, and enjoy our latest content for FREE!

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LaLiga Matchday 6 Preview: Muy tiquismiquis Sep 14, 2022

With the international break nearly upon us, join Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Ruairidh Barlow (@RuriBarlow) for a comprehensive preview of Matchday 6 in LaLiga.

After some reflection on the pair of Champions League defeats in Deutschland, we dive straight into the Madrid Derby, the partidazo of the round and one of the games of the season so far. How will Real Madrid line up? Will Atleti be able to improve their defending? Is this already make-or-break for their title challenge? These questions and more are answered in depth.

We then take a tour around the rest of the matches, including a pivotal clash on Friday night, plus the attractive appetisers on offer before the main course in Madrid. You may be surprised to hear which one Ruairidh is looking forward to most.

In the second half, we also discuss the upcoming international break, as Spain resume their Nations League campaign. With the World Cup just around the corner, we talk player selection and assess who is banging down Lucho's door. Whether he answers is another matter entirely.

For more Spanish football content, follow us @LaLigaLowdown on Twitter and subscribe to our regular newsletter at laligalowdown.substack.com.

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LaLiga Matchday 5 Recap: The first rule about fight club Sep 12, 2022

There were 35 goals in the nine La Liga games across this weekend and yet arguably the most dramatic events occurred off the pitch. Join hosts Ruairidh Barlow (@RuriBarlow) and Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee) as they slice and dice an incredibly entertaining Matchday 5 in LaLiga.

Part one begins with the Sunday night partidazo as Real Betis laid down their credentials for the top four with a crucial victory over Villarreal, as we examine which team are now favourites for fourth place. Julen Lopetegui finally got his and Sevilla's first win away to Espanyol, which staves off fears for his position. Then the rest of part one is dedicated to Madrid. Atlético beat Celta Vigo and Real Madrid beat Real Mallorca, both by three goal margins. Neither were as comfortable as it ended up looking though, ahead of their meeting next week.

The second half of the show gets underway as we recount a surreal match between Cádiz and Barcelona, which lasted close to four hours. On the footballing side of things, we question how ready they are for their big test against Bayern Munich. Getafe got their first victory too, but Cádiz and Elche remain winless. We analyse the impending jeopardy for Francisco, before rounding off the rest of the action - not least the fight scene at Rayo Vallecano.

Follow us on Twitter for more quality coverage on Spanish football @LaLigaLowdown.

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LaLiga Matchday 5 Preview: Rejuvenate their backside Sep 08, 2022

After a momentous midweek in Europe, the domestic action continues at breakneck speed. It was a fantastic set of results which saw six Spanish victories out of seven - only Sevilla were unable to get a result, humbled and hammered by Haaland (sorry Julen).

Join Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) to discuss what it all means for the next round of LaLiga: Will Real Madrid stay perfect? How many goals with Barcelona score against Cádiz? Can Sevilla recover from two dismal defeats?

These questions and plenty more are on the agenda as Matt and Paco go through all ten upcoming matches. Make sure to keep Sunday night free as Betis take on Villarreal in a fascinating battle in the race for the top four. Paco insists this is a must-watch for everyone.

Follow us @LaLigaLowdown and check out our newsletter at laligalowdown.substack.com.

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LaLiga Matchday 4 Recap: The big two are back on top Sep 05, 2022

Following another scintillating weekend of LaLiga action, the table is beginning to look a little more familiar. Real Madrid edged out Real Betis before Barcelona brushed aside Sevilla. Atleti were unable to keep pace as they slipped to a draw at Real Sociedad, Hosts Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Thom Harris (@ThomHarris_) assess whether the title race consists of just two horses.

Beyond that, Villarreal continued their spectacular start with another bag of goals and another clean sheet. Are they set for the top four? How long can Julen Lopetgui hold on at Sevilla, who are no longer stuttering but swerving off course.

Part Two kicks off with reaction to Valencia's impressive home performance on Sunday night against hapless Getafe. Gattuso-ball is praised in generous measure, with a similar does of criticism for Geta, as well as Elche and Cádiz, who all occupy the bottom three.

The rest of the matches are analysed too, including another Aspas show for Celta - is Luis Enrique watching? Osasuna also continued their strong start, while Athletic were stunned by Espanyol. Mallorca and Girona fought out a draw, while Real Valladolid host Almería on Monday night.

Follow us @LaLigaLowdown and subscribe to our newsletter at laligalowdown.substack.com. Commentary clips from Cope.

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LaLiga Matchday 4 Preview: Partidazos aplenty Sep 01, 2022

After a frenetic end to the transfer window, we can concentrate on the football once again. That's exactly what Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) do here, with a mouth-watering round of LaLiga action in prospect.

Featuring discussion on all ten matches across the weekend, there is a particular focus on the three partidazos on Saturday, which include a clash of the two hitherto perfect sides in the capital.

Find out which game Paco calls 'a final' and what he thinks of Valencia's transfer market. Spoiler: it involves Carlos Soler sadness.

We'll be back with the reaction to everything that unfolds, but in the meantime, follow us @LaLigaLowdown and subscribe to our newsletter to have all the reaction and analysis sent straight to your inbox - laligalowdown.substack.com.

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LaLiga Matchday 3 Recap: PythagorAspas Aug 29, 2022

It might be late summer but everything still feels fresh in LaLiga. We bring you our review of all the weekend's action, from a late win for the champions to another defeat for Sevilla.

In Part One, hosts Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Ruairidh Barlow (@RuriBarlow) discuss the big two and compare their respective wins on a rousing Sunday night, forged in highly contrasting circumstances. Also on the agenda is Rayo's poor home form, the Celta captain in the form of an ancient mathematician and Julen Lopetegui's interesting choice of criticism for his own players.

Before the break we hear from our man in Seville, Gregor Chappelle (@gregorchappelle), who gives us his analysis of the growing tensions at the Andalusian club, and whether Lopetegui really is in the last-chance saloon.

After the break, we speak to Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) on his way home from Mestalla, after Valencia impressed again but fell to a narrow defeat thanks to Antoine Griezmann in his new super-sub role. The man of the moment is Edinson Cavani, and Paco tells us what he can bring to Los Che. Following a tour of the remaining games, we play out with the sweet sound of Valencianistas serenading their new signing: El Matador.

Follow us @LaLigaLowdown on Twitter, and subscribe to our newsletter at laligalowdown.substack.com.

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LaLiga Matchday 3 Preview: Already a must-win? Aug 24, 2022

The LaLiga action keeps coming thick and fast with Matchday 3 already upon us. Join Thom Harris (@ThomHarris_) and Román De Arquer (@Aeroslavee) as they look ahead to ten more tantalising matches across the weekend.

Starting on Friday night, can Girona quickly back up their Monday night win without another positive result when Celta visit Catalunya? Then there is a sizzler in Seville as two of the sides with a 100% record face off. Can Osasuna cause a surprise at Betis?

Onto Saturday, we get a first look at how Real Sociedad will shape up without Alexander Isak, who is Premier League bound. The boys discuss this bombshell transfer and how Imanol will adjust his attack. Rayo look to continue their fine start with their first match in front of their own fans against Mallorca, before an Andalusian derby at Power Horse Stadium - is this for Sevilla the earliest must-win game in history?

Sunday also promises plenty, with Getafe hosting Villarreal, Barcelona hosting Real Valladolid and Espanyol getting a visit from the champions. Tough tests for a couple of coaches already feeling a bit of pressure against raised expectations.

The round concludes on Monday with basement boys Cádiz hosting Athletic before potentially the game of the weekend at Mestalla: Valencia vs Atleti. Can Diego Simeone's side respond from their home defeat to Villarreal? Antoine Griezmann could be important, but will Simeone be allowed to play him for any significant length of time?

Keep up to date with all our content @LaLigaLowdown and subscribe to our newsletter at laligalowdown.substack.com.

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LaLiga Matchday 2 Recap: Finally, Unai Aug 23, 2022

The second round of action is now complete and we reconvened to dissect all the action, from a Super Sunday that lived up to the billing to a Sevilla side that definitely did not. With only four sides on maximum points and only two without a point, there was plenty of intrigue across the matchday.

Join Matt Clark (@MattClark_08), Román De Arquer (@Aeroslavee) and Thom Harris (@ThomHarris_) as they discuss 4-1 wins for Real Madrid and Barcelona alike, as well as that significant triumph for Villarreal at the Metropolitano.

Part Two brings delights such as Osasuna's resurgent home form, the stark contrast between the two Seville giants, and a manic Monday at Montilivi, as well as the moments of the weekend.

Follow us @LaLigaLowdown on Twitter, and subscribe to our newsletter at laligalowdown.substack.com.

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LaLiga Matchday 2 Preview: The season's first Super Sunday Aug 18, 2022

Join Sam Leveridge (@samleveridge) and Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) to preview the action in matchday two of LaLiga's 2022/23 campaign, including a super Sunday of fixtures.

Barcelona travel to Real Sociedad while Atlético Madrid welcome Villarreal. Paco also tells us about how Mestalla has gone up in flames this week ahead of Gennaro Gattuso's trip to face Ernesto Valverde's Athletic Club at San Mamés.

We also discuss the need for a win for Sevilla against Valladolid, Betis' optimism against Mallorca, and how the time is right for Espanyol, Osasuna and Getafe to push for the top half against Rayo Vallecano, Cádiz and Girona respectively. Elsewhere, Almería will also be hoping to get their first points on the board against Elche.

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LaLiga Matchday 1 Recap: It's here and it's perfect Aug 15, 2022

La Liga returned this weekend and it was every bit as fun as you had imagined so join hosts Ruairidh Barlow (@RuriBarlow) and Thom Harris (@ThomHarris_) as they debrief all the action, with the actual football contradicting the transfer narratives.

Barcelona were supposed to destroy everything in their path but nobody had reckoned with quite such a mighty Rayo Vallecano. What went wrong for Barcelona and what went right for Rayo, before we get into two managerial debuts. Diego Martinez's Espanyol and Gennaro Gattuso's Valencia had differing fortunes but there were green shoots to hang onto. Further up the predicted table, the race for the Champions League spot is arguably the tightest in La Liga, hence why Thom is so concerned about a haggard old Sevilla.

In part two, Real Madrid looked tireless as knocked repeatedly on the door - find out why just a 2-1 victory over Almeria was so ominous. Atlético Madrid and Real Betis brought the entertainment value on Monday night, as both reminded us that they do actually have very good teams, even if they haven't signed many players. The show closes with Thom picking out his moment of the week and a commentator requesting that they be warned if you're going to do something like that.

For more content and coverage of La Liga, follow @LaLigaLowdown on Twitter.

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LaLiga Matchday 1 Preview: Licking our lips Aug 10, 2022

As the new season dawns, join Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Ruairidh Barlow (@RuriBarlow) for a full preview of the first round of matches. From Pamplona on Friday night to Seville on Monday, there are ten tantalising fixtures to look forward to.

Will reigning champions Real Madrid back up their Super Cup triumph with a winning start to their title defence? Can Barcelona get all their signings registered in time? How will the new coaches fare in their first outings on their new benches? What about the promoted sides?

All this and plenty more was on the agenda, including Ruairidh's assessment of the turbulent summer at Camp Nou.

Check out our Twitter feed (@LaLigaLowdown), which features predictions for the season from our squad, and follow us for coverage of the opening weekend.

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LaLiga 22/23 Season Preview Aug 07, 2022

The La Liga Lowdown squad are back after the summer break, fit and firing after pre-season training. Join Matt Clark (MattClark_08), Sam Leveridge (@samleveridge) and Thom Harris (@ThomHarris_) for a comprehensive preview of the upcoming season, which promises to be another fascinating one.

From Laporta's levers to Sevilla's sales, Madrid minus Mbappé to Atleti's quiet revolution, the top end of the table is the starting point. The pod asks whether there will be a closer title race this time around, and who could mount a realistic challenge for the top four (don't miss Sam's explosive pre-season prediction)!

In part two, there is discussion of the remaining European hopefuls, from clubs we expect more from to those who might surprise a few. Lastly, attention turns to the battle at the bottom, with a look at the positive signs for the promoted sides, and the reasons for concern elsewhere.

With the 22/23 season less than a week away, LLL are back!

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LaLiga Season Recap 2021-22 May 29, 2022

Join us for the final time this season to reflect on a season packed with storylines, sentiment and special scenes.

Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Ruairidh Barlow (@RuriBarlow) are on hand to reflect on the 21/22 season.

We start by congratulating the European champions and saluting their successful season.

We evaluate the season for all the clubs, from the top to the bottom, and offer up our opinions on overachievers, underachievers and everything else in between.

Sam Leveridge (@samleveridge) is also present to reflect on the season for Atleti and sends us his winners and losers from the campaign.

Complete with memorable montages, this is the ideal way to see out the season.

Thanks to everyone for tuning in throughout this season.

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LaLiga Matchday 38 Recap: Granada pay the penalty May 23, 2022

They think it's all over... It is now! LaLiga came to a dramatic conclusion as the relegation battle took centre stage on Matchday 38. Join hosts Matt Clark (@MattClark08) and Ruairidh Barlow (@RuriBarlow) as they pick through the debris.

There's no other place to start than the shock relegation of Granada. Just a season after making it to the Europa League quarter-finals against Manchester United, Granada finish 18th and descend to Segunda. That contrasts to the firefighting job done at Cádiz by Sergio González and Javier Aguirre in Mallorca. We get the thoughts of Alex Fitzpatrick (@MallorcaAlex100) on Mallorca's survival.

In the second half of the show we hear the gritty detail from Beñat Gutiérrez (@beinatguti) on the goings on at Athletic Club, including the possible departure of Marcelino. There are also closing notes on Unai Emery and Xavi Hernández as we wrap up the any other business section of the Matchday.

Finally, we dig into the MVP section for the last time in the 2021/22 season and pick our moments of the week.

Follow @LaLigaLowdown on Twitter for all the Spanish football coverage you need and want - also keep an eye out for our end of season review podcast in the coming days.

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LaLiga Matchday 37 Recap: Son Moix Pit May 16, 2022

The penultimate round meant concurrent matches and multigoal madness.

Join hosts Ruairidh Barlow (@RuriBarlow) and Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) to make sense of the chaos.

Alavés had relegation confirmed after losing to fellow descenders Levante. Cádiz got a point against the champions but it felt pyrrhic. Mallorca were the big winners of the round, grabbing all three points in stoppage time.

At the top end, more European places were settled too. Sevilla left it late to get the point they needed. Alan Feehely (@azulfeehely) of Football España discusses the work of the two Seville clubs and what the future holds.

After the break, we turn to Louis Scattergood (@BroLeao) for a review of Villarreal's direct duel with Real Sociedad for a Europa League spot. The Basque side were triumphant, meaning Villarreal can only reach the Conference League at best.

We evaluate what's left to play for before picking our MVPs and moments of the week (or day in this case).

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LaLiga Matchday 36 Recap: Benzema is second, Levante are Segunda May 12, 2022

Another midweek Matchday is in the books and for Levante, the final game of the round did spell the end for them, as their relegation was confirmed in a 6-0 thrashing at Real Madrid. Vini Jr scored his first hat-trick, Luka Modrić had a treble of his own, and Karim Benzema equaled Raúl as the club's second-highest goalscorer of all time. That is where hosts Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Sam Leveridge (@samleveridge) begin, and they ponder which clubs will join Los Granotas in Segunda next season.

Part one is rounded off with a look at 'Efecto Karanka' as Granada won again to ease their relegation fears. Heath Chesters (@HeathGCF) gives us the lowdown on the Andalusian side's ascent out of danger.

In the second half we salute Atleti's qualification for the Champions League and assess their season as a whole with Jeremy Beren (@JBBeren) from Into the Calderón. We then shift our focus to the remaining runners and riders in the European race. Sevilla are close to sealing 4th, but Betis are on their tails. As for the Europa League, Real Sociedad and Villarreal both enjoyed convincing wins ahead of their direct duel at the weekend.

We end with our MVP nominees and our moments of the week, and with so much on the line at this stage of the season, the pickings are plentiful.

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LaLiga Matchday 35 Recap: Molina mastery makes Mallorca miserable May 09, 2022

Matchday 35 in LaLiga came hot on the heels of European drama but it was the relegation skirmish which caught the eye this weekend. Join hosts Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Ruairidh Barlow (@RuriBarlow) for the comical, the classy and everything in between.

Atlético Madrid won their first Madrid derby in LaLiga since 2016 and that's the jumping off point for the pod, as we assess a fairly straight-forward European race in part one. Villarreal somehow avoided victory against Sevilla and Athletic did similar at San Mamés. Part one rounds off in conversation with Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee), as Xavi achieved his target via a dramatic win against Real Betis.

Part two kicks off with the most shocking result of the weekend: a 6-2 thrashing for Mallorca. Paul McGarraghy (@PaulMcGarraghy) was kind enough to pick up the pieces from their point of view and give a verdict on their survival chances. Rayo Vallecano secured safety and Cádiz took a big step towards it too.

The show wraps up with the MVP nominations and moments of the week, both with an abundance of options. Follow @LaLigaLowdown on Twitter for original content and all of the latest on Spanish football.

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LaLiga Matchday 34 Recap: Real Madrid Campeones May 01, 2022

Join our hosts Ruairidh Barlow (@RuriBarlow) and Sam Leveridge (@samleveridge) as they (kind of) celebrate Real Madrid being crowned champions of LaLiga for a 35th time.

Providing a jubilant view of Los Blancos’ triumph, Hasan Karim (@TheHasKarim) took a break from Los Cibeles to tell us how it feels to be champions again.

The team discuss the race for the top four spots that nobody wants, and the relegation battle as Sergio Vargas (@CadizAnalytics) talks about his trip to see Cádiz draw at Sevilla.

The hosts then discuss their MVP picks and joyous moments of the week.

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Copa del Rey final review - Real Betis are CAMPEONES! Apr 24, 2022

The Copa del Rey final was a thriller at La Cartuja as Real Betis emerged as champions with a victory over Valencia in a penalty shoot-out. To dissect the action, Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Sam Leveridge (@samleveridge) are joined by fans on the ground.

First up, Real Betis TV's David Whitworth (@DCWh1tw0rth) joins us to tell us about his experience watching the game and joining the late night parties on the streets of Seville.

Then, we're joined by a slightly despondent Paco Polit (@PacoPolitENG) as he breaks down where it went wrong for Valencia and what lies ahead.

Stay tuned to @LaLigaLowdown on Twitter for all the reaction and analysis of the historic victory for Betis.

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LaLiga Matchday 33 Recap: Happy travels Apr 22, 2022

It's the time of the season where every goal and every result seems to matter more. Join Sam Leveridge (@samleveridge) and Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) as they breakdown a frantic and fantastic midweek round of LaLiga.

With plenty still to play for, we start at the top and ask when, not if, Real Madrid will be crowned champions. Then it's the race to join them in the top four, with a tense tussle between Real Sociedad and Barcelona capping off a round which saw a record-equalling number of away wins.

Just days before the Copa final, Betis missed the chance to apply pressure on the top four and lost at home to Elche. We catch up with Keith Farnham (@Keith_678) to discuss Elche's almost-certain survival.

After the break, we turn our attention to the bottom of the league, with six-pointers, fiver-goal thrillers and surprises aplenty. Granada have had another turbulent week and Heath Chesters (@HeathGCF) is on hand to explain how they went from conceding four against Levante to keeping a clean sheet at the Metropolitano.

Then we discuss our MVP nominees, which you can vote for on Friday, as well as our closing reflections on a marvellous midweek.

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LaLiga Matchday 32 Recap: On the third day of the jornada, Real Madrid rose again Apr 17, 2022

The latest edition of the La Liga Lowdown Matchday Recap is a mixed bag: the title race got a lot less intriguing but everything else did. Join hosts Sam Leveridge (@samleveridge) and Ruairidh Barlow (@RuriBarlow) as they deal with the good, the bad and the ugly this week in Spain.

Real Madrid got a crucial win as they close in on the La Liga title, so LLL called up Hasan Karim (@TheHasKarim) to endure/enjoy his revelry. There was also analysis on their comeback culture and Carlo Ancelotti included.

Meanwhile the chase for European football is more of a maze at the moment with all the turns involved. Amongst the top half we touch on a missed chances, spiritual justice and a loose giraffe.

In part two, the relegation battle takes precedence. Elche tread on Mallorca on their way to safety and Alaves get a big win without much of the feel-good factor. Then we speak to Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) about Levante's Netflix-worthy revival - they somehow have a chance after a big win over Granada.

To wrap up, the MVP discussion is not short of heroes and the moments of the week have a fair few villains, taking a trip down to Segunda for a change.

Follow @LaLigaLowdown for the latest news, views and most importantly of all, vote for your MVP there.

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LaLiga Matchday 31 Recap: Levante fail to make Barcelona pay the penalty Apr 10, 2022

Another emphatic weekend of LaLiga action was full of late goals and comeback wins. Join Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Sam Leveridge (@samleveridge) delve into the drama.

We start in Valencia and a five-goal thriller between Levante and Barcelona. Despite three penalties, Levante still ended on the losing side late on. They stay seven points from safety with seven games to go.

After checking in with the rest of the teams scrapping for their lives, we chat to Jeremy Beren (@JBBeren) about Mallorca’s surprise win over Atleti, and look ahead to the fascinating Champions League final second leg against Manchester City.

After the break we focus on those hoping to be in Europe next season. Real Madrid edge closer to the title, and those close behind are still fighting, with Sevilla, Barça, Betis and La Real all coming from behind.

Just behind them, Villarreal and Athletic faced off in what appears to be a shootout for 7th. Jamie Kemble (@JamieKemble) joins us to discuss that clash and the mammoth midweek match in Munich.

Then there is time for the usual MVP nominations and our moments of the week.

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LaLiga Matchday 30 Recap: There's a wind of change blowing around Camp Nou Apr 04, 2022

LaLiga returned after the international break primed for the final stretch of the season and we are here to bring you the best of the action from Matchday 30. Join hosts Ruairidh Barlow (@RuriBarlow) and Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) as they discuss some big games at both the top and the bottom.

We start with a controversial match at Balaídos as Real Madrid needed penalties to return to winning ways and extend their lead at the top. The red-and-white half of Madrid also won and while the scoreline looked emphatic, it was anything but on an emotional night for Diego Simeone. Then the Sunday night partidazo saw Barcelona go second for the first time this season at the expense of Sevilla, who fell to 4th.

We stay at Camp Nou to end Part 1 with a special focus on the historic Women’s Champions League match. Diana Kristinne (@DianaKristinne) was there to witness the spectacle live and reflects on her experience.

Into the second half and we focus on the bottom of the table. Mallorca changed coaches since their last match, so we dialled up Paul McGarraghy (@PaulMcGarraghy) to give us the lowdown on Javier Aguirre’s return to the Spanish top-flight. Elsewhere, there was another huge win for Levante as they refuse to give up on survival, while Granada showed similar fighting spirit to comeback against Rayo.

After rounding off the matches, we select our MVP candidates in a jazzy and jovial jaunt. All the Js. You can vote for the winner as always via Twitter on Monday. Ruairidh closes the show with his moment of the weekend, brought to you by Onda Cero.

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LaLiga Matchday 29 Recap: Are Barcelona, maybe, almost, back? Mar 21, 2022

The matchday recap is never to be missed and the recap of one particular match is essential this week. There's no other place to start than Barcelona's 4-0 victory over Real Madrid, so join hosts Sam Leveridge (@samleveridge) and Ruairidh Barlow (@RuriBarlow) as they try to work out what happened and how.

The first half of the show is dedicated mostly to what Sam witnessed at the Santiago Bernabéu, before moving onto the rest of the European race. That includes a chat with resident culé Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee) and resident Madridista Hasan Karim (@TheHasKarim) breaking down el clásico.

The second half of the show starts with Jeremy Beren (@JBBeren) discussing how Atlético Madrid are looking strangely like a settled team after five straight wins. There were big wins for Granada and Cádiz in the relegation battle, before MVP picks are cast and the momentazos are selected.

Follow @LaLigaLowdown on Twitter to vote for your favourite and enjoy plenty more quality content.

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LaLiga Matchday 28 Recap: No hay Liga Mar 14, 2022

Only 15 goals in this weekend’s LaLiga action, but there was no shortage of drama and there is no lack of analysis from La Liga Lowdown as Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Sam Leveridge (@samleveridge) discuss the table from top to bottom.

Sam was at all three fixtures in Madrid, including Atlético Madrid’s win over Cádiz and José Bordalás’ return to Getafe with Valencia. Principally though, we speak to Robbie Dunne (@robbiejdunne) on Rayo Vallecano as they threw a spanner into the works of Sevilla’s title challenge, much to the delight of Barcelona.

Later on, Matt and Sam are joined by LLL’s very own Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) as he spills the beans on Levante’s survival hopes following a draw with Espanyol, while Granada had no new manager bounce against Elche.

Finally, the team discuss their choices of MVP and a touching moment of the weekend with a story that goes beyond football from Valencia.

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LaLiga Matchday 27 Recap: Things are moving (very quickly) Mar 07, 2022

Another matchday moves past us and into the annals of history, as does Robert Moreno's spell as manager of Granada. Your hosts Matt Clark (@MattClark08) and Ruairidh Barlow (@RuriBarlow) try to work out exactly how we got to a point where last season's top seven are exactly in the same place again.

Fresh from the Sunday night partidazo between Real Betis and Atlético Madrid, the analysis begins with the large implications - Diego Simeone's tunnel run was especially chipper.

The rest of part one is dedicated to a deep dive from Heath Chesters (@HeathGFC) on Moreno's sacking, but also the inside information on some shifting power dynamics behind the scenes at Granada. Following that, we come onto their nearest challengers at the bottom as Cádiz get a first home win.

Part two kicks off with an emphatic win at the Santiago Bernabéu, which Jorge López-Torrecilla (@jorge_ltg_) breaks down with an eye on Real Madrid's date with PSG. The rest of the European race starts to take shape with a win for Barcelona and a shock defeat for Villarreal.

As ever, MVP and moments of the week close out the show. Matt gets into hot water for being balanced and fair on Twitter - sounds about right.

Follow @LaLigaLowdown for news, articles, match coverage and more.

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LaLiga Matchday 26 Recap: Fast and Furious - The European Race Heats up in Seville Feb 28, 2022

Arriving at the business end of the season, every point counts and we saw that on display in Matchday 26 as hosts Ruairidh Barlow (@RuriBarlow) and Sam Leveridge (@samleveridge) analyse all the action.

Sam's refereeing rant leads us into conversation with Football España editor Alan Feehely (@azulfeehely) fresh from his visit to the Estadio Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán for a historic Gran Derbi as Sevilla upped the ante in the title race. We also discuss big results for Barcelona, Atlético and Yeremy Pino.

In part two, Owen Mawer (@OwenJamesMawer) of MARCA and La Liga Lowdown spoke to Sam in Getafe about their relegation six-pointer against Alavés, while we also evaluate whether Levante really can achieve the impossible...

To finish up, MVP is full of goalscorers, including one controversial pick, and Ruairidh and Sam share their moments of the weekend.

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LaLiga Matchday 25 Recap: Lethal Lions & Goals Galore Feb 21, 2022

Matchday 25 saw 30 goals, hat-tricks and a derby rout. Join hosts Sam Leveridge (@samleveridge) and Matt Clark (MattClark_08) to break it all down.

We start in Bilbao as Athletic Club inflicted an historic result over their Basque neighbours. An ecstatic Beñat Gutiérrez (@beinatguti) salutes that second-half powerhouse performance from Los Leones. We conclude the first half by looking at how the other European contenders got on and a quick look at the bottom after a weekend which didn't change too much.

In part two, we focus on Mestalla and another impressive performance from Xavi's side. Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) shook off the disappointment to tell us all about it. We then dip our toes into the title race where the gap at the top changed yet again.

Finally, a blockbuster MVP and our moments of the weekend rounds off this recap.

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Bonus: Europa League Preview - Betis vs Zenit Feb 15, 2022

In this bonus mini-pod, Matt Clark (MattClark_08) is joined by European football expert Richard David Pike (@RichDPike89) to preview the Europa League tie between Real Betis and Zenit St Petersburg.

The Russian side are analysed in depth in terms of their strengths, weaknesses and key players, including some familiar names to LaLiga lovers. Richard then offers up a prediction for the outcome of the tie, including his view on the effect of the absence of away goals.

Remember to follow @LaLigaLowdown for coverage of all the action in the European competitions.

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LaLiga Matchday 24 Recap: The Late Late Show Feb 14, 2022

On Superbowl weekend, LaLiga treated us to plenty of chaos of its own. Matt Clark (MattClark_08) and Ruairidh Barlow (@ruribarlow) are back from Barcelona, so join them as they review a weekend with significant results across the league.

Atleti's matches resemble basketball games of late, and things were no different on Saturday night at the Wanda Metropolitano. Jeremy Beren (@JBBeren) is on hand to unpack the latest shootout. Meanwhile, Espanyol and Barça thrilled us on Sunday night in a game featuring everything you could want in a derby. The other European movers and shakers are also rounded up in Part 1.

In the second half of the show, we turn our attention to the extremes of the table. At the top, the gap narrowed as Sevilla won but Real Madrid could not. Hasan Karim (@TheHasKarim) is back to reflect on another draw in Vila-Real and to look ahead to the upcoming showdown in Paris. At the bottom, all hope is lost for Levante, but the rest are still fighting hard.

Finally we debate our MVP picks for the Twitter vote, and we select our moments of the weekend.

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LaLiga Matchday 23 Recap: A weekend which will matter come May Feb 07, 2022

LaLiga threw up some classic fixtures at both ends of the table this weekend as we edge closer and closer to the business end of the season. Sam Leveridge (@samleveridge) is joined by Thom Harris (@ThomHarris_) to analyse all of the action.

Thom has stepped in as regular hosts Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Ruairidh Barlow (@RuriBarlow) send us their thoughts direct from Barcelona, where they discuss what they witnessed at Camp Nou with Football España editor Alan Feehely (@azulfeehely).

Sam and Thom discuss the race for Europe and the relegation battle, where the bottom six all played each other, and we're also joined by Keith Farnan (@Keith_678) to discuss the recent upturn in Elche's fortunes.

Finally, our co-hosts pick their four nominees for MVP, which will be available to vote for at @LaLigaLowdown on Twitter, and choose their moment of the week.

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LaLiga Matchday 22 Recap: Comeback kings and few home wins Jan 24, 2022

Just when you thought LaLiga couldn't get any more dramatic, Matchday 22 rocked up with a point to prove. Here to discuss all the action are Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Sam Leveridge (@samleveridge) as they cover a weekend which produced only two home wins.

One of those was Atlético Madrid's injury time heroics to beat Valencia, as Carla Fernández (@carlafdez) joins our hosts from Madrid to explain. Real Madrid and Barcelona also got late goals, while Sevilla produced a stunning comeback.

In part two, we're also joined by Alex Brotherton (@alex_brotherton) to reflect on Real Sociedad's draw with Getafe as the relegation dog fight becomes increasingly tight as Cádiz beat Levante in another of this weekend's headline fixtures.

Matt and Sam also pick out their four candidates for MVP, as well as their moments of the week. Stay tuned to @LaLigaLowdown on Twitter to have your say and vote for MVP on Monday!

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LaLiga Matchday 21 Recap: Crazy Competition Cocktail Jan 21, 2022

The schedule-makers had little regard for the usual decorum this week and LaLiga took that vibe and ran with it at speed. Join hosts Ruairidh Barlow (@RuriBarlow) and Sam Leveridge (@samleveridge) as they try to make sense of a LaLiga/Copa del Rey pick and mix.

Part one begins with a round-up of the league fixtures; the champagne football is popped open at the Coliseum Alfonso Pérez. None of the giants were in town, it was Getafe celebrating. At the bottom, Cádiz almost had something to celebrate after Álvaro Cervera's departure. Almost. We spoke to Sergio Vargas (@CadizAnalytics) about a dramatic week. It took some going from Sevilla to top that drama - naturally we had to have the thoughts of Alan Feehely (@azulfeehely) on how they managed it.

In part two, we shifted focus to the Copa del Rey, which was wild for all the right reasons. Athletic Club vs Barcelona (football's answer to Mentos vs Coke) was another thriller. Atleti was more of a horror, as they limped away from a clash with Real Sociedad much the worse. Real Madrid did make their way to the quarter-finals in bizarre fashion. Somehow, all of this was squeezed into one half of pod.

As always, we round off the show with the MVP competition and our moments of the week - some of the best of the season. Follow @laligalowdown on Twitter to vote for your MVP and lots more content you didn't know you needed.

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LaLiga Matchday 20 Recap: The Frog Prince in Tears of Happiness Jan 10, 2022

Dust off those January blues and tune in to our recap of Matchday 20 in LaLiga. Hosts Ruairidh Barlow (@RuriBarlow) and Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) take you through a controversial weekend which saw Twitter posts, the leaders keeping up the pace and Levante finally winning a game.

The Ciutat de València is where we begin as Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) shares his thoughts on the Granotas coming together after a tense week to get a massive three points. We ask whether this can be the turning point in their season and assess the context of the other results at the bottom.

In part two we start on Sunday night as Villarreal and Atleti served up another entertaining 2-2 draw. Louis Scattergood (@BroLeao) gives us the Yellow Submarine perspective on another breathless game which ended even. The top half remains as tight as Barça’s budget, and we evaluate a week of mixed fortunes for the European contenders.

We then turn our attention to the controversies of the weekend and the problematic way in which the official club accounts have reacted online.

As usual we wrap up with our MVP picks and moments of the weekend. You can vote for your winner on Monday.

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LaLiga Matchday 19 Recap: Covid chaos but the show goes on Jan 04, 2022

The new year began and the first half of the season ended with fireworks as Matchday 19 bore witness to one of the shocks of the season. Hosts Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Ruairidh Barlow (@RuriBarlow) delve through a gruelling jornada as Covid hit hard across LaLiga.

On hand to join in the celebrations however was Dom Tancock (@dorsetDom1905). He revelled as Getafe took out league leaders Real Madrid in the heat of the Coliseum. Hay Liga? Perhaps we do have a title race after all, as Sevilla notched another narrow victory. The first half of the show ends with a re-assessment of the relegation marathon.

The second half, like 2022, kicks off with cautious optimism from Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee). He analyses a gritty affair on the island as Barcelona survive Mallorca. All of which makes the top half of the table ever tighter and the European chase ever more enticing.

We wrap up with MVP picks, 50% of which were the usual suspects. The other half were far fresher faces. Not to get emotional so early in the year but plenty of feeling was present in the moments of the week. Vote for your MVP by heading to @LaLigaLowdown on Twitter.

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LaLiga Matchday 18 Recap: A wise old man and the gift of football Dec 20, 2021

As the festive season gets underway, join us for all the fun and frolics of Matchday 18 in LaLiga where home wins were plentiful and goals almost guaranteed. Hosts Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Ruairidh Barlow (@RuriBarlow) unwrap all the early Christmas presents.

In part one, Chris Lail (@ChrisLail) from the Monchi’s Men (@MonchisMen) pod joins us to evaluate Sevilla’s massive win against Atleti to keep Real Madrid honest in the title race. Ruairidh and Matt then cover the rest of the runners and riders in the top half, including impressive Cádiz resistance, more home heroics from Rayo and five-goal thrillers at San Mamés and Camp Nou.

In the second half, we get the lowdown from Thom Harris (@ThomHarris_) on Villarreal’s important victory at Real Sociedad as both teams begin to head in different directions approaching the halfway stage. At the bottom there were significant wins for Celta, Getafe and Granada, and we take stock of how that particular fight is shaping up.

Plus, in the week he said a sad goodbye to the game, Sam Leveridge (@samleveridge) comes on to evaluate Sergio Agüero’s time in LaLiga from an Atleti perspective.

There’s also time to salute the history-making god in Granada, as well as our usual MVP and moments of the weekend.

Merry Christmas everyone.

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LaLiga Matchday 17 Recap: Title race on life support Dec 13, 2021

Matchday 17 in LaLiga featured an electric Sunday line-up and it didn't disappoint - unless you're from the Colchonero persuasion. Join hosts Ruairidh Barlow (@RuriBarlow) and Sam Leveridge (@samleveridge) as they wade through another chapter in Spain's best drama.

In the first half of the show, there's a deep dive on the Madrid derby with Scott Martin (@CoachScottCopy) - in which we conclude that there is not a lot of league left. Fortunately, it's still complete mayhem below los blancos. We hear from Paco Polit (@PacoPolitENG) as Valencia try to oust their owner before David Whitworth (@DCWh1tw0rth) tells us of a great party he went to at the Benito Villamarín on Sunday evening. Real Betis-Real Sociedad had a very European feel to it.

The second half of the show sees the hosts deal with goal-shy Athletic, win-averse Levante and a tantalising match at El Sadar. Our MVP picks follow, with a controversial inclusion - opinions welcome via our Twitter page (@LaLigaLowdown). Finally, the show is closed out with our moments of the week featuring a sound not to be missed.

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LaLiga Matchday 16 Recap: Writing the wrong kind of history Dec 06, 2021

Another LaLiga Matchday draws to a close and this one came with consequences. Join hosts Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Ruairidh Barlow (@RuriBarlow) as they untangle all of the stories and delve into some unwanted numbers.

The first half of the show features a first defeat for Barcelona manager Xavi - but not before giving Real Betis credit for beating them. Then Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee) breaks down the Xavi effect after four games - with perennial nightmare Bayern Munich on the horizon. A very big week for giants Real Madrid sees them establish a lead, before we consider a European crossroads for Sevilla and Villarreal.

In the second half of the show, Owen Mawer (@OwenJamesMawer) tells us of his trip to the Wanda Metropolitano to see the shock of the week; Atleti go down to Mallorca ahead of their own decisive Champions League tie. Moving onto managers new, old and infuriated, the bottom half of the table struggled against each other.

Finally, the MVP candidates are nominated and the moments of the week chosen, including a sensational piece of commentary. Vote for your MVP by going to @LaLigaLowdown on Twitter.

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LaLiga Matchday 15 Recap: Vini sends Real Madrid clear as Villarreal pay the penalty Nov 29, 2021

As the winter chill begins to take hold, the action and drama in LaLiga continues to keep us all warm. Join Sam Leveridge (@samleveridge) and Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) as they recap Matchday 15 in all its glory.

Real Madrid left it late but beat title rivals Sevilla in the Sunday night partidazo to move four points clear at the top. We ask: can anyone catch them? We then turn our attention to the action in Villarreal's game with Barcelona, hearing from pod debutant Louis Scattergood (@BroLeao) about an all-too familiar story for the Yellow Submarine. Also making her podcast bow is Carla Fernández (@carlafdez), who breaks down Atleti's much-needed away win.

After the break Granada expert Heath Chesters (@HeathGCF) discusses the entertaining Friday night at San Mamés as well as Robert Moreno's tough start in charge. The rest of the action is wrapped up with a discussion of the relegation battle and LaLiga's newest coach. There is also time for a competitive MVP vote and Sam and Matt's moments of the weekend.

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LaLiga Matchday 14 Recap: Xavi's back, but so are Real Madrid Nov 22, 2021

Never a quiet weekend in LaLiga and Matchday 14 was no different. As we welcomed a new manager into the fray, another one departs us and hosts Sam Leveridge (@samleveridge) and Ruairidh Barlow (@RuriBarlow) were on hand to break it all down.

Beginning with the debut, the pod went straight to Camp Nou to get the thoughts of Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee) on Xavi Hernández's Barcelona. Above them are Real Madrid, Sevilla and Atlético Madrid - all of which go under the microscope with a view to the title race.

In the second half of the show, Fran Escribá's exit takes headline billing with Keith Farnham (@Keith_678) providing the close insight. Relegation rivals Getafe got a crucial win over Cádiz and Billy Munday was at the Coliseum Alfonso Pérez to witness the demolition.

Finally, it's an MVP competition dominated by midfielders, although not altogether typically Spanish ones. Moments of the week brought to you by the narrative gods. Follow @LaLigaLowdown to vote for your MVP, news, views and more.

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LaLiga Matchday 13 Recap: Bedlam at Balaídos, mayhem at Mestalla Nov 08, 2021

LaLiga once again lived up to its new-found reputation of late goals, with the Matchday 13 drama unfolding in cinematic fashion. Hosts Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Ruairidh Barlow (@RuriBarlow) are back again to make sense of the breathless action.

After a quick recap of the results, Ian Morris (@CeltaUSA) joins to share his joy after another Balaídos classic between Celta Vigo and Barcelona. Matt and Ruairidh then dig into Atleti's trip to Valencia - where they looked eerily similar to Barcelona.

In the second half of the show, Gregor Chappelle (@gregorchappelle) breaks down the sevillano derby, which was surprisingly straight forward. The hosts then run over the rest of the talking points across the league before choosing from a multitude of MVP candidates.

After some brilliant clips from Cadena COPE and LaLigaTV, the podcast ends with the moment of the week and a work of art from Manolo Montalt at 99.9 Plaza Radio.

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LaLiga Matchday 12 Recap: Raining partidazos with horror twists Nov 01, 2021

Matchday 12 came hot off the heels of Matchday 11 and similarly, there were great games, shocks and some fantastic moments. Your host Sam Leveridge (@samleveridge) reviews it all with Ruairidh Barlow (@RuriBarlow).

The Sunday night partidazo lived up to that billing and the only place to start was at a raucous Reale Arena - Beñat Gutiérrez (@beinatguti) was present to give his derby day verdict. Sam and Ruairidh then discuss Barcelona's home draw with Alavés, which isn't even news, before reliving a very comfortable win for Atlético de Madrid over Real Betis.

In the second half of the show, Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) is on hand to delight in Bordalás-ball and despair at Villarreal. Finally, Sam and Ruairidh wrap up the rest of the news before giving their MVP picks and moments of the matchday. Follow @LaLigaLowdown on Twitter to vote for your MVP!

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LaLiga Matchday 11 Recap: Koeman gets the chop as La Real stay on top Oct 29, 2021

Hot on the heels of Matchday 10, LaLiga returned with a pulsating set of matches in midweek for round 11, so settle down in the company of hosts Ruairidh Barlow (@RuriBarlow) and Matt Clark (MattClark_08) for this bumper episode.

The headline news is the sacking of Barcelona head coach Ronald Koeman after their third league defeat of the season at Rayo Vallecano. That is the biggest story in town, and therefore we start there, in the form an in-depth discussion in the company of Román De Arquer (@Aeroslavee). We react to the dismissal, evaluate his tenure and look ahead to where Barça go now, with Sergi Barjuán appointed as interim coach.

Elsewhere, Rayo are surfing the crest of a wave and this latest triumph is put into context by author and fan Robbie Dunne (@robbiejdunne).

Another of the week’s biggest winners were Real Betis, and we were joined by journalist and presenter David Whitworth (@DCW1tw0rth) to praise the prolific and in-form verdiblancos.

Happily, goals continue

to fly in across the league, and with more late drama to take in, the rest of the matches are also covered after the break.

As always, we end with our regular features of MVP and Moments of the Week to conclude another dramatic round in what we think is the best league in the World.

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LaLiga Matchday 10 Recap: Madrid win the Clásico as goals flow again in LaLiga Oct 25, 2021

Matchday 10 of LaLiga was bursting with entertainment, drama and…goals – lots of them! With so much action to get through, dive straight in and join hosts Sam Leveridge (@samleveridge) and Matt Clark (@MattClark_08).

We begin at Camp Nou where El Clásico entered a new era, but the result was an all too familiar one, as Real Madrid took the victory once again. Matt and Sam – who was at the game live – dissect the game at length with aficionados Román De Arquer (@aeroslavee) and Has Karim (@TheHasKarim) and ponder where this leaves Ronald Koeman’s future.

Attention is then turned to the Sunday night stunner at the Wanda where Atleti again found themselves 2-0 down but had a familiar hero to thank as they rescued a point against league leaders Real Sociedad.

Across the rest of LaLiga there is praise for the pair of Seville clubs as well as Athletic and Alavés. This all meant MVP and moments of the weekend were hotly contested this week. Tune in to find out the outcomes of those discussions.

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LaLiga Matchday 9 Recap: Basque Brilliance as La Real Lead the Way Oct 17, 2021

LaLiga Matchday 9 was another adulterated version with just six matches taking place over the weekend, but that just means the analysis was all the more detailed. Join hosts Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Ruairidh Barlow (@RuriBarlow) as they break it down.

Starting with the Sunday night partidazo, Barcelona got a much needed win over Valencia and despite Ansu Fati, there are still reasons for pessimism. Following that, we speak to Thom Harris (@ThomHarris_) about Villarreal's inability to put wins together - with or without Gerard Moreno's brilliance.

In the second half of the pod, admiring glances are cast towards our Basque league leaders (!), our Basque-led surprise of the season and for balance, ask a little more of Julen Lopetegui's Sevilla. Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) is on hand to detail a non-descript start for new managers Javi Pereira and Quique Sánchez Flores and finally, we discuss our MVP picks. Moments of the week also well worth waiting for.

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LaLiga Matchday 8 Recap: A weekend of surprises and Atlético Madrid Oct 04, 2021

LaLiga continues to bring the drama and the emotion to your footballing weekend. After a busy few weeks, hosts Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Sam Leveridge (@samleveridge) cast their eyes over the surprise-filled round.

The problems continue to mount for Barcelona as they suffered another defeat at the Wanda Metropolitano. Sam was there to witness it, while our resident Barça fan Román De Arquer (@Aeroslavee) shares his thoughts on the situation.

We also hear from Espanyol expert Geoff Gillingham (@GeoffGillingham) on the shock of the round as Los Pericos handed Real Madrid their first league defeat in nine months.

Sam and Matt then discuss the rest of the action, including the sacking of Levante coach Paco López, as teams at the top slipped up while others showed signs of life. We pick out the other clubs and coaches most in danger of the chop, and end with the regular staples of MVP and moments of the week.

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LaLiga Matchday 7 Recap: Return of the Kid Sep 27, 2021

LaLiga continues to be the best entertainment around on Sundays with another 15 goals in 5 games. Hosts Ruairidh Barlow (@RuriBarlow) and Sam Leveridge (@samleveridge) pick their way through that mayhem but not before unpacking a siesta-worthy effort from the title holders Atleti against bottom-dwelling Alavés.

Attentions are then turned to Camp Nou, which threatened to be a gloomy affair but ended up a festival of celebration. Román de Arquer (Aeroslavee) analyses an increasingly rare happy day out for Barcelona and the comeback of their new number 10, Ansu Fati. Until now it had been Real Madrid lighting up the league but Unai Emery's Villarreal were only too happy to thwart that run - Jamie Kemble (@JamieKemble) gave us his verdict on a fifth draw in six games for the Yellow Submarine.

In the last part of the show Sam and Ruairidh hand out some praise for Basque managers with impressive wins for Real Sociedad, Osasuna and Rayo Vallecano, before deciding on their MVP candidates for the weekend's action. Head over to @LaLigaLowdown on Twitter to find out who reigns victorious.

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LaLiga Matchday 6 Recap: The sack race heats up Sep 24, 2021

More than one LaLiga coach is hanging onto their job by a thread after Matchday 6 in LaLiga in an action-packed midweek round of fixtures. Your hosts Sam Leveridge (@samleveridge) and Ruairidh Barlow (@RuriBarlow) cover all the action with insights from locals fans.

Ronald Koeman's Barcelona drew two blanks in the space of four days, against Granada and Cádiz, while Real Madrid produced goals galore and Atlético left it late to find their shooting boots.

Getafe fan Dom Tancock (@dorsetdom) joins us to discuss what Luis Suárez's late brace meant for the Azulones, and Míchel's future. Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) also chats about Valencia's defeat to Sevilla as Julen Lopetegui got the better of José Bordalás.

Sam and Ruairidh also decide on their MVP picks for the matchday, including a potential Ballon d'Or candidate.

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LaLiga Matchday 5 Recap: Real Madrid go top as El Tigre returns Sep 20, 2021

There's nothing worse than heartbreak and Matchday 5 in LaLiga was an affair riddled with it. Your hosts Sam Leveridge (@samleveridge) and Ruairidh Barlow (@RuriBarlow) are across the major talking points and several of the grounds.

Real Madrid are nothing if not resilient and they left Valencia short-changed on Sunday night. Dramatic endings lead the discussion as Real Betis surrender in the 97th minute.

The return of El Tigre, Radamel Falcao, came with a roar and Robbie Dunne (@robbiejdunne) speaks on that matter and the ever-interesting climate at Rayo Vallecano. No goals for Atleti against Athletic but Jeremy Beren (@JBBeren) is confident it will not hamper Diego Simeone long-term. Similarly Real Sociedad couldn't burst the net but Phil Ball (@PhilBallTweets) has his glass half full.

Finally, Sam and Ruairidh settle on their candidates for the MVP of the weekend.

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LaLiga Matchday 4 Recap: Bats out of hell - the Bordalás era? Sep 13, 2021

La Liga Lowdown returns after the international break to recap another dramatic weekend in the Spanish top flight. Valencia are flying, Real Madrid are back home and Atleti left it late again.

Join hosts Matt Clark (MattClark_08) and Ruairidh Barlow (@RuriBarlow) to tuck into the action as the table begins to take shape.

We hear from expert Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) on Valencia's win at Osasuna and Levante's late woes against Rayo Vallecano.

Plus, Hasan Karim (@TheHasKarim) enthuses over another Real Madrid goal-fest, Beñat Gutiérrez (@beinatguti) gives us the lowdown on Athletic Club's encouraging start, and Matt and Ruairidh pick their MVPs and moments of the weekend.

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LaLiga Matchday 3 Recap: Nobody Is Perfect Aug 30, 2021

Just like Matchday 2, this weekend finished with a partidazo as Villarreal went to the Wanda and - nearly - came home with all three points.

Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) joins Ruairidh Barlow (RuriBarlow) to review a weekend of huff, puff and perplexed managers. One of those cradling his head in his hands was Unai Emery, Jamie Kemble (@Jamie Kemble) reflects on a bizarre evening in Madrid.

Keith Farnan (@Keith_678) explains why the team everyone had dead and buried are breathing pretty comfortably and David Whitworth (@DCWh1tw0rth) is present to ruminate on a tough start for Real Betis.

Finally, an eye is cast over the other noteworthy events of the weekend and several candidates for Jornada 3 MVP are posed.

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LaLiga Matchday 2 Recap: Sensational Sunday Night Aug 23, 2021

La Liga Lowdown returns to review Matchday 2 of the 2021/22 season, as Levante and Real Madrid served up a Sunday night classic!

Sam Leveridge (@samleveridge) is joined by Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) to analyse the results and the standout performances, including Atleti's win over Elche in front of fans at the Wanda Metropolitano.

We hear from Hasan Karim (@TheHasKarim) who dissects Real Madrid’s roller-coaster draw with Levante, and Román De Arquer (@Aeroslavee) also joins us to evaluate Barcelona’s draw against Athletic Club.

Finally, Sam and Matt debate their MVP picks for the round.

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LaLiga Matchday 1 Recap: Life after Lionel Aug 16, 2021

Join La Liga Lowdown for our first matchday recap of the season, the first LaLiga matchday without Lionel Messi in almost 17 years. Sam Leveridge (@samleveridge) is joined by Ruairidh Barlow (@RuriBarlow) to discuss all the action and the best performances.

Special guests Domagoj Kostanjšak (@DKostanjsak), Paco Polit (@PacoPolitENG) and Ian Morris (@CeltaUSA) also join us to take a look at how Barcelona have adapted to life without Messi, José Bordalás' dramatic Valencia debut and Celta Vigo's narrow defeat to defending champions Atlético Madrid.

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La Liga Lowdown LaLiga 2021/22 Preview Part 2: The best of the rest, who will avoid the drop? Aug 11, 2021

Following on from our preview of the top half of LaLiga, La Liga Lowdown returns with a preview of the other end of the table, analysing who will face a battle for safety and who could hope to push on from mid-table mediocrity. Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Ruairidh Barlow (@RuriBarlow) discuss and debate who will get dragged into the relegation fight.

We hear from fans of two newly promoted sides as Matt speaks to Paul McGarraghy (@PaulMcGarraghy) about Real Mallorca and Sam Leveridge (@samleveridge) catches up with Geoff Gillingham (@GeoffGillingham), a fan of Segunda champions Espanyol. There's also talk on Valencia and Getafe as José Bordálas swapped one club for the other ahead of their season-opening fixture on Friday night, and much more!

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LaLiga 2021/22 Preview Part 1: The title race is back, but not as we know it Aug 09, 2021

La Liga Lowdown is back for 2021/22! In our first pod for the season, Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Sam Leveridge (@samleveridge) discuss a very different LaLiga after a turbulent summer. In this first part of our pre-season preview, we take a look at the top of the table.

We hear from fans of Spanish football’s top three, as Sam talks to Atlético Madrid fan Jeremy Beren (@JBBeren), and Ruairidh Barlow (@RuriBarlow) catches up with Real Madrid obsessive Hasan Karim (@TheHasKarim) and a devastated supporter of Lionel Messi-less Barcelona, Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee). There’s also talk on the race for Europe, with a whopping five Spanish teams heading to the Champions League. Stay tuned for part two of our season preview looking at the bottom half of LaLiga later this week!

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Matchday 38 recap: The one when Atlético Madrid are champions May 24, 2021

It’s our final matchday recap podcast of the 2020/21 LaLiga season and we start by congratulating the champions Atlético Madrid. Ruairidh Barlow (@RuairidhBarlow) brings us the energetic commentary clips of the goals in Los Rojiblancos’ decisive victory in Valladolid, while we hear from Atleti fans Sam Leveridge (@samleveridge) and Jeremy Beren (@JBBeren) as they explain what this title means.

We also hear about how Elche secured survival, with Elche fan Keith Farnan (@Keith_678) praising Fran Escribá for the excellent job he has done there. David Whitworth (@DCWh1tw0rth) joins the pod too to talk about EuroBetis. Then, Allen Dodson (@groguet01) has his say on Villarreal’s lack of rotation in their loss to Real Madrid and looks ahead to the Europa League final. As always, the podcast is hosted by Euan McTear (@emctear).

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The Story Of: Real Betis May 22, 2021

This is the latest episode in our series looking at the history of every club in Spain’s top division. This time the focus is on Real Betis, one of the very best-supported clubs in Spain. Euan McTear (@emctear) hosts and recaps some of the club’s highlight moments, before Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) and Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee) walk us through the club's history.

Then, Andrew Miller (@AndrewMillerNBA) picks and discusses three all-time Real Betis legends, before David Whitworth (@DCWh1tw0rth) explains what makes a matchday at the Benito Villamarín so special.

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Matchday 37: The one when Atleti kept the dream alive May 17, 2021

The penultimate round of the 2020/21 LaLiga season was one for the ages, as Atlético Madrid came from behind to defeat Osasuna and stay top of the standings. Host Euan McTear (@emctear) checks in on Atleti fan Jeremy Beren (@JBBeren), to see how he coped with all that drama, while Hasan Karim (@TheHasKarim) also offers the Real Madrid fan perspective after they won in Bilbao to keep the pressure on.

Barcelona are now ruled out of the title race and Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee) reflects on their most recent disappointment, while also praising Celta Vigo’s positive end to the season. Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) serves up all the drama from the relegation battle, Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) explains how the return of fans to LaLiga stadiums went and there’s even more in this matchday recap too.

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The Story Of: Levante May 15, 2021

In the latest episode of our La Liga Lowdown club podcasts series, we tell the story of Levante and how they established themselves as a regular top-flight club.

Euan McTear (@emctear) starts the podcast by looking back over some of the Granotas’ all-time highlights. Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee) and Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) then provide the detail on the club's history. Ruairidh Barlow (@RuriBarlow) picks three all-time Levante legends. Then, Pål Ødegård (@paalpot75) explains what a matchday at Levante’s Estadi Ciutat de València is like.

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Matchday 36 recap: The one when Barcelona fell out of the race May 14, 2021

In this recap episode of the midweek LaLiga Santander action, we start off by discussing Barcelona’s collapse against Levante and how that 3-3 draw came about, with host Euan McTear (@emctear) joined by Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee) to break down all the implications of it.

We also discuss the two Madrid teams and their victories, with Sam Leveridge (@samleveridge) reflecting on the way Atleti fans suffered through their win against Real Sociedad and with Hasan Karim (@TheHasKarim) happily surprised by the comfortable way Real Madrid dealt with Granada.

There’s also discussion of the relegation battle and how the bottom six is as tight as ever. We have Alan Feehely (@azulfeehely) bringing the local commentary clips from Vitoria Gasteiz as Alavés won their six-pointer against Elche.

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Matchday 35 recap: The one when nobody was happy May 10, 2021

We’ve got a momentous LaLiga matchday to recap this Monday, as we had Barcelona vs Atlético and Real Madrid vs Sevilla on the same weekend. Both games were draws, leaving every side a little frustrated and unhappy. Joining host Euan McTear (@emctear) to discuss these matches, we’ve got Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee) on the game at the Camp Nou and Hasan Karim (@TheHasKarim) on events at Valdebebas, including that dramatic penalty incident.

In this episode, we also hear about the drama of the relegation battle, starting with Matt Clark’s (@MattClark_08) recap of Alavés vs Levante. Then Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) explains what’s going on at Valencia, where it was a weekend of fan protests.

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The Story Of: Real Valladolid May 08, 2021

This is the latest episode of our La Liga Lowdown podcast series in which we tell the story of each LaLiga Santander club and, in this week's edition, it's time for the story of Real Valladolid.

Euan McTear (@emctear) hosts and starts off by looking back at some of Real Valladolid’s many promotions into Spain’s top division. Then, Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) and Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee) discuss the club's history, Alan Feehely (@azulfeehely) picks three Real Valladolid legends and Pucela fan Martin Devlin (@MartiRVCF) describes the club's matchday experience and explains what the fans are all about.

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Matchday 34 recap: The one with the oaf May 03, 2021

The LaLiga title race really is heating up and we discuss the top three in this matchday recap, with Jeremy Beren (@JBBeren) explaining his relief at the penalty miss that saw Atlético hold on to defeat Elche, with Emily Wilson (@wilson_emt) praising Éder Militão’s role in Real Madrid’s win over Osasuna and with Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) going through the details of Barcelona’s victory over Valencia with host Euan McTear (@emctear).

It’s not just the title race that we discuss, though. We look at what’s going on up and down the LaLiga table, with Sam Leveridge (@samleveridge) bringing the best commentary clips from Kike García’s Basque derby hat-trick for Eibar, as well as his coach’s somewhat unflattering compliment.

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The Story Of: Getafe May 01, 2021

This episode is the next in our series looking at every club in Spain’s top division. In this one, we tell the story of Getafe as Euan McTear (@emctear) looks at a few of their highlight moments and as Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee) and Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) talk us through the club's history.

Sam Leveridge (@samleveridge) then tells tales of three all-time Getafe legends, before Dom Tancock (@dorsetdom1905) explains what the matchday experience is like at the club and why they're worth following.

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Matchday 32 recap: The one with the extra minute Apr 26, 2021

The LaLiga title race is getting even tighter with each passing week and we start this episode off by discussing the teams at the top, with host Euan McTear (@emctear) reflecting on Atlético’s latest slip-up as they lost in Bilbao, with Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee) dissecting Barcelona’s win at Villarreal, with Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) explaining the weird final minute in Sevilla’s win over Granada and with David Whitworth (@DCWh1tw0rth) giving his views after Real Madrid and Real Betis’ goalless draw.

We also focus in on the relegation battle and speak to Elche fan Keith Farnan (@Keith_678) about their huge victory and about the strange Édgar Badía situation.

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The Story Of: Real Sociedad Apr 23, 2021

In the latest episode of this La Liga Lowdown series, we tell the story of Real Sociedad from their origins to their 2019/20 Copa del Rey triumph.

Euan McTear (@emctear) starts the podcast by looking back over some of the club's all-time highlights. Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) and Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee) then provide the detail and anecdotes on the club's history. Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) picks his three all-time La Real legends. Then, Phil Ball (@PhilBallTweets) explains what the football scene in San Sebastián is like and what the matchday experience is like.

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Matchday 31 recap: The one when Osasuna are Super Apr 23, 2021

We had midweek LaLiga action over Wednesday and Thursday, so there’s plenty to discuss in this special matchday recap. Ignasi Torné (@groundhopperbcn) explains Osasuna’s best run of form in almost a decade. Alan Feehely (@azulfeehely) talks us through Alavés boss Javi Calleja’s win over his former club. Sam Leveridge (@samleveridge) reflects on Atlético Madrid’s win that keeps them top of the table. Kiyan Sobhani (@KiyanSo) revels in the feel good factor around Real Madrid’s victory in Cádiz. And, David Whitworth (@DCWh1tw0rth) tells us how he’s proud of 10-man Real Betis’ battling performance against Athletic Club.

It’s all hosted by Euan McTear (@emctear), with just a few Super League comments brought up along the way.

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Matchday 33 recap: The one where Barcelona have the perfect weekend Apr 19, 2021

It was a great weekend for Barcelona as they won the Copa del Rey and as Real Madrid dropped points in LaLiga. We discuss all of that in this recap of the weekend’s action, starting with Ruairidh Barlow (@RuriBarlow) bringing the best commentary clips from the cup final and then with Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee) analysing the triumph and what it means to Barça fans.

Then, Hasan Karim (@TheHasKarim) reveals his frustration at Real Madrid’s failure to defeat Getafe, while Gregor Chappelle (@gregorchappelle) reflects on Sevilla’s latest win and analyses their title chances. It’s all hosted by Euan McTear (@emctear), who recaps the other big results of the weekend too.

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The Story Of: Villarreal Apr 17, 2021

This is the latest episode of our La Liga Lowdown podcast series in which we tell the story of each LaLiga Santander club. In this week's episode, it's the story of Villarreal.

Euan McTear (@emctear) hosts and starts the episode by looking at some of the European highlights this club has achieved. Then, Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee) and Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) talk us through the club's history, Alex Brotherton (@alex_brotherton) picks his top three Villarreal legends and then Villarreal fan Robin Stacey describes the club's matchday experience.

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Matchday 30 recap: The one with the rainy Clásico Apr 12, 2021

It was Clásico weekend in LaLiga and that’s where we start this recap episode, with Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee) joining host Euan McTear (@emctear) to discuss Real Madrid’s 2-1 victory over Barcelona and the major talking points from that game.

Later, Rob Hextall (@robhextall) provides the lowdown on the coaching change that has taken place at Alavés, Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) analyses Valencia’s comeback draw against Real Sociedad and Ruairidh Barlow (@RuriBarlow) breaks down the huge relegation six-pointer between Huesca and Elche. There’s all that and much more in this Matchday 30 recap.

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The Story Of: Huesca Apr 10, 2021

The next episode in our La Liga Lowdown club podcasts series sees us tell the story of Huesca.

We do so with host Euan McTear (@emctear) looking back at the club's promotions, before we hear more about the club's history from Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) and Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee). We then have Alan Feehely (@azulfeehely) discussing three club legends, before Cristian Serrano (@Cristiansv_) explains what the matchday experience is like.

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Matchday 29 recap: The one with last year’s Copa final Apr 05, 2021

This matchday recap episode actually starts off by focusing on the Copa del Rey action, as Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) rounds up the commentary clips and sounds from Real Sociedad’s victory in the final, before host Euan McTear (@emctear) speaks to long-time La Real fan Phil Ball (@PhilBallTweets) about what this triumph means.

The troubling Mouctar Diakhaby incident is also discussed, with Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) outlining what is known so far about the allegations of a racist insult taking place during Cádiz vs Valencia.

We also turn to the LaLiga title race and Emily Wilson (@wilson_emt) looks back on Real Madrid’s latest win over Eibar, as well as previewing their upcoming Liverpool Champions League tie. Similarly, Allen Dodson (@groguet01) discusses Villarreal’s big win over Granada and also looks ahead to the next leg of their Europa League adventure.

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The Story Of: Real Madrid Apr 03, 2021

This is the latest episode of our La Liga Lowdown podcast series in which we tell the story of each LaLiga Santander club. In this latest episode, it's time to tell the story of Real Madrid.

Euan McTear (@emctear) hosts and starts off by looking at some of the highlights from Los Blancos' many European Cup successes. Then, Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee) and Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) go through the capital city club's history. Next, Hasan Karim (@TheHasKarim) picks his three unique Real Madrid legends and Nils Kern (@nilskern17), of @REAL_TOTAL, explains what a matchday at the Bernabéu is like.

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The Story Of: Barcelona Mar 27, 2021

The next episode in our club podcasts series looks at FC Barcelona. Host Euan McTear (@emctear) starts the episode by recalling some of the Catalan club's greatest moments, before Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) and Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee) talk through the team's history.

There have been so many legends at Barça over the club's history and Ruairidh Barlow (@RuriBarlow) picks out three of them, explaining what makes this trio so special. Then, fan Kevin Williams (@kevvwill) reflects on what the matchday experience is like at the Camp Nou.

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Matchday 28 recap: The one with the heroic goalkeepers Mar 22, 2021

This episode starts off with praise for the heroic goalkeepers of LaLiga, as host Euan McTear (@emctear) and Atleti fan and journalist Jeremy Beren (@JBBeren) discuss Jan Oblak’s vital penalty save, before Alex Brotherton (@alex_brotherton) looks back at Bono’s equaliser at a corner kick for Sevilla, highlighting the best commentary clips of that moment.

In part two, Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee) gushes over Barcelona’s 6-1 victory at Real Sociedad. Beñat Gutiérrez (@beinatguti), meanwhile, provides the lowdown from the Basque Country, where Copa del Rey excitement is brewing and where protest drones are flying. As well as all that, there’s praise for Toni Kroos and Karim Benzema and for yet another goalkeeper, in the form of Édgar Badía.

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The Story Of: Valencia Mar 20, 2021

This episode is the next in our series looking at every club in Spain’s top division. This time the focus is on one of Spain’s oldest and most successful clubs - Valencia. Euan McTear (@emctear) hosts and recaps some of Valencia’s most glorious moments, before Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee) and Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) walk us through the club's history.

Then, Sam Leveridge (@samleveridge) names three all-time Valencia legends, before Armando Lopez Espinal (@aeCF41) explains what makes a matchday at Mestalla so special.

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Matchday 27 recap: The one with all the derbies Mar 15, 2021

It was a weekend of derbies in Spain this matchday, so we start this week’s episode by discussing the Valencian derby between Levante and Valencia with Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) and the Seville derby between Sevilla and Real Betis with Alan Feehely (@azulfeehely).

In part two of this week’s episode, attention turns to the title race and Hasan Karim (@TheHasKarim) praises Benzema’s efforts in Real Madrid’s come-from-behind victory over Elche. We also hear from Eibar fan Jonathan Fritsch (@Fritschard), who analyses the Basque side’s current woes. Host Euan McTear (@emctear) also recaps all the weekend’s other main storylines.

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The Story Of: Alavés Mar 13, 2021

This is the latest episode of our La Liga Lowdown podcast series in which we tell the story of each LaLiga Santander club. In this latest episode, it's time to tell the story of Alavés.

Euan McTear (@emctear) hosts and starts the episode by looking at some of the highlights and finals that the Basque side have reached. Then, Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) and Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee) go through the club's history, Andrew Miller (@AndrewMillerNBA) picks his top three Alavés legends and long-time fan Rob Hextall (@robhextall) describes the Mendizorroza matchday experience.

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Matchday 26 recap: The one when Barcelona won the Madrid derby Mar 08, 2021

Matchday 26 was a huge one in the LaLiga title race, as Atlético and Real Madrid drew 1-1 in the Madrid derby. That’s a result that could benefit Barcelona more than anyone and host Euan McTear (@emctear) goes over the ins and outs of the draw with Kiyan Sobhani (@KiyanSo). Barcelona, meanwhile, defeated Osasuna 2-0 away from home and Ruairidh Barlow (@RuriBarlow) picks out the best commentary clips from that game.

There was another derby this weekend too, as Valencia produced a 2-1 comeback win against Villarreal. Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) provides the lowdown on that match. Then, Martin Devlin (@MartiRVCF) explains how important Real Valladolid’s own 2-1 win over Getafe was and discusses the relegation battle as a whole.

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The Story Of: Cádiz Mar 06, 2021

This is the next episode in our series looking at every club in Spain’s top division. This time we tell the story of Cádiz CF. Host Euan McTear (@emctear) recalls a few of the club's highlights, before Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) and Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee) talk through the club's history.

Alex Brotherton (@alex_brotherton) picks three all-time Cádiz legends, including Mágico González of course. Then, fan Juan Osorio (@juanosoVI) explains what the matchday experience is like in Cádiz.

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Matchday 25 recap: The one with the Copa semi prequels Mar 01, 2021

Matchday 25 was one of blockbuster matchups in LaLiga, as Atlético defeated Villarreal 2-0 on the road and as Barcelona won by the same scoreline at Sevilla. Host Euan McTear (@emctear) and Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee) discuss Barça’s win and wonder what it means for when these two teams face each other again in their Copa del Rey semi-final second leg in midweek. Similarly, Beñat Gutiérrez (@beinatguti) joins the show to look back at Friday night’s Levante vs Athletic draw and to preview their own upcoming Copa rematch.

There’s also talk about the latest relegation battle developments. Plus, Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) recaps Getafe’s overdue win against Valencia and Heath Chesters (@HeathGCF) explains just what a special week this has been for Granada.

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The Story Of: Atlético Madrid Feb 26, 2021

This episode is the next in our series looking at every club in Spain’s top division. This time the focus is on one of the country's most successful clubs - Atlético Madrid. Euan McTear (@emctear) hosts and looks at a few of Atleti's most glorious moments, before Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee) and Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) talk us through the club's history.

Sam Leveridge (@samleveridge) then names three all-time Atleti legends, before Ricardo Menéndez (@rickyam) explains what the matchday experience is like at the Wanda Metropolitano and what it used to be like at the Vicente Calderón.

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Matchday 24 recap: The one when Levante's backup goalkeeper couldn't be beaten Feb 22, 2021

This matchday recap starts off by discussing Dani Cárdenas and his excellent performance in Levante’s win at Atlético Madrid, a result that throws the title race wide open once again. Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) discusses the young goalkeeper with host Euan McTear (@emctear) in part one, while Alan Feehely (@azulfeehely) recaps the emotion of Elche’s first league win since October.

In part two, Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee) reflects on Barcelona’s latest setback and Hasan Karim (@TheHasKarim) has his say on Real Madrid and the contributions of their backups during their recent winning run. There’s also a chat with Dom Tancock (@dorsetdom1905) about Getafe’s recent woes and what needs to be done to fix them.

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The Story Of: Eibar Feb 20, 2021

This is the latest episode of our La Liga Lowdown podcast series in which we tell the story of each LaLiga Santander club. This time around, we tell the story of Eibar.

Euan McTear (@emctear) hosts and starts the episode by looking at some of the highlights from the tiny club's promotion and time in Spain's top division. Then, Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee) and Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) go through the club's history, Ruairidh Barlow (@RuriBarlow) picks his three top Eibar legends and Unai Eraso describes the matchday atmosphere and explains why Eibar need their fans more than most.

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Matchday 23 recap: The one with Almirón’s resignation Feb 15, 2021

Our latest matchday recap podcast starts with a coaching change, with Jorge Almirón resigning as Elche boss and being replaced by Fran Escribá over the weekend. Elche fan Keith Farnan (@Keith_678) offers his views on that move and on Almirón’s time at the club.

We then discuss the teams at the top, with Ruairidh Barlow (@RuairidhBarlow) looking back on Atleti’s win at Granada, Roman de Arquer (@Aeroslavee) breaking down Barcelona’s big victory over Alavés, Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) analysing Real Madrid’s comfortable afternoon against Valencia and Chris Lail (@ChrisLail) discussing Sevilla’s excellent form and previewing their Champions League last 16 tie. As usual, it’s all hosted by Euan McTear (@emctear).

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The Story Of: Elche Feb 13, 2021

This episode is the next in our series looking at every club in Spain’s top division and the focus this time around is on Elche. Euan McTear (@emctear) hosts and looks at a few of Elche’s best ever moments, before Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee) and Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) talk us through the club's very rich history.

Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) then names three all-time Elche legends, before David Hayes of EuroTourGuide.com explains what the matchday experience is like at the Estadio Martínez Valero.

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Matchday 22 recap: The one when Zidane got angry Feb 08, 2021

Matchday 22 really started with Zidane's press conference on Friday, as he sent a message to the media and to his players. Host Euan McTear (@emctear) discusses Real Madrid's subsequent win at Huesca with Hasan Karim (@TheHasKarim), while Cristian Serrano (@Cristiansv_) offers the view on how Huesca have changed since Pacheta arrived.

We also talk about the very entertaining Betis vs Barça game with David Whitworth (DCWh1tw0rth), about Elche's comeback draw with Sam Leveridge (@samleveridge) and about Levante's big week with Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG).

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The Story Of: Sevilla FC Feb 06, 2021

This is the latest episode of our La Liga Lowdown podcast series where we're telling the story of each LaLiga Santander club. In this one, we tell the story of Sevilla FC.

Euan McTear (@emctear) hosts and starts the episode by looking at some of the club's recent highlights, and there are several, before Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) and Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee) go through the club's history, Alan Feehely (@azulfeehely) picks his three top Sevilla legends and Gregor Chappelle (@gregorchappelle) describes the matchday atmosphere.

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Matchday 21 recap: The one when Atlético Madrid went 10 points clear Feb 01, 2021

Atlético Madrid had a weekend to remember, moving 10 points clear at the top of the table. To start off this Matchday 21 recap podcast, host Euan McTear (@emctear) speaks to Atleti fan and journalist Jeremy Beren (@JBBeren) of @IntoTheCalderon about Simeone’s side and their excellent season so far.

Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) then explains what happened as Real Madrid fell to their latest loss, Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee) discusses the Messi contract revelations and the forward’s great performance against Athletic Club and then Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) delivers the lowdown from the regional derby between Valencia and Elche. There’s all that and more in this matchday recap.

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The Story Of: Osasuna Jan 30, 2021

This episode on Osasuna's story is the latest in our series where we're telling the story of each LaLiga Santander club.

Euan McTear (@emctear) hosts and starts the episode by looking at a few of Osasuna's best ever moments, before Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) and Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee) talk us through the club's history, Alex Brotherton (@alex_brotherton) tells us about three all-time club legends and Ignasi Torné (@groundhopperbcn) explains what makes Pamplona and the Osasuna fans so special.

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Matchday 20 recap: The one when Zidane wasn’t there Jan 25, 2021

In our Matchday 20 recap episode for the 2020/21 LaLiga season, we start off by discussing Real Madrid’s 4-1 win over Alavés with Emily Wilson (@wilson_emt). There was no Zidane, but it was no problem for Los Blancos.

Andrew Miller (@AndrewMillerNBA) then discusses the wild ending to Real Sociedad vs Real Betis, Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) praises league leaders Atlético Madrid, Gregor Chappelle (@gregorchappelle) explains how Youssef En-Nesyri got so good so sudden and Martin Devlin (@MartiRVCF) talks about how Real Valladolid are still picking up points despite all their absences. As always, the podcast is hosted by Euan McTear (@emctear).

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The Story Of: Granada CF Jan 23, 2021

The next episode in our La Liga Lowdown club podcasts series sees us tell the story of Granada CF.

We do so with host Euan McTear (@emctear) looking back at some of the club's best moments, before we hear more about the club's history from Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee) and Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG). We then have Hasan Karim (@TheHasKarim) discussing three club legends, before Heath Chesters (@HeathGCF) explains what the fan experience is like.

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Matchday 19 recap: The one with the first goalie goal in 10 years Jan 22, 2021

In this episode of La Liga Lowdown, host Euan McTear (@emctear) and co. look back at the eight fixtures that took place in this midweek round. It was a unique round, purely for the fact that Eibar goalkeeper Marko Dmitrović scored a penalty against Jan Oblak. We hear commentary from that, while Alex Brotherton (@alex_brotherton) also brings the best clips from the wild Cádiz vs Levante draw.

There’s an interview with Elche fan Keith Farnan (@Keith_678) about his club’s 12-match winless run and coach Jorge Almirón’s problems, as well as a discussion with Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) about Valencia’s latest setback. Plus, Rob Hextall (@robhextall) explains why this is such a big week for Alavés.

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The Story Of: Celta Vigo Jan 16, 2021

This is the latest episode of a new La Liga Lowdown podcast series where we're telling the story of each LaLiga Santander club, this time looking at Celta Vigo.

Euan McTear (@emctear) hosts and starts the episode by looking at some of the Galician club's all-time highlights, before Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) and Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee) go through the club's history, Andrew Miller (@AndrewMillerNBA) picks his three top Celta legends and Ian Morris (@CeltaUSA) describes the matchday experience.

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Matchday 18 recap: The one with all the snow Jan 11, 2021

Although some matches were postponed due to the wild weather that hit Spain this weekend, we’ve got seven matches to sink our teeth into in this match recap. Hasan Karim (@TheHasKarim) looks at the draw between Osasuna and Real Madrid at an icy El Sadar, Sam Leveridge (@samleveridge) rounds up the drama from Sevilla’s thrilling win over Real Sociedad, Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee) explains what’s going right for Barcelona after they had a big win at Granada and Allen Dodson (@groguet01) does the same as he dissects Villarreal’s triumph at an Aspas-less Celta Vigo.

It’s all hosted by Euan McTear (@emctear), who recaps the rest of the fixtures and explains why some of the games were moved.

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The Story Of: Athletic Club Jan 09, 2021

In the first episode of this brand new La Liga Lowdown podcast series, we tell the story of Athletic Club. Over the coming weeks, we'll have a podcast dedicated to every one of the LaLiga Santander clubs and we're starting with one of the most prestigious.

Euan McTear (@emctear) starts the podcast by looking back over some of the club's all-time highlights. Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee) and Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) provide the detail and anecdotes on the club's history. Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) picks his three all-time Athletic Club legends and Beñat Gutiérrez (@beinatguti) explains Bilbao's passion for Athletic Club and what the matchday experience is like.

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Matchday 17 recap: The one with Fekir and Garitano's unhappy new year Jan 04, 2021

It’s our first LaLiga matchday recap podcast of 2021 and there’s so much to talk about. Real Betis fan and journalist David Whitworth (@DCWh1tw0rth) and host Euan McTear (@emctear) start the podcast off by discussing the weekend’s Seville derby, while there’s also the lowdown from Bilbao from Beñat Gutiérrez (@beinatguti) on why Gaizka Garitano was sacked by Athletic Club and what to expect from new coach Marcelino.

We also hear from Ruairidh Barlow (@RuriBarlow) on the excitement from Real Madrid’s win over Celta Vigo, from Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee) on Barcelona’s victory at Huesca, and from Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) on why Takefusa Kubo didn’t work out at Villarreal.

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Matchday 16 recap: The one when LaLiga’s smallest team drew at the biggest stadium Dec 31, 2020

Both Barcelona and Real Madrid were held to 1-1 draws this week by two of the minnows of LaLiga and we discuss those games in this Matchday 16 recap, looking at Barcelona’s draw with Eibar with Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee) and talking about Real Madrid’s draw with Elche with Hasan Karim (@TheHasKarim). There’s also a listener question for Román, this week from Diana Yeow (@dy158).

Also in this week’s episode is Paco Polit’s (@pacopolitENG) breakdown of Valencia’s relegation fears, Sam Leveridge’s (@samleveridge) recap of the Diego Costa situation and Alan Feehely’s (@azulfeehely) summary of the seven-goal thriller between Levante and Real Betis. There’s all that and more, all hosted by Euan McTear (@emctear).

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Matchday 15 recap: The one with the festive football Dec 24, 2020

There was a midweek round of football to welcome in Christmas week and there were some important wins for the teams at the top of the table. In this matchday recap podcast, host Euan McTear (@emctear) speaks to SB Nation’s Jeremy Beren (@JBBeren) and Kiyan Sobhani (@KiyanSo) about Atlético Madrid and Real Madrid respectively. They’ll share top spot of the table over Christmas.

There’s also a look at the drama of Elche vs Osasuna with Sam Leveridge (@samleveridge), discussion of Barcelona’s new back three system with Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee) and Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) answers Lavogez’s (@captainkoke) listener question at the end of the show.

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Matchday 14 recap: The one when Valencia prove a point to Koeman Dec 21, 2020

It was the Ronald Koeman derby this weekend as his Barcelona side drew 2-2 against his former club Valencia. We start this week’s episode by discussing that match with Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG), before Alex Brotherton (@alex_brotherton) looks back on Atlético Madrid’s win over Elche and the best commentary clips from that game.

In part two of the podcast, host Euan McTear (@emctear) outlines Real Sociedad’s injury crisis, Hasan Karim (@TheHasKarim) reflects on the very entertaining Eibar vs Real Madrid match, Beñat Gutiérrez (@beinatguti) provides an update on Athletic Club’s stuttering start to the season and Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee) answers this week’s listener question, from Rovshan (@rovitaghiyev).

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Matchday 13 recap: The one when Huesca got a win and when Real Madrid won the derby Dec 14, 2020

In our Matchday 13 recap pod, we start by praising Huesca and Javi Ontiveros after their first win, before host Euan McTear (@emctear) discusses the Madrid derby and Real Madrid's victory with Emily Wilson (@wilson_emt).

Also in this week's episode, there's a discussion with Dom Tancock (@dorsetdom1905) about Getafe's recent woes, there's Román de Arquer's (@Aeroslavee) views on Barcelona's latest victory and there's Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) on the goal fest that was Real Valladolid vs Osasuna. Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) joins in too, answering a question from loyal listener Oscar (@footiewhisperer).

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Matchday 12 recap: The one with Celta Vigo’s annual new manager bounce Dec 07, 2020

We start this week’s episode by analysing new Celta Vigo coach Eduardo 'Chacho' Coudet’s first three matches in charge of the club, with Ian Morris (@CeltaUSA) explaining why he believes this might be something more than the club’s annual new manager bounce.

There’s also discussion of Barcelona and Real Madrid’s very different trips to Andalusia, with Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee) looking at Barça’s defeat at Cádiz and Hasan Karim (@TheHasKarim) discussing Real Madrid’s win at Sevilla. Ruairidh Barlow (@RuriBarlow) also looks at the best commentary clips from Levante vs Getafe, while the episode is hosted by Euan McTear (@emctear).

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Matchday 11 recap: The one when Messi scored for Maradona Nov 30, 2020

This Matchday 11 recap episode looks back over the weekend in which LaLiga said goodbye to Diego Maradona. At Barcelona, Leo Messi did so in his own special way and host Euan McTear (@emctear) and Barça correspondent Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee) start this week’s episode by discussing that touching moment.

We also hear from Jeremy Beren (@JBBeren) on Atlético Madrid’s new tactics and their title chances, from Hasan Karim (@TheHasKarim) on Real Madrid’s latest sleepy performance, from Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) on Levante’s struggles and from Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) on Sevilla’s late winner in Huesca.

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Matchday 10 recap: The one with Simeone’s first ever LaLiga win over Barcelona Nov 23, 2020

Atlético Madrid achieved a statement win over Barcelona this weekend, the first ever time Diego Simeone has won a LaLiga game against Barça as a coach. That's the main topic of discussion in this week's episode, with Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee) offering his opinions to host Euan McTear (@emctear). We hear Ronald Koeman and Diego Simeone's thoughts on the game too.

Then, Alan Feehely (@azulfeehely) recaps the drama of Sevilla vs Celta Vigo and Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) looks back on the game of two halves that was Villarreal vs Real Madrid. We round up the other results and also hear from Ignasi Torné (@groundhopperbcn) as he tells us about his interesting trip to see the Basque selection face Costa Rica at Ipurua.

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Matchday 9 recap: The one when Granada only had seven players Nov 09, 2020

In this week’s episode, our lead story is the Real Sociedad vs Granada match, with the latter only having seven first-team players available due to a COVID-19 outbreak. Granada fan Heath Chesters (@HeathGCF) laments the fact that it wasn’t called off. Real Sociedad supporter Phil Ball (@PhilBallTweets) then agrees that it shouldn’t have taken place, before explaining what has made Real Sociedad so strong in general this season.

We also hear from Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) about Valencia’s win over Real Madrid and from Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee) to discuss Barcelona’s win against Real Betis. Martin Devlin (@MartiRVCF) breathes a sigh of relief on the pod as Real Valladolid get their first win and Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) talks through the best commentary clips from Atlético Madrid’s victory over Cádiz. As usual, it’s all hosted by Euan McTear (@emctear).

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Matchday 8 recap: The one where Hazard makes his comeback Nov 02, 2020

Eden Hazard is back and he marked his return with a wonder goal in Real Madrid's 4-1 win over Huesca in Matchday 8. Hasan Karim (@TheHasKarim) joins host Euan McTear (@emctear) at the start of this week's episode to discuss that Real Madrid victory, while we also hear what Hazard himself had to say in his post-match interview. Then, we have Román de Arquer's (@Aeroslavee) thoughts on Barcelona's draw at Alavés and he explains why he's not overly concerned.

Also in this week's episode, we hear from Ian Morris (@CeltaUSA), who offers his thoughts on what's going wrong at Celta Vigo and who explains what's going on with the club captaincy. Alan Feehely (@azulfeehely) brings the best commentary clips from Athletic Club's come-from-behind win over Sevilla. And Juan Osorio of the Cádiz-based Eibar supporters group De Euskadi Kadi (@DeEuskadiKadi) explains the origins of these two teams' unique friendship.

All that and more makes up this week's matchday recap.

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Matchday 7 recap: The one with Ramos and Real Madrid's Clásico joy Oct 26, 2020

El Clásico was the blockbuster fixture of Matchday Seven and this week's episode starts by discussing Real Madrid's 3-1 victory over Barcelona, with Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) taking us through the action and the best commentary clips, before Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee) and host Euan McTear (@emctear) break down the key details of the game. That includes the Ramos penalty incident, Griezmann's benching, Koeman's passiveness and much more.

There was more than just El Clásico, though, this weekend. It was Osasuna's centenary and they celebrated it with a win, so fan and journalist Ignasi Torné (@groundhopperbcn) explains why this was such a special occasion for the club. We also hear from Gregor Chappelle (@gregorchappelle) to break down Sevilla's mini winless run and Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) joins the podcast to discuss how good Elche are... and how bad Valencia are.

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Matchday 6 recap: The one where Cádiz and Getafe kill giants Oct 19, 2020

Cádiz and Getafe each earned 1-0 victories on the Saturday of LaLiga's Matchday Six, defeating Real Madrid and Barcelona respectively, and we start the podcast by discussing these two giant-killing victories. Alex Brotherton (@alex_brotherton) explains what this win means to Cádiz, to the club and the city. Then Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee) explains what Getafe did to frustrate Barcelona.

Host Euan McTear (@emctear) is also joined by Heath Chesters (@HeathGCF) to discuss how great Granada are, while Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) reflects on what happened in Villarreal vs Valencia as Dani Parejo came back to haunt his former side. Plus, Sam Leveridge (@samleveridge) picks out the best pieces of commentary from a wild Huesca vs Real Valladolid match.

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Matchday 5 recap: The one when Atlético had zero shots on target at home Oct 05, 2020

In this episode of La Liga Lowdown, we start by trying to work out what went wrong for Atlético Madrid, who went from scoring six in one game to failing to register a shot on target. Jeremy Beren (@JBBeren) of @intothecalderon joins host Euan McTear (@emctear) for that discussion on all things Atleti.

We also hear from Gregor Chapelle (@gregorchappelle) on Barcelona vs Sevilla and Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) on Levante vs Real Madrid. Sam Leveridge (@samleveridge) breaks down the drama of Real Valladolid vs Eibar and, finally, Alavés fan Rob Hextall (@robhextall) explains just how much relief there is around the club after their first win of the season.

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Matchday 4 recap: The one where Elche get revenge Oct 02, 2020

We’ve just had the first midweek round of the 2020/21 LaLiga season, so here comes our first midweek matchday recap. We start by discussing Elche's win over Eibar and hear about Eibar’s problems from Basque journalist Beñat Gutiérrez (@beinatguti).

There’s also praise for league leaders Getafe, with Geta fan Dom Tancock (@dorsetdom1905) joining the pod to explain what they’re doing so well. Barcelona fan Román de Arquer (@Aeroslave) does likewise, expressing his surprise at the Catalan side's perfect start to the campaign.

There’s also a happier Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG), after Valencia pulled off a shock win at Real Sociedad, their first away win of 2020. Plus, host Euan McTear (@emctear) reflects on Real Madrid and the Benzema-Jović partnership and marvels at nine-man Cádiz’s impressive win in Bilbao. Finally, Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) rounds up the eccentric commentary from Movistar and Cadena Cope that added atmosphere to a fun Villarreal-Alavés clash.

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Matchday 3 recap: The one where Suárez and Barcelona both win the divorce Sep 28, 2020

The big story this week in Spanish football is Luis Suárez’s transfer from Barcelona to Atlético Madrid. Both sides had huge wins in this weekend’s matchday, so both parties will feel they’ve won this divorce. At least so far...

Barcelona-based Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee) and host Euan McTear (@emctear) get stuck into Barça and Atleti’s wins, especially the great performance of Ansu Fati. There’s also a discussion of Real Madrid’s dramatic victory over Real Betis with Hasan Karim (@TheHasKarim).

Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) explains just how much Valencia fans are starting to get worried, while Elche fan Neil Parsons (@NEIL1PAR) reflects on his side’s first game back in the top tier since 2015. There’s all that and much more, including Sam Leveridge’s (@samleveridge) discussion of the best commentary clips of the weekend.

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Matchday 2 recap: The one where Ødegaard went back to Real Sociedad Sep 21, 2020

Matchday two of the 2020/21 LaLiga season saw Real Madrid back in action and saw Martin Ødegaard travel back to the Reale Arena. He was on loan there with Real Sociedad last season and then, in his first game back with Real Madrid, he took on the Basque club. The match finished goalless and this week’s episode starts off with host Euan McTear (@emctear) looking at the ins and outs of the result with Emily Wilson (@wilson_emt).

There’s also a discussion of what Manuel Pellegrini is doing right at Real Betis with David Whitworth (@DCWh1tw0rth) and of Iago Aspas’ latest moment of brilliance with Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee). Plus, we look back at Granada’s perfect week and Alberto Cifuentes’ unique debut.

Then, this episode finishes with a discussion with Barcelona member Michał Gajdek (@michalgajdek), who travelled all the way from Poland to Barcelona to put his signature to the motion of no confidence brought against Bartomeu. He explains his reasons for making that journey and what the motion of no confidence is all about.

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Matchday 1 recap: The one where crisis club Valencia won the derby to go top Sep 14, 2020

The 2020/21 LaLiga Santander season has started! So, here comes La Liga Lowdown's matchday one recap, where the main story is Valencia. Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) is on hand to explain the club's latest crisis and how they somehow finished matchday one top of the table.

Host Euan McTear (@emctear) also speaks to Beñat Gutiérrez (@beinatguti) about Athletic Club's difficult pre-season and opening weekend loss to Granada and he speaks to Allen Dodson (@groguet01) of @VillarrealUSA about the hype surrounding Villarreal and their struggles as they drew with Huesca. Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) takes a look at Real Betis' dramatic late win over Alavés and the crazy commentary that came with it.

There's all that and even more along the way in this recap of the opening weekend.

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2020/21 LaLiga Season Preview - Part 2: European qualification and the relegation battle Sep 10, 2020

We're back with the second of our two La Liga Lowdown preview podcasts, ahead of the start of the 2020/21 campaign. After preview podcast one looked at the title race, this time host Euan McTear (@emctear) is joined by Matt Clark (@MattClark_08), Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) and Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee) to discuss the fight to qualify for Europe and the relegation battle.

How good will this new-look Villarreal be? How bad will Valencia be after their exodus? Do Elche have time to put a strong squad together? Could this be the year that Eibar go down? And, can Granada do it again and cope with midweek football?

These are just some of the questions discussed in this episode, where we're also joined by David Whitworth (@DCWh1tw0rth) for a quick Real Betis update.

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2020/21 LaLiga Season Preview - Part 1: The title race Sep 07, 2020

A brand new LaLiga Santander season is just around the corner, with the first match to kick off on Friday, September 11th. It's time, then, to look ahead to the new campaign and that's what Euan McTear (@emctear), Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG), Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee) and Gregor Chappelle (@gregorchappelle) do in this episode, the first of two preview shows being released by La Liga Lowdown this week.

In this one, the focus is on the title race and the first question is: Will there even be a real title race or will Real Madrid run away with it? The panel discuss how good Real Madrid look and how severe the problems at Barcelona really are. Then there's a look at Atlético Madrid and Sevilla and their chances of finishing top of the standings.

The panelists share stats, anecdotes and stories about each of the title challengers, before making their predictions for the order of this season's top four.

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Messi is staying at Barcelona: What does it all mean? Sep 05, 2020

Here comes a special La Liga Lowdown podcast in the hours after the news on Friday night that Lionel Messi is staying at Barcelona. The transfer saga has ended, but there’s so much to discuss.

In this episode, host Euan McTear (@emctear) is joined by Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee) and Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) to reflect on the winners and losers of the saga, on what Barcelona’s attack will look like in 2020/21, on how competitive they’ll be this campaign, on Bartomeu’s legacy and on the chances of Messi staying beyond the end of his contract next summer.

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The Story Of Sevilla's Sixth Europa League Aug 25, 2020

Sevilla are Europa League champions once again, for a sixth time. In this episode, we look back at their 2019/20 campaign and at how they managed to win this tournament yet again.

Gregor Chappelle (@gregorchappelle) looks back to the group stages and to the Round of 32, when Sevilla almost went out to Cluj. Then Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) charts the team’s progress through the Round of 16, the quarter-finals and the semi-finals. Host Euan McTear (@emctear) then catches up with Archie Rhind-Tutt (@archiert1) to discuss the victory over Inter Milan in the final, which Archie attended in Cologne.

In part two, we hear what Sevilla’s goalscoring hero Luuk de Jong had to say to BT Sport straight after the final and we also discuss Éver Banega’s impact with Peter Coates (@Pedro_Coates) of the @GolazoArgentino website. There's also some insight on what makes Monchi tick from Leeds United director of football Víctor Orta. And, finally, we hear just what it means to the fans by speaking to Chris Lail (@ChrisLail) of the @MonchisMen supporters’ group.

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LLL Live! Season Review - Audio Version Jul 22, 2020

The 2019/20 season has been completed, so it's time to review the campaign as a whole. We held an LLL Live show just after the season ended, with host Euan McTear (@emctear) joined by Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG), Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee) and Hasan Karim (@TheHasKarim).

The entire show is available right here in audio-only format, or the full video version can still be viewed on our @LaLigaLowdown Twitter feed. Enjoy!

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Matchday 38 recap: EuroGranada and unlucky Leganés Jul 20, 2020

In our final matchday recap of the 2019/20 LaLiga season, we start by hearing from Granada fan Heath Chesters (@HeathGCF), who shared his reaction just moments after his team qualified for Europe for the first time ever. Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) then breaks down the entire Europa League race and Valencia’s failure to qualify.

Host Euan McTear (@emctear) then explains the drama of the relegation battle, as Celta Vigo stayed up and as Leganés went down. We also hear from Alex Fitzpatrick (@Mallorcalex100) about Real Mallorca’s relegation and their hopes for the future.

In part two, Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee) discusses Barcelona’s five-goal win at Alavés and Allen Dodson (@groguet01) reflects on the emotional goodbyes at Villarreal as Bruno Soriano, Santi Cazorla and maybe Javi Calleja bid farewell.

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Matchday 37 recap: Real Madrid are the champions Jul 17, 2020

Real Madrid are champions of Spain, so that’s where we begin this recap of the 37th matchday of the 2019/20 LaLiga Santander season. We have on-the-whistle reactions from Real Madrid fans Emily Wilson (@wilson_emt), Hasan Karim (@TheHasKarim) and Kristofer McCormack (@k_mc06). Then, host Euan McTear (@emctear) and Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee) dissecting the title race in general, focusing on Real Madrid’s 2-1 win over Villarreal and Barcelona’s 2-1 loss to Osasuna.

Then, Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) discusses the race for the final Europa League spots. And Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Sam Leveridge (@samleveridge) explain what’s going on in the relegation battle, looking at Celta Vigo and Leganés respectively. One of those teams must go down, so we have an exciting matchday 38 in store. For now, this episode is your opportunity to reflect on all the storylines of matchday 37.

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Matchday 36 recap: So tense that Ocampos can't bear to look Jul 14, 2020

It’s getting tense in LaLiga, so tense that Lucas Ocampos couldn’t even bear to watch as he took a no-look penalty...

In this recap episode, we start by discussing the title race as host Euan McTear (@emctear) speaks to Hasan Karim (@TheHasKarim) about Real Madrid’s latest win and to Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee) about Barcelona’s latest victory.

We also discuss Ocampos and Sevilla with Alex Brotherton (@alex_brotherton), Atlético Madrid’s eighth straight Champions League qualification with Jeremy Beren (@JBBeren) and Osasuna with @The_Osasuna_Fan. There’s also some reflection on Cádiz’s promotion, on the situation in the relegation battle and on the sheer number of penalties we’ve seen in LaLiga this season.

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Matchday 35 recap: Espanyol's worst nightmare Jul 11, 2020

In Matchday 35, we had our first confirmed relegation casualty as Espanyol were sent down to the second division for the first time in 27 years. Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee) discusses the fallout of that, as they went down with a defeat at the home of their arch rivals Barcelona.That Barça win keeps them in the title race, but Real Madrid did win again too and host Euan McTear (@emctear) looks back at their victory over Alavés with Kiyan Sobhani (@KiyanSo).

In part two of the podcast, Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) provides the lowdown on Adrià Guerrero and Víctor García, two players who he knows well and who made their debuts this week. Plus, Alex Fitzpatrick (@Mallorcalex100) discusses the excitement brewing on the island of Mallorca as they kept their survival hopes alive. Beñat Gutiérrez (@beinatguti) reflects on the importance of Raúl García for Athletic and Dom Tancock (@dorsetdom1905) offers some explanations for Getafe’s stuttering form since the restart.

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Matchday 34 recap: Yet another coaching casualty Jul 06, 2020

There has been yet another managerial sacking in LaLiga, this time with Alavés firing Asier Garitano as they nervously look over their shoulders at the relegation zone. We discuss that decision with Alavés fan Rob Hextall (@robhextall) in this episode, before Brendy Boyle (@BrendyBoyle) wonders whether Garitano might be ready to now return to Leganés as he looks at the Pepineros’ long-term project.

We also reflect on the latest chapter of the title race, with Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee) discussing Barcelona’s big win at Villarreal and Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) analysing Real Madrid’s three-point haul in Bilbao. There’s also lots of praise for the achievements of Real Valladolid and Granada with Martin Devlin (@MartiRVCF) and Heath Chesters (@HeathGCF ) respectively. As usual, the episode is hosted by Euan McTear (@emctear).

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Matchday 33 recap: Griezmann goes missing… and Aguirre’s sandwich too Jul 03, 2020

Real Madrid have moved even further ahead thanks to their win over Getafe this week and thanks to Barcelona’s draw with Atlético Madrid. Hasan Karim (@TheHasKarim) discusses the Real Madrid victory, while Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee) analyses all the talking points of Barça and Atleti’s draw. And there were many of them.

Valencia fan Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) and Real Betis fan David Whitworth (@DCWh1tw0rth) are both brave enough to face the music and to tell the details of their clubs’ respective crises. Real Mallorca fan Alex Fitzpatrick (@Mallorcalex100), meanwhile, is full of hope as his side earned a huge win in their relegation battle. And host Euan McTear (@emctear) wonders where Leganés coach’s Javier Aguirre’s sandwich went and whether there might actually be more pressing matters at Butarque than that.

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Matchday 32 recap: Benzema’s backheel, Celades’ future and MGMT Jun 29, 2020

Real Madrid have extended their lead in LaLiga, opening up a two-point gap over Barcelona. We discuss their win over Espanyol and Karim Benzema’s sublime assist with Espanyol fan Geoff Gillingham (@GeoffGillingham), who also explains what went on with the Abelardo-for-Rufete decision.

We also discuss Barcelona’s 2-2 draw at Celta Vigo with Ian Morris of the Celta USA (@CeltaUSA) account on Twitter, Sevilla’s poor form with Gregor Chappelle (@gregorchappelle) and Albert Celades’ Valencia future with Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG). Plus, host Euan McTear (@emctear) tries speaking some Basque to celebrate Eibar virtually confirming their survival.

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Matchday 31 recap: 1,128 days later… Bruno’s horror movie ends Jun 26, 2020

As the world of Spanish football celebrates Bruno Soriano’s return after 1,128 days out with injury, we lead with that heart-warming story in this episode. Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) explains just what the Villarreal midfielder went through as he fought to return to the pitch.

Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee), meanwhile, focuses on the title race and Barcelona and Real Madrid’s respective midweek wins. We also hear from David Whitworth (@DCWh1tw0rth) on Betis’ first game with Alexis Trujillo in charge, from Alex Fitzpatrick (@Mallorcalex100) on Real Mallorca’s 15-year-old Luka Romero, from Javier Martín (@kikomartin) on Leganés’ bad luck and from Nic from Atlético Fans (@AtleticoFans) on his team’s impressive restart. There’s even more too, with it all hosted by Euan McTear (@emctear).

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Matchday 30 recap: Rubi gets fired, Piqué gets fired up and Benzema fires Real Madrid top Jun 22, 2020

In this Monday’s recap of matchday 30, we start off by discussing Real Betis’ decision to sack Rubi with Verdiblanco fan and LLL squad member Andrew Miller (@AndrewMillerNBA). Of course, there’s also a lot of focus on the title race as Real Madrid moved ahead of Barcelona. Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee) discusses Barça’s draw with Sevilla and Gerard Piqué's post-match comments, while Zach Lowy (@ZachLowy) of Breaking The Lines (@btlvid) breaks down Real Madrid’s win at Real Sociedad.

We also hear from Mallorca-based Alex Fitzpatrick (@Mallorcalex100) about the big relegation six-pointer between Real Mallorca and Leganés that ended with two points being shared thanks to Óscar’s latest wonder freekick.

We also hear from Sam Leveridge (@samleveridge) about Getafe and Atlético Madrid, while host Euan McTear (@emctear) reflects on Celta Vigo’s huge 6-0 victory over Alavés.

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Matchday 29 recap: Asensio’s comeback, Cazorla’s tiredness and Nolito’s weird transfer Jun 19, 2020

The games are coming thick and fast, so there’s plenty to discuss as we recap matchday 29, the midweek round that ran from Monday to Thursday. Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) discusses Real Madrid’s win over Valencia, where Marco Asensio made a super comeback, while Paco also reflects on Levante’s most recent late heroics.

Barcelona won too and Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee) discusses their so-so performance. Villarreal also have two wins from two and Allen Dodson (@groguet01) reflects on their two victories, on Santi Cazorla’s tiredness and on the club’s cardboard fans. There’s also a discussion with Dan Parry (@DanParry_), looking at the physical Eibar-Athletic Basque derby.

It’s all hosted by Euan McTear (@emctear), who also explains how Nolito is signing for Celta Vigo to replace their backup goalkeeper...

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Matchday 28 recap: LaLiga is back! Jun 15, 2020

LaLiga is back! Matchday 28 was finally played, as Spanish football returned following the coronavirus pause in action. In this episode, host Euan McTear (@emctear) and various contributors from across Spain analyse the first weekend of live football in three months.

The weekend started off with a couple of derbies, so the podcast does too as Gregor Chappelle (@gregorchappelle) discusses Sevilla vs Real Betis and Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) reflects on the madness of Valencia vs Levante. Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee) explains how bottom-side Espanyol were able to win thanks, literally, to a helping hand.

Then, looking at the two big matches in the title race, Alex Fitzpatrick (@Mallorcalex100) discusses Real Mallorca vs Barcelona and Sophia Villegas, a.k.a. Global Madridista (@gmadridista23), shares her thoughts on Real Madrid vs Eibar.

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Euan, Paco and Román’s socially distant round table: It’s another preview ahead of LaLiga’s restart Jun 08, 2020

With LaLiga returning on Thursday, June 11th, we’ve got another La Liga Lowdown season (re)preview episode for you. Following on from our fan voices preview pod, where we spoke to one fan from each of the 20 teams, this time Euan McTear (@emctear), Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) and Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee) have a more detailed discussion about the main topics in Spanish football right now.

With the trio chatting from Madrid, Valencia and Barcelona respectively, this was a socially distant round table that covered the new circumstances of Spanish football, the very tight title race between Barcelona and Real Madrid, the fight for European qualification, the relegation battle, the best coaches of the season so far, some bold predictions and more.

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The supporter views on LaLiga's return: One fan for each of the 20 teams Jun 05, 2020

LaLiga football is almost back. It returns on June 11th and, a week before the resumption of the 2019/20 season, we’ve put together this La Liga Lowdown episode where we’ve spoke to a fan from each of the 20 teams of Spain’s top division.

Host Euan McTear (@emctear) asked each one the same question: How has your team’s season been so far and what are your hopes and expectations for the final 11 matches? So, tune in and hear the fan voices to get ready for the final 11 rounds of the 2019/20 LaLiga campaign.

The contributors were as follows:

Espanyol: Geoff Gillingham (@GeoffGillingham)

Leganés: Antía André (@Antiaandre)

Real Mallorca: Alex Fitzpatrick (@Mallorcalex100)

Celta Vigo: Ian Morris (@CeltaUSA)

Eibar: Jonathan Fritsch (@Fritschard)

Real Valladolid: Martin Devlin (@MartiRVCF)

Alavés: Rob Hextall (@robhextall)

Levante: Pal Ødegård (@paalpot75)

Betis: David Whitworth (@DCWh1tw0rth)

Osasuna: Ignasi Torné (@groundhopperbcn)

Athletic Club: Dan Parry (@DanParry_)

Granada: Heath Chesters (@HeathGCF)

Villarreal: Allen Dodson (@groguet01)

Valencia: Astorre Cerebronè‏ (@Cerebrone)

Atlético Madrid: Jeremy Beren (@JBBeren)

Getafe: Fran Iborra (@FranIborra16)

Real Sociedad: Phil Ball (@PhilBallTweets)

Sevilla: Chris Lail (@ChrisLail)

Real Madrid: Maria Garcia-Mella Cid (@tildegm)

Barcelona: Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee)

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The Most Dramatic Relegation Battles In LaLiga History May 29, 2020

In this episode, the La Liga Lowdown pod squad look at the five most dramatic LaLiga relegation battles of all time, as voted for by listeners. Host Euan McTear (@emctear) leads the countdown, looking at exciting last-day-of-the-season tales.

There are contributions from Alex Fitzpatrick (@Mallorcalex100), Panos Kostopoulos (@Panos88K), Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG), Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee), with each one telling a dramatic relegation story. The time period discussed in this podcast spans 33 years and goes from Galicia all the way to Mallorca. Tune in to find out about LaLiga’s most epic relegation battles ever.

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When Real Valladolid Were Champions May 21, 2020

Once upon a time, Real Valladolid were champions. In this episode of La Liga Lowdown, we look back on the time when the White and Violets won the 1984 Copa de la Liga. It’s an interesting tournament that only lasted four years, but Real Valladolid were one of the teams to win it and Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) explains how.

In this podcast, hosted by Euan McTear (@emctear), we also hear from Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee) on Real Valladolid’s beginnings, from Sam Leveridge (@samleveridge) on their post-Copa de la Liga trips to Europe, from Martin Devlin (@MartiRVCF) on the legacy of this success and from Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) on what the future holds now that Ronaldo is in charge at the José Zorrilla.

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LaLiga's Top 10 British & Irish Imports May 14, 2020

In this week's episode, we have a countdown of the top 10 British and Irish players to have played in LaLiga. We asked our listeners and followers to vote in a poll and we reveal the results in this episode, counting down the top 10.

Star players like David Beckham and Gareth Bale feature, as do some from several decades ago such as Laurie Cunningham or John Aldridge. To tell the stories of these top 10 players, we have contributions from Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee), Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG), Hasan Karim (@TheHasKarim), Dan Parry (@DanParry_), Gregor Chappelle (@gregorchappelle), Matt Clark (@MattClark_08), Alex Brotherton (@alex_brotherton) and Sam Leveridge (@samleveridge), while this episode is hosted by Euan McTear (@emctear).

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The Coaches of the Future May 08, 2020

In this episode of La Liga Lowdown, we look at five up-and-coming coaches. The coaches of the future. We held a poll for listeners and followers to pick five former LaLiga players who are currently taking their first steps into the world of coaching and, in this episode, we discuss how they’ve been transitioning to the dugout and what kind of coaches they could become.

It’s hosted by Euan McTear (@emctear), with five different contributors to discuss the five coaches picked. Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) talks about Diego Forlán and his new role at Peñarol in Uruguay. Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) tells us about Guti, or José María Gutiérrez as he now likes to be called. Sam Leveridge (@samleveridge) reports on Raúl and his rise through Real Madrid’s academy. Dan Parry (@DanParry_) reflects Xabi Alonso’s return to Real Sociedad’s academy. And Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee) tells us all about Xavi Hernandez’s coaching philosophy.

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Juan Román Riquelme: The Story Of The No.10 May 01, 2020

In this episode, we take a look back at one of the most fascinating players in the history of the game – Juan Román Riquelme.

We start off with his first steps and his first period in Argentine football, with Andrew Miller (@AndrewMillerNBA) telling this genesis chapter. Next, we hear from Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee) about Riquelme’s sole season at Barcelona in 2002/03. Then, Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) reflects on the Argentine’s time with Villarreal.

In part two of the podcast, we look over his international career with Matt Clark (@MattClark_08). Next, we hear from Daniel Williamson (@winkveron), the author of Blue and Gold Passion, a book about Boca Juniors, about Riquelme’s second stint with the Buenos Aires club.

Finally, host Euan McTear interviews commentator Ray Hudson (@RayHudson), who may just be Riquelme’s number one fan.

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David Beckham: The Real Madrid Years Apr 23, 2020

In this episode, we look back on David Beckham's four seasons with Real Madrid between 2003 and 2007. Host Euan McTear (@emctear) starts the podcast off by explaining how Beckham ended up signing for Real Madrid even after an agreement had been announced with Barcelona.

Then Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee) tells the story of Beckham's first couple of seasons at the Bernabéu and Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) goes on to detail the Englishman's final two years in the Spanish capital. Sam Leveridge (@samleveridge) then tells the story of Beckham's post-Real Madrid career, while we also hear clips from Beckham himself on his time at Real Madrid.

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Wounded Giant: The Real Zaragoza Story Apr 09, 2020

In this episode, we tell the Real Zaragoza story. The club from the fifth most populous city in Spain is a historic one and there is so much success to look back on.

Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) recalls their first few titles, before Dan Parry (@DanParry_) tells the incredible story of their European Cup Winners’ Cup triumph of 1995. We also hear match-winner’s Nayim’s take on his famous goal. Then Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee) explains how Real Zaragoza started the 21st century in style. But they then fell down into the second tier and Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) tells the story of the club’s fall.

Hosted by Euan McTear (@emctear), this podcast finishes on a positive note as we predict a brighter future for a Real Zaragoza team that was on course for promotion before the coronavirus crisis. If they make it back up, LaLiga will be welcoming back a classic Spanish football side.

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Samuel Eto'o: Mr Treble Apr 02, 2020

In this podcast, we tell the Samuel Eto'o story, starting off with Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) discussing his beginnings in Cameroon and his move to Real Madrid. We also hear from Alex Fitzpatrick (@Mallorcalex100) about his time at and Copa del Rey win with Real Mallorca and from Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee) about all his success at Barcelona and his first treble.

In part two of the podcast, Serie A expert Conor Clancy (@ConJClancy) reflects on Eto'o's second treble, earned at Inter Milan just one year after he won three major trophies at the Camp Nou. We also hear about his final steps in club football from Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and about his international career from Sam Leveridge (@samleveridge).

It's all hosted by Euan McTear (@emctear) and also features commentary clips from some of the forward's most epic moments, as well as the catchy club anthems from the main teams he played for.

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Diego Forlán: The two-time Pichichi winner Mar 27, 2020

This episode of La Liga Lowdown is all about Diego Forlán, the Uruguayan striker who won the Pichichi award for the Spanish top division’s top scorer twice. He did so once with Villarreal and we hear from Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) about his time in yellow, while he repeated the trick with Atlético Madrid and we hear from Sam Leveridge (@samleveridge) about his success in the Spanish capital.

In this podcast, which is hosted by Euan McTear (@emctear), we also hear from Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) about his beginnings, we hear from Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee) about the exotic leagues where he finished his career and we hear from David Kraakman of the Warriors of Uruguay Twitter account (@UruguayanHeroes) about his national team success.

There are also some comments from the man himself from an interview Forlán gave to beIN Sports, as well as historic commentary clips from the most epic moments of his career.

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La Cartuja: Spain's Forgotten Stadium Mar 19, 2020

The next four Copa del Rey finals will be held at the Estadio De La Cartuja in Seville, a stadium that is often forgotten. Built in 1999, it has hosted a number of events but has never truly felt like any team or any sport's home.

In this episode, hosted by Euan McTear (@emctear), we look at the story of this stadium, starting with Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee) reflecting on its beginnings. Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) goes on to discuss the wild dream of Sevilla and Real Betis groundsharing the stadium, which never came to fruition. Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) looks back on some of the biggest events and moments to have taken place at the ground. And Gregor Chappelle (@gregorchappelle) explains what the locals in Seville think of it.

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The lowdown on Spanish football and the Coronavirus Mar 15, 2020

There was no football to recap this weekend, with Spain and the world of Spanish football hit hard by the Coronavirus this past week. Topics that seemed so important just a few days ago suddenly faded into the background.

While we’re not medical experts, we did want to bring you the lowdown from Spain. So, in this special episode, host Euan McTear (@emctear) is joined by Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee) and by Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) to lay out a timeline of the Coronavirus impacting Spanish football, to discuss the games and leagues that have been postponed, to reflect on the way it has brought people together on their balconies and to ask the big question: Who out of Román or Paco has the most rolls of toilet paper stored away?

We hope you’ll join us to reflect on one of the most unique and strangest weeks in the history of Spanish football.

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Matchday 27 recap: You can't bet on Betis! Mar 09, 2020

Real Betis hadn't won any of their previous seven matches... so of course they went out and defeated the league leaders Real Madrid. In this episode we discuss Real Betis and their unpredictability with Radio Betis' David Whitworth (@DCWh1tw0rth). That result means Barcelona are leaders again and we analyse their win over Real Sociedad with Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee).

There's also a recap of Atlético Madrid and Sevilla's unusual draw with Sam Leveridge (@samleveridge), a moment of relief from Mallorca-based Alex Fitzpatrick (@Mallorcalex100) after the islanders got their first away win, a look at Valencia's latest disappointing away result with Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) and some all-Basque Copa del Rey final chat with Dan Parry (@DanParry_).

It's all hosted by Euan McTear (@emctear), along with some commentary clips from Cadena Cope.

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The Butcher of Bilbao Story Mar 05, 2020

One of the most shocking stories in the history of Spanish football is the Butcher of Bilbao story. This was the nickname that was given to Athletic Club defender Andoni Goikoetxea, who broke Diego Maradona's leg, snapping it like a piece of wood as the Argentine would later describe it.

This wasn't the only incident to this story, though. As Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee) explains in this podcast, there was a brewing rivalry between Athletic Club and Barcelona at that time. Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) then details the many incidents that took place in matches between these teams between 1981 and 1984.

In part two of this podcast, Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) explains what happened to Maradona next and Dan Parry (@DanParry_) reflects on Goikoetxea's legacy. And it's all hosted by Euan McTear (@emctear).

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Matchday 26 recap: ZZ goes top on Clásico weekend Mar 02, 2020

Here's La Liga Lowdown's matchday recap after Clásico weekend. Zinedine Zidane was bold and his Real Madrid team beat Barcelona 2-0 to go back to the top of the LaLiga table. We discuss the match in depth in part one of this podcast, as host Euan McTear (@emctear) speaks to Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee).

Also coming up in this podcast, Alex Fitzpatrick (@Mallorcalex100) provides the lowdown on Getafe's latest win, as they took the three points in Mallorca. Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) reflects on Valencia's victory over Real Betis and on what's going wrong for the Andalusian side this season. And Heath Chesters (@HeathGCF) provides a sense of the mood at Granada ahead of their big Copa del Rey week, while Dan Parry (@DanParry_) does the same for Athletic Club and Real Sociedad.

There's all that and more, plus commentary clips from Cadena Cope and LaLiga TV.

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Matchday 25 recap: Break a Lega Feb 24, 2020

To start off this matchday recap, we discuss the Martin Braithwaite saga and all the ramifications of it. With Javier Martín (@kikomartin), we discuss how the striker's move to Barcelona has hurt Leganés and how Lega fell to a disappointing 1-0 defeat to 10-man Celta Vigo at the weekend. With Sam Leveridge (@samleveridge), we then discuss Braithwaite's Barcelona debut and Messi's master class in Barça's 5-0 win over Eibar.

We also hear from Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG), who was in the stadium as Levante defeated Real Madrid on Saturday. We hear from Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee), who analyses Espanyol's struggles over the past week. And we have a match report on the Alavés vs Athletic derby from Dan Parry (@DanParry_).

All hosted by Euan McTear (@emctear) and featuring commentary from Cadena Cope, this is your recap of the 25th round of the 2019/20 LaLiga season.

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Golden: How Spain triumphed at the 1992 Olympic Games Feb 20, 2020

In this episode, we take a look back to 1992, when the Olympic Games came to Barcelona and Spain. The Spanish squad won the football tournament, the only time they've claimed gold at the Olympics.

We hear from Matt Clark (@MattClark_08), who picks out the most interesting names from the squad. We hear from Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG), who explains how Spain reached the final and how they did so in Valencia. Euan McTear looks back on the final, along with some wild commentary. And we hear from Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee), who reflects on the legacy of those Olympics.

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Matchday 24 recap: Celta spoil Hazard's return Feb 17, 2020

We start off this week's matchday recap with host Euan McTear (@emctear) discussing what he saw at the Bernabéu as Real Madrid were held to a 2-2 with Celta Vigo, complete with post-match comments from the back-from-injury Eden Hazard. The other team in the title race is Barcelona and they got the better of Getafe, winning 2-1. Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee) is on hand to analyse that one.

There's also a look at the relegation battle and Real Mallorca's crucial win with Alex Fitzpatrick (@Mallorcalex100), there's discussion of the Valencia vs Atlético Madrid draw with Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG), there's a chat about Athletic Club's struggles in the league with Dan Parry (@DanParry_) and there's a match report from Gregor Chappelle (@gregorchappelle) as he tells us what he saw as Sevilla drew with Espanyol.

That's what we've got in this episode, complete with some audio goodness from Cadena Cope and Movistar.

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Matchday 23 recap: Basque-ing in glory Feb 10, 2020

Did we have a preview of the 2020 Copa del Rey final in matchday 23? Maybe... Whether it ends up being repeated in the Copa del Rey final or not, we analyse Real Sociedad vs Athletic Club with Dan Parry (@DanParry_) to start off this week's recap podcast, while host Euan McTear (@emctear) looks at the weekend's other Basque derby between Alavés and Eibar, where he saw Scotsman Oliver Burke score the winning goal.

We also look at Real Madrid's comeback win at Osasuna with Emily Wilson (@wilson_emt) and Barcelona's comeback win at Real Betis with Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee). Plus, Sam Leveridge (@samleveridge) reports on what he saw at Getafe's thrashing of Valencia and Atlético Madrid's narrow win over Granada. And finally, Alex Fitzpatrick (@Mallorcalex100) praises Raúl de Tomás while discussing the relegation six-pointer between Espanyol and Real Mallorca.

In this week's pod, there's all of that, some commentary clips from Cadena Copa and LaLigaTV and much more.

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How José Bordalás Turned Getafe Into a Force Feb 06, 2020

Getafe have had a remarkable three and a half years under José Bordalás. Their coach arrived when they were second bottom of the second division and he led them to the Europa League and to the point where they're now a genuine contender for Champions League qualification. So, how did they do it? That's what we discuss in this midweek podcast.

Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) sets the scene by explaining how far Getafe had fallen. Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) picks up the story by reflecting on Bordalás' back story and his first few months at the club. Getafe fan Fran Iborra (@FranIborra16) reflects on the change in mentality that came with Bordalás. Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee) explains how Getafe consolidated their place in the top division and went all the way to Europe. Sam Leveridge (@samleveridge) tells the stories of some of Bordalás' confrontations with the press and other coaches. And host Euan McTear (@emctear) speaks about how Getafe have done so far in the Europa League.

It's all put together along with some commentary clips from Cadena Copa and Bleacher Report, as well as the very catchy Getafe club anthem.

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Matchday 22 recap: Leganés' Super Goal Sunday Feb 03, 2020

The relegation battle has been sparked into life by a wonderful last-gasp winner from Leganés' Óscar Rodríguez as they defeated Real Sociedad 2-1 on Sunday. To start this week's episode, we discuss that game with Sam Leveridge (@samleveridge), while we also reflect on the relegation six-pointer between Real Mallorca and Real Valladolid with Alex Fitzpatrick (@Mallorcalex100).

There's also discussion of the Madrid derby from host Euan McTear (@emctear), of yet another Valencia victory with Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG), of yet another poor Sevilla home result with Gregor Chappelle (@gregorchappelle) and of Ansu Fati leading Barcelona to victory with Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee).

It was a thrilling weekend of LaLiga football and we reflect on it all here, along with commentary clips from RAC1, LaLigaTV and Cadena Cope.

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Turin, Warsaw, Basel: The story of Sevilla's Europa League three-peat Jan 30, 2020

Sevilla made history by winning the Europa League three times in a row and, in this podcast, the La Liga Lowdown crew tell that story.

It started in 2013/14 and Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) explains the impact Unai Emery had and reflects on the epic semi-final against Valencia, which ended up sending Sevilla to Turin to defeat Benfica on penalties. Then they also won it in 2014/15 and 2015/16, in Warsaw and in Basel, and Sam Leveridge (@samleveridge) and Alex Fitzpatrick (@Mallorcalex100) respectively tell the stories of those campaigns.

We also here from Sevilla fan Chris Lail (@ChrisLail), the admin of @MonchisMen, and from La Liga Lowdown’s Sevilla correspondent Gregor Chappelle (@gregorchappelle). The story is told with Euan McTear hosting (@emctear), along with commentary clips of the most epic moments from Cadena Cope, BT Sport, Movistar and UEFA.

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Matchday 21 recap: Real Madrid take the lead in Valladolid Jan 27, 2020

We have a new leader at the top of the LaLiga table after the results of matchday 21, with Real Madrid winning at Real Valladolid 1-0 and with Barcelona falling to a 2-0 loss at Valencia. Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) analyses that match and the two teams' styles of play, while there's also discussion of Atlético Madrid with Brendy Boyle (@BrendyBoyle) and of the pressure Diego Simeone is under.

Elsewhere, Sevilla won the Andalusian derby against Granada and Gregor Chappelle (@gregorchappelle) reveals what he saw there. Geoff Gillingham (@GeoffGillingham) provides an update on the new-look Espanyol and their trio of new signings. Dom Tancock (@dorsetdom1905) shares his thoughts on Getafe's dramatic victory over Real Betis. And host Euan McTear (@emctear) goes through some of the other major stories of the weekend, such as Chimy Ávila's injury and the special debut of Fernando Niño. All with some commentary clips along the way, courtesy of LaLiga TV and Cadena Cope.

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Carles Puyol: Curls, charisma and championships Jan 23, 2020

This midweek podcast from La Liga Lowdown is all about Barcelona and Spain legend Carles Puyol. We tell his story, from his childhood to his playing days to his life after retirement.

Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee) kicks the podcast off by detailing how Puyol went from playing as a goalkeeper as a kid to making his Barcelona first-team debut at right-back. Richard Fitzpatrick (@Richard_Fitz) then picks up the story and explains how Puyol became a world-class centre-back, the club captain and a key member of Pep Guardiola's Barcelona.

We also hear from Kevin Williams (@kevvwill) about the partnership Puyol developed with Gerard Piqué, from Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) about his international career with Spain and from Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) about the work Puyol has done since retiring as a player.

Hosted by Euan McTear (@emctear), this podcast also features commentary clips of legendary Puyol moments and a clip of Piqué discussing the greatness of his former colleague.

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Matchday 20 recap: Breaking down Barcelona's 'Quique-taka' Jan 20, 2020

Barcelona changed their coach, but they didn't change their goalscorer. Once again, it was Lionel Messi who led them to victory, but their 1-0 win over Granada was a very different kind of performance under new boss Quique Setién and we break it down with Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee).

Plus, host Euan McTear (@emctear) was in Mallorca this weekend to see Real Mallorca defeat Valencia 4-1 and he spoke to La Liga Lowdown's expert on the island, Alex Fitzpatrick (@Mallorcalex100), straight after the game about that huge result.

In this episode, we also hear from Dan Parry (@DanParry_) about Eibar's 2-0 win over Atlético Madrid and Athletic Club's 1-1 draw with Celta Vigo, from Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) about Aleix Vidal's redemption in Alavés 1-0 win at Levante and from David Whitworth (@DCWh1tw0rth) about Real Betis smashing Real Sociedad 3-0.

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The Rise and Rise of Martin Ødegaard Jan 16, 2020

In this week's midweek podcast, we take a look at the Martin Ødegaard story so far.

We've got Alex Fitzpatrick (@Mallorcalex100) on his origins in Norway. We've got Sam Leveridge (@samleveridge) on his arrival at Castilla, Real Madrid's B team. We've got Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee) on his loan spells in the Netherlands. We've got Dan Parry (@DanParry_) on his time so far at Real Sociedad. And we've got Matt Clark (MattClark_08) on his international career.

All hosted by Euan McTear (@emctear) and with commentary clips from Sky Sports and Cadena Cope.

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The big Supercopa and Copa del Rey recap Jan 13, 2020

It was a bit of a different weekend this weekend. A very different weekend, in fact. There was no LaLiga, but there was the Supercopa for Valencia, Barcelona, Atlético Madrid and Real Madrid and the Copa del Rey for everyone else. Well, apart from Alavés. Sorry Alavés...

Looking at the Supercopa, Valencia fan Cesar Benoit (@amunti), Barcelona fan Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee), Atlético Madrid fan Jeremy Beren (@JBBeren) and Real Madrid fan Kristofer McCormack (@K_mc06) all share their thoughts on how their teams did in Saudi Arabia.

Later, Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) recaps what went on in the Copa del Rey over the weekend as we lost another LaLiga side in the form of Getafe. It's all hosted by Euan McTear (@emctear), along with commentary clips from Cadena Cope and Movistar.

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The LLL XI Of The Primera Vuelta Jan 09, 2020

We asked you, our listeners and followers, to vote in a survey to decide your top XI from the first half of the 2019/20 LaLiga season and the results are in. In this special podcast, we reveal each player who made the XI one by one, with analysis on their first half of the season from the journalists and fans in the know.

It's all hosted by Euan McTear (@emctear) and the contributions come from Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee), Alex Fitzpatrick (@Mallorcalex100), Sam Leveridge (@samleveridge), Matthew Clark (@MattClark_08), Dan Parry (@DanParry_) and Gregor Chapelle (@GregorChappelle).

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Matchday 19 recap: It's a happy Wu year for Espanyol Jan 06, 2020

The first matchday of 2020 was a thrilling one, and potentially an important one for the LaLiga title race. Barcelona dropped points in the Catalan derby against Espanyol as they conceded a late equaliser to Wu Lei and Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee) shares his thoughts on that match. Real Madrid moved level on points with Barcelona thanks to their victory over Getafe and Emily Wilson (@wilson_emt) praises Fede Valverde, Thibaut Courtois and Éder Militão when reflecting on that game.

In the second half of this week's episode, Alex Fitzpatrick (@Mallorcalex100) summarises the start to the season for each of this year's newly promoted sides, Sam Leveridge (@samleveridge) looks back at those frantic five minutes of goals in Atlético Madrid vs Levante and Matthew Clark (@MattClark_08) analyses the Real Sociedad vs Villarreal attacking football showdown.

Every other game from the weekend is covered as well, with the episode hosted by Euan McTear (@emctear).

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Matchday 18 recap: The most wonderful time for a LaLiga podcast Dec 23, 2019

We've just had the final LaLiga matchday of 2019, so here's your final La Liga Lowdown podcast of the year!

In this one, we reflect on Sevilla finishing the calendar year in third with Gregor Chappelle (@GregorChappelle), on Villarreal's latest win and Valencia's fighting spirit with Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) and on the basement battle between Leganés and Espanyol with Panos Kostopoulos (@Panos88K).

Looking at the title battle, Kiyan Sobhani (@KiyanSo) analyses Real Madrid's 0-0 draw with Athletic Club and Los Blancos' recent bad luck, while Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee) looks back on Barcelona's 4-1 victory over Alavés that puts them top over Christmas.

It's all hosted by Euan McTear (@emctear), along with some commentary clips from Cadena Cope.

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The Clásico we'd all been waiting for Dec 19, 2019

It had been a long wait for this Clásico, as we'd had to wait an extra 55 days before finally getting to see Barcelona and Real Madrid go head to head. And, it had been a long time since we'd seen a goalless Clásico, as there hadn't been one since 2002. We discuss what happened at the Camp Nou in this podcast, starting with a discussion between Euan McTear (@emctear) and Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG).

Then, Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee) and Hasan Karim (@TheHasKarim) give us their player ratings, with Román running the rule over the Barça players and Hasan doing likewise for Real Madrid.

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Matchday 17 recap: Courtoooooooooiiiiiis!!! Dec 16, 2019

In the weekend before El Clásico, both Barcelona and Real Madrid drew to remain level on points. We discuss both of their thrilling draws, analysing Valencia 1-1 Real Madrid with Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) and Real Sociedad 2-2 Barcelona with Phil Ball (@PhilBallTweets).

We also look in detail at Getafe's excellent form with Matt Clark (@MattClark_08), at Atlético Madrid's impressive performance against Osasuna with Sam Leveridge (@samleveridge) and at the return of Rubi and Borja Iglesias to Espanyol with Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee). Plus, Dan Parry (@DanParry_) talks Athletic Club tactics after waking up from the snoozefest that was their 0-0 draw with Eibar.

Finally, host Euan McTear (@emctear) reacts to the Champions League and Europa League draw and the ties it threw up for the Spanish sides. All with some commentary clips from Movistar+ as well.

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Illa illa illa, Villa maravilla! Dec 12, 2019

David Villa's career is coming to an end and, in the week where he played his final league game, we look back at what the Spanish striker achieved. Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) tells the story of Villa's first steps in football. Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) reflects on his time at Valencia. Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee) covers the Barcelona years. Host Euan McTear (@emctear) explains how he helped Atlético Madrid to win a league title. And Sam Leveridge (@samleveridge) discusses the striker's overseas adventures.

It's a true celebration of Spain's all-time top scorer, accompanied with the sounds of his farewell in Kobe and commentary from Canal+ and ITV.

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Matchday 16 recap: Hat-tricks for Messi and Joaquín and a thrilling Valencian derby Dec 09, 2019

Matchday 16 was an action-packed one, with lots of drama packed into the 10 fixtures. We go through it all in this week's podcast, starting with Alex Fitzpatrick, who was pitchside for Barcelona vs Real Mallorca.

Host Euan McTear (@emctear) also reflects on Real Madrid's win over Espanyol with Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee), on the Valencian derby with Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG), on Javier Aguirre's first win at Leganés with Sam Leveridge (@samleveridge) and on Granada's return to winning ways with Heath Chesters (@HeathGCF). There's also commentary excitement from beIN and from Cadena Cope.

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Ronaldinho's Barcelona Years Dec 05, 2019

In this Thursday episode, we look back at the greatness of Ronaldinho and at his Barcelona years. There are so many historic moments to get into. Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) discusses the drama of the transfer itself. Sam Leveridge (@samleveridge) offers a reminder of how the first season went. Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee) looks back on the high points, from the ovation against Real Madrid to the Champions League win. And Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) reflects on the decline.

It's all hosted by Euan McTear (@emctear), who finishes off the podcast with a chat with Jason Pettigrove (@jasonpettigrove) about the legacy Ronaldinho left behind and his impact on Lionel Messi. There are also some audio treats from ITV, Canal+, Sky Sports, Barça TV and, of course, it wouldn't be a Ronaldinho podcast without reliving the 2002 FIFA World Cup theme song.

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Matchday 15 recap: Death, taxes and Messi slotting it in from the edge of the area Dec 02, 2019

The big game of matchday 15 was Atlético Madrid vs Barcelona and it was decided by Lionel Messi on the eve of his widely expected Ballon d'Or coronation. Sam Leveridge (@samleveridge) provides a match report from the stadium, before Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee) dissects and discusses the match with host Euan McTear (@emctear).

There's also analysis of Real Madrid's upturn in form and the return of Isco with Zach Lowy (@ZachLowy). Gregor Chappelle (@GregorChappelle) explains why he's confident about Leganés after seeing them take on Sevilla. Martin Devlin (@MartiRVCF) provides an update on Real Valladolid and the rumours of Mohammed Salisu going off to Manchester United. And Alex Fitzpatrick (@Mallorcalex100) reveals why Real Mallorca fans should be excited about one particular player's imminent return from injury.

Complete with audio from BeIN, LaLigaTV and Onda Cero.

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When Real Madrid Played Their B Team in the Copa del Rey Final Nov 28, 2019

In this episode, we tell the story of the 1980 Copa del Rey final, which was held at the Estadio Santiago Bernabéu between Real Madrid's first team and Castilla, the Real Madrid B team. It was a unique situation, one that had never happened before and that has never happened since.

Setting the scene, Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee) gives a brief history of Castilla. Alex Fitzpatrick (@Mallorcalex100) then explains how they got to the final, killing some giants along the way. Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) explains how the match itself played out. Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) then discusses Castilla's qualification for the following season's Cup Winners' Cup and their tie against West Ham. And finally, host Euan McTear (@emctear) talks to Kristofer McCormack (@K_mc06) about B teams in general and their place in Spain's footballing pyramid.

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Matchday 14 recap: In that order Nov 25, 2019

Our matchday 14 recap is out and we have insight from Dan Parry (@DanParry_), Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG), Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee) and Geoff Gillingham (@GeoffGillingham). In that order.

Dan discusses the back-to-back derbies we had in the Basque Country and Navarre over the weekend. Paco explains how the two Valencia-based teams did. Román analyses Barcelona's narrow win at bottom-placed Leganés. And Geoff provides an update on the frustration at Espanyol.

Host Euan McTear (@emctear) is on hand too to discuss the Gareth Bale drama, while there's also some commentary along the way from LaLigaTV and Cadena Cope.

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November international break recap: Luis Enrique in, Robert Moreno out, and we shake our mailbag all about Nov 19, 2019

Who said international breaks are boring? The past few days have been packed with drama in Spain as Robert Moreno was replaced by Luis Enrique as Spain coach. We discuss what's gone on, why it's gone on and who it's gone on with, with Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee) and Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) and with host Euan McTear (@emctear).

We also answer our followers' mailbag questions in part two, discussing topics such as Borja Iglesias, the fall of Deportivo La Coruña and LaLiga's proposed game in the USA.

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Santi Cazorla: From Villarreal to Villarreal Nov 14, 2019

Santi Cazorla has been through a lot, but he's back where it all began. Sort of...

In this episode, we tell the Santi Cazorla story, going from his childhood to his emergence in LaLiga to his triumphs with Spain to his time with Arsenal to the injuries. And then the happy ending of his return to the top table of Spanish football.

Host Euan McTear (@emctear) is joined by Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) to hear about Cazorla's first stint at Villarreal, by Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee) to hear about the injuries, by Sam Leveridge (@samleveridge) to hear about the comeback and by Allen Dodson (@groguet01) of @VillarrealUSA to talk about Cazorla's current role in the team. With clips as well from ITV, Arsenal media and FATV, this podcast fully chronicles this special player's footballing journey.

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Matchday 13 recap: Kubo's first goal, Aguirre's return and Aitor's election day conundrum Nov 11, 2019

The Seville derby honours went to Sevilla as they won away at Real Betis in the biggest game of the 13th round of the 2019/20 LaLiga season. There were many more fascinating storylines too and we dive into all of them in this recap podcast.

Kristofer McCormack (@K_mc06) analyses Real Madrid's latest big win. Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) is impressed with the way Valencia have responded to an injury crisis. Dan Parry (@DanParry_) reacts to an Athletic Club comeback win and Aitor's election day conundrum. And Alex Fitzpatrick (@Mallorcalex100) discusses Takefusa Kubo's first LaLiga goal.

Plus, Javier Aguirre had his first game as Leganés coach and Sam Leveridge (@samleveridge) discusses that, while Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee) dissects Óscar García's debut in the Celta Vigo dugout, as they were Messi-ed at the Camp Nou.

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El Gran Derbi: What makes Betis vs Sevilla so special? Nov 07, 2019

There's a Seville derby coming up on Sunday, November 10th, so what better time than now to ask what makes this fixture so special? In this podcast we hear from Betis fan David Whitworth (@DCWh1tw0rth) of Radio Betis and Sevilla fan Chris Lail (@ChrisLail) of @MonchisMen to hear their favourite derby memories. Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee), Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Sam Leveridge (@samleveridge) also join in to narrate the story of this rivalry.

Colin Millar (@Millar_Colin), the author of 'The Frying Pan of Spain', a book all about this fixture, joins the podcast too and there is a chance to win a copy of his book by answering a question about the derby. Details of the competition and how to enter are read out at the end of the podcast.

Hosted by Euan McTear (@emctear) and featuring some atmospheric commentary from Cadena Cope, this podcast walks you through the story of the Seville derby, widely considered the most intense one in Spain.

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Matchday 12 recap: Valencia 2-0 Catalonia Nov 04, 2019

The 12th round of the 2019/20 LaLiga season is in the books and we review all the main talking points here. Saturday was a great day for the Valencian Community and less so for the Catalan teams as Levante beat Barcelona and as Valencia defeated Espanyol. We have Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee) and Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) to discuss all of that at the beginning of the show.

We also reflect on the dramatic 1-1 draw between Sevilla and Atlético Madrid with Gregor Chappelle (@GregorChappelle) and we take a deeper look at Villarreal's recent performances and results with Allen Dodson (@groguet01) of the Villarreal SB Nation site (@VillarrealUSA).

Hosted by Euan McTear (@emctear), this podcast also looks at how Real Betis' centre-back diamond thwarted Real Madrid, coaching changes at Celta Vigo and Leganés and Sandro's first goal in 23 months and 11 days. Along with some commentary from BeIN Sports, this podcast has all you need to look back over matchday 12.

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Matchday 11 recap: Messi is back! Nov 01, 2019

In this Friday edition of La Liga Lowdown, we recap the midweek round as Barcelona moved back to the top of the table thanks to some Lionel Messi magic. He is well and truly back, as explained by Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee).

There's a lot more to discuss too. Host Euan McTear speaks about Real Madrid's big win, Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) analyses Alavés and Atlético Madrid's sharing of the spoils, Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) breaks down the Valencia and Sevilla draw, Alex Fitzpatrick (@Mallorcalex100) gives his immediate reaction to Real Mallorca's tie with Osasuna and Ryan Maquiñana (@rmaq28) of the Athletic Club California Fangroup (@AthleticClubCal) tells us what it was like to be at San Mamés for Athletic Club's first win in six matches.

Along with some commentary from ESPN, LaLigaTV and Cadena Cope, matchday 11 can be re-lived right here.

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Matchday 10 recap: Granada rise, Betis sink and Leganés win a match Oct 28, 2019

Barça who? Real Mad-what? There was ultimately no Clásico this weekend, but LaLiga still produced nine entertaining matches and countless storylines. We go through them all in this week's La Liga Lowdown podcast, starting with the new table-toppers Granada.

We also discuss Real Betis' woes with David Whitworth (@DCWh1tw0rth), Real Valladolid's good run of form with Martin Devlin (@MartiRVCF), the latest at Athletic Club and Real Sociedad with Dan Parry (@Dan Parry), Pablo Machín's encouraging start with Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee), Villarreal's strength in attack with Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG), Sevilla's battle with Getafe with Gregor Chappelle (@GregorChappelle) and Leganés finally getting a win with Sam Leveridge (@samleveridge).

There's much more too and it's all hosted by Euan McTear (@emctear), along with some commentary clips from LaLigaTV and Cadena Cope.

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João Félix: How far has he come and how far can he go? Oct 24, 2019

João Félix became one of the star players in world football in the space of just a few months. The Benfica academy graduate rose to prominence at the beginning of 2019 and earned a huge transfer to Atlético Madrid in the summer.

In this podcast, we look at the story so far for the 19-year-old and at what his future could look like. Host Euan McTear (@emctear) hears from Cristiano Oliveira (@10CO10) of the @BenficaPodcast about his rise through the Benfica academy, from Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) about his breakout 2018/19 season, from Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) about his transfer saga, from Jeremy Beren (@JBBeren) of @IntoTheCalderon about his Atlético Madrid career and from Sam Leveridge (@samleveridge) about the love for João Félix at the Wanda Metropolitano. With a clip from a João Félix ESPN interview too, this podcast has all you need to know about this potential future Ballon d'Or winner.

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Matchday 9 recap: Real Mallorca bump Real Madrid off top spot Oct 21, 2019

Barcelona have moved to the top of the LaLiga table, thanks to their win in Eibar and Real Madrid's defeat at Real Mallorca. Alex Fitzpatrick (@Mallorcalex100) was there on the island for this momentous game and discusses the famous result.

We also take a look at the big Atlético vs Valencia match with Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG), at Athletic Club's latest stumble with Dan Parry (@DanParry_) and at Pablo Machín's Espanyol debut of mixed feelings with Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee). There's also discussion of the southern Madrid derby, the postponement of El Clásico and much more, all with host Euan McTear (@emctear) and featuring commentary clips from BeIN, LaLigaTV and Cadena Cope.

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October international break recap: Spain reach Euro 2020... with some doubts Oct 16, 2019

Spain have qualified for Euro 2020, but they went about it the hard way. Two 1-1 draws away at Norway and Sweden mean they'll be taking part in next summer's tournament and it's clear that Robert Moreno has a lot of work to do before then.

Host Euan McTear (@emctear) is joined by Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee) and Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) to discuss the Spain team, from Fabián Ruiz being brilliant to the never-ending goalkeeper debate to a possible Ramos-Albiol centre-back partnership. Plus, Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) discusses the upcoming Under-17s World Cup and the Spain youngsters to look out for. There's commentary excitement too, from ESPN and Cadena Cope.

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The La Liga Lowdown followers' Euro 2020 Spain squad Oct 10, 2019

We asked you, our followers, to vote for your ideal 23-man Spain squad for next summer's Euro 2020 tournament... and here are this results in this podcast!

Host Euan McTear (@emctear) walks through the 23 players who made the cut - three goalkeepers, eight defenders, eight midfielders and four forwards. For each player, there is analysis from journalists from the various leagues where these players ply their trade.

Contributions come from Jeremy Beren (@JBBeren), Kiyan Sobhani (@KiyanSo), Chris Winterburn (@cmwinterburn), Conor Clancy (@ConJClancy), Alex Truica (@AlexTruica), Ian Morris (@CeltaUSA), Dan Parry (@DanParry_), Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG), Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee), Sam Leveridge (@samleveridge), Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Alex Fitzpatrick (@Mallorcalex100).

Be sure to comment and debate with us on Twitter on the results from our La Liga Lowdown Spain Squad Selector poll.

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Matchday 8 recap: Osasuna's super record, Aspas gets going and Real Madrid stay top Oct 07, 2019

The big teams have risen to the top of the LaLiga table, with Real Madrid, Barcelona and Atlético Madrid now occupying the top three spots. We discuss Real Madrid and Barça's latest victories, as well as Atlético's latest setback.

We analyse Luis Suárez's good form with Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee), we get tactical when discussing Celta Vigo's win with Ian Morris (@CeltaUSA) and we wonder if fatigue will be a major factor as Valencia's season develops with Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG). There's also in-depth focus on Osasuna and their incredible 29-match unbeaten run in home league games, speaking to Natxo Torné (@groundhopperbcn). Plus, audio from beIN Sports and Premier Sports, with it all hosted by Euan McTear (@emctear).

So hit play and catch up on all the action from matchday eight of the 2019/20 LaLiga season.

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Joaquín: Player, Captain, Shareholder, Legend Oct 03, 2019

Joaquín is a legend. He's in his 20th season of professional football and, in this week's La Liga Lowdown Thursday episode, we look back at his entire career.

Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee) discusses his rise through the ranks at Real Betis. Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) reflects on his strange transfer to Valencia and time at Mestalla. Sam Leveridge (@samleveridge) talks about Joaquín's involvement in the Málaga project. David Whitworth (@DCWh1tw0rth) explains how much of a Real Betis legend Joaquín currently is. Matt Clarke (@MattClark_08) discusses his Spain career and dramatic 2002 World Cup. Euan McTear (@emctear) hosts, while there's commentary from Cadena Cope.

So come and reminisce with us about the career of one of Spanish football's living legends.

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Matchday 7 recap: A thriller, a not-so-thriller and Paco makes Valencia fans chuckle in Bilbao Sep 30, 2019

The seventh round of the 2019/20 LaLiga season is in the books and we've had the first big match between title rivals of the season as Real Madrid visited Atlético. There weren't any goals in that one, as the goals were saved for Sevilla vs Real Sociedad. We discuss those two matches and so much more.

Host Euan McTear (@emctear) reflects on his trip to the Basque Country to see Eibar and Athletic Club and catches up with Dan Parry (@DanParry_) outside San Mamés. Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) analyses Villarreal's good form and Levante's poor defending. Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee) discusses Barcelona and Espanyol. Alex Fitzpatrick (@Mallorcalex100) explains what's going wrong at Mallorca. And Matt Clarke (MattClark_08) has the lowdown on the big Sevilla vs Real Sociedad five-goal thriller.

All of that, complete with commentary from Cadena Cope and Movistar, makes up your week seven La Liga Lowdown.

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Matchday 6 recap: Brazilian fun at the Bernabéu, comeback drama in Eibar and Joaquín's alternative hat-trick Sep 27, 2019

The first midweek round of the 2019/20 LaLiga season was held across Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday nights and the La Liga Lowdown squad was all over it. In this podcast, get the lowdown from across the country on the top storylines of matchday six.

We've got David Whitworth (@DCWh1tw0rth) on Real Betis, Alex Fitzpatrick (@Mallorcalex100) on Real Mallorca, Sam Leveridge (@samleveridge) on Real Madrid, Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee) on Barcelona, Gregor Chapelle (@GregorChappelle) on Sevilla and Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) on Valencia. Plus, some clips from ESPN Brasil, Cadena Cope and beIN and it's all hosted by Euan McTear (@emctear).

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Matchday 5 recap: Granada beating Barça, just wow! Sep 23, 2019

Athletic Club and Real Madrid are the new leaders of LaLiga Santander on 11 points and we look at their victories over Alavés and Sevilla, as well as discussing Granada's hugely impressive victory over a Barcelona side that just cannot win away from home.

We discuss that special Granada night with a man who was there, Heath Chesters (@HeathGCF). We talk Real Madrid with Kristofer McCormack (K_mc06). There's a chat with Jeremy Beren (JBBeren) of @IntoTheCalderon about Atlético Madrid's difficult week. Paco Polit (pacopolitENG) talks Levante and Villarreal. And Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee) analyses Espanyol's latest setback, as well as telling us about his trip to see the women's teams of Barcelona and Atlético Madrid.

There's all that and much more with host Euan McTear (@emctear), with sounds from À Punt Esports and Cadena Cope livening up the matchday recap even more.

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Espanyol's run to the 2007 UEFA Cup final Sep 19, 2019

As the 2019/20 Europa League group stages get under way with Espanyol participating, we look back on the Catalan club's previous European adventure. Back in 2006/07, they went all the way to the final at Hampden Park in Glasgow, where they lost to Sevilla on penalties.

In this La Liga Lowdown episode, we discuss their qualification for that year's tournament, their route to the final, their coach Ernesto Valverde and discuss what it was like to experience that special game.

Hosted by Euan McTear (@emctear), there are contributions from Sam Leveridge (@samleveridge), Alex Fitzpatrick (@Mallorcalex100), Roman de Arquer (@Aeroslavee), Stuart Spencer (@StuartSpencer92), Nick Puñal (@PERICOZ) and Matt Clarke (@MattClark_08), plus UEFA commentary clips and music from Cachowrro

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Matchday 4 recap: What's happening at Valencia and how amazing is Ansu Fati? Sep 16, 2019

Club football has returned and it has done so with plenty of drama. All of that is discussed in this LaLiga matchday four recap.

16-year-old Ansu Fati had a breakout performance for Barcelona, one that Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee) reflects on. Valencia had their first match since the shock sacking of Marcelino and Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) tries to work out what's going on. Real Sociedad christened the redeveloped Anoeta with a win and Spanish stadium expert Chris Clements (the man behind the @Estadios_Spain account) explains what has changed.

There's also a look at Villarreal's start to the season with Allen Dodson (@groguet01) of @VillarrealUSA and some analysis of Sevilla's rise to the top of the table from Gregor Chappelle (@GregorChappelle), plus commentary clips from Cadena Cope and LaLiga TV.

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Valencia: Back-to-back Champions League final heartbreak Sep 12, 2019

Valencia have never won the Champions League, but they have been to the final twice. Two years in a row, in fact. They reached the finals in 2000 and 2001, losing to Real Madrid and to Bayern Munich, and this Thursday's La Liga Lowdown podcast looks back on those two memorable European campaigns.

Joachim Björklund, a centre-back in those Valencia squads, talks about his experiences. Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) reveals what it was like to be a season-ticket holder at the time. Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) tells us about the Copa del Rey-winning campaign the previous year. Mario Ottiglio (@MarioOttiglio) breaks down coach Héctor Cúper's managerial style. Alex Fitzpatrick (@Mallorcalex100) tells the happy sequel of the LaLiga triumph in 2001/02. And host Euan McTear (@emctear), with the help of some UEFA commentary, breaks down the finals themselves.

So, enjoy this Valencia-focused podcast as we go back 20 years to a time when Valencia were a true force in Europe, much to everyone's surprise.

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International break recap: Lots of Spain chat and listener questions Sep 09, 2019

It's the September international break! Just three weeks into the new LaLiga season, there is a pause for the national teams. But fear not! This Monday's podcast features LaLiga-focused and Segunda-focused questions from listeners, plus a discussion of Spain's wins over Romania and the Faroe Islands.

Host Euan McTear (@emctear) is joined by Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG), Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee) and Alex Fitzpatrick (@Mallorcalex100) to talk Spain and to answer all the questions. Thanks also go out to Cadena COPE for the excited commentary of Spain's goals.

So enjoy! From a debate over who should be Spain's No.1 to Real Betis' expectations for this season to the drama at Málaga, it's all in this week's pod.

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Monchi: From backup goalkeeper to the world's top sporting director Sep 05, 2019

Ramón Rodríguez Verdejo, better known as Monchi, is the most famous sporting director in the world.

Sevilla benefited from his expertise for 17 years, between 2000 and 2017. Before that, he was a backup goalkeeper for the club. After that, he spent a couple of years running the sporting department at AS Roma. Now he is back at Sevilla. He's back home.

In this podcast, hosted by Euan McTear (@emctear), we tell Monchi's life story, speaking to those who know it best. Román de Arquer (Aeroslavee) talks though his playing career. Victor Orta, the Leeds United director of football, reflects on when he worked with Monchi at Sevilla, Conor Clancy (@ConJClancy) of @SerieAFFC discusses Monchi's time in Serie A, Matthew Clark (@MattClark_08) looks at the Spaniard's relationship with the Premier League and Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) analyses Sevilla's 2019 summer transfer market. Thanks also go out to esRadio and Cadena COPE for the classic commentary.

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Matchday 3 recap: Atlético go top, Barça and Real Madrid slip up Sep 02, 2019

The first international break of the season is here and Atlético Madrid are the only team in LaLiga still with a 100 percent record. Barcelona and Real Madrid slipped up again, so we indulge in some title talk in this matchday three recap.

We also look back at and study the Basque derby and have an in-depth discussion about Real Valladolid and how their season is shaping up.

Euan McTear (@emctear) hosts and there are contributions from Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG), Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee), Sam Leveridge (@samleveridge), Dan Parry (@DanParry_) and Martin Devlin (@MartiRVCF) of @PucelaEscocia, plus commentary from beIN SPORTS and Cadena COPE.

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Takefusa Kubo: The Story So Far Aug 29, 2019

Takefusa Kubo is one of world football's rising stars, and the 18-year-old Japanese prodigy has already passed through three Spanish clubs. After spending time at Barcelona's academy and after returning to Japan, he signed with Real Madrid this summer and has been loaned out to Real Mallorca.

Euan McTear (@emctear) hosts this episode and speaks to Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee) about Kubo's Barça days, to Kiyan Sobhani (@KiyanSo) about his pre-season with Real Madrid and to Alex Fitzpatrick (@Mallorcalex100) about his arrival at Real Mallorca. We also hear from Ben Maxwell (@OnTheGas1999), the host of the J-Talk Podcast (@JTalkPod), for expert insight into Kubo's emergence in Japan. And Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) discusses Kubo's appearances with the Japanese national team. Thanks go out as well to J-League, Barça TV and Premier Sports for the Kubo clips.

So listen in and enjoy. This is Takefusa Kubo's story so far...

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Matchday 2 recap: Griezmann's glory, Granada's graft and Guardiola's goal Aug 26, 2019

The second week of the 2018/19 LaLiga Santander season is in the books and there are just two teams remaining with a 100 percent record - Sevilla and Atlético Madrid. We discuss that and much more, speaking to multiple experts.

We hear from Heath Chesters (@HeathGCF) in Granada, Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) in Valencia, Joseph Sexton (@josephsbcn) in Vigo, Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee) in Barcelona, Alex Fitzpatrick (@Mallorcalex100) in Mallorca and Kiyan Sobhani (@KiyanSo) in Canada, all hosted by Madrid-based Euan McTear (@emctear).

There's an in-depth chat with Heath about Granada and their survival, we get the lowdown from Paco on Villarreal throwing away another lead and Kiyan talks Real Madrid's problems. That and and more is discussed and the conversation doesn't end there. Check us out on Twitter (@LaLigaLowdown) to let us know your thoughts on the first two weeks of the season.

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The Aritz Aduriz Story Aug 22, 2019

Athletic Club striker Aritz Aduriz is a LaLiga legend. We all know this. But how did his story start? What bumps were there along the way? That and more is all discussed in this podcast looking at the Aritz Aduriz story.

We speak to Phil Ball to explain how Aduriz, who grew up in San Sebastian, ended up playing for his hometown's biggest rivals. Alex Fitzpatrick talks about the Aduriz Real Mallorca years. Paco Polit reflects on what went well, and what didn't, for Aduriz at Valencia. Román de Arquer dissects Aduriz's role in Athletic Club's Supercopa de España win in 2015. And Gaizka Atxa looks ahead to his retirement along with your host, Euan McTear. Plus, commentary excitement from Mundo Futgol, Cadena COPE, beIN SPORTS, ITV and Radio Popular.

So click play, and enjoy learning some more about one of LaLiga's all-time greats.

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Matchday 1 recap: Barcelona stumble on the weekend of wonder goals! Aug 19, 2019

LaLiga is back and it came back with a bang! From Aritz Aduriz's stunning winner against Barcelona in the opening match of the weekend to Joao Felix's impressive debut in Atletico Madrid's latest victory over Getafe, we've got it all covered. We start by breaking down Barcelona's problems and wondering what Ernesto Valverde has to do now.

We also take an in-depth look at the newly promoted sides Real Mallorca, Osasuna and Granada as they returned to the top flight with positive results, with analysis from three reporters who were at their games. Granada's match was especially wild - an eight-goal thriller away at Villarreal.

Paco breaks down the madness that went on in Valencia's draw with Real Sociedad, as they started the season with their favourite result - a draw.

All of that and more is discussed in this podcast. Check us out on Twitter - @LaLigaLowdown - to let us know your thoughts on LaLiga's opening weekend.

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2019-20 SEASON PREVIEW - LaLiga European Fight & Relegation Battle Aug 15, 2019

Listen up! It's our second season-preview podcast, and this time we're focusing on all the other stories aside the Big Three in LaLiga.

Host Euan McTear is once again joined by Paco Polit and Román de Arquer as they discuss the race for fourth place - can Valencia do it again, or will the recent turmoil at the club spoil their campaign before it's even begun? And what about the likes of Sevilla and Real Betis who have strengthened their squads, and can Villarreal improve on what was a terrible season in 2018-19? Or could there be a surprise package?

The relegation battle could be equally fascinating - the new boys are Granada, Osasuna and Mallorca who were last in LaLiga 7 seasons ago, but do they have enough to stay up? And who else might struggle? Levante, Real Valladolid, Alavés or maybe even a bigger name? We also hear from LLL new recruit Matt Clark who saw Valencia, Espanyol, Athletic Club and Real Sociedad in pre-season while they were on tour in the UK.

Don't forget to subscribe to this podcast, and check out our Twitter feed - https://twitter.com/laligalowdown

Enjoy!

#LLL

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2019-20 SEASON PREVIEW - LaLiga Title Race...Barça to do the three-peat? Aug 12, 2019

Yes, La Liga Lowdown is back!

The new Spanish football season is almost upon us, so it's the perfect time to get your ears around our preview podcasts, and this is the first...

In this first preview, Euan McTear in Madrid chats with Paco Polit in Valencia and Román de Arquer in Barcelona as we look back at a summer of big spending by the Big Three, and look ahead to the new campaign. We ask some key questions:

will Barcelona manage to integrate Antoine Griezmann successfully?
can Eden Hazard turn on the style at Madrid..and how come Gareth Bale is still there?!
is João Felix the real deal, and what about Atlético's new look-defence?

We also discuss some of the young talents to look out for at all those teams, whether there might potentially have to be changes of philosophy and formation for the Madrid clubs, and we get the boys' predictions on the season ahead. We'll discuss European hopes and relegation in our next preview podcast out later in the week.

Don't forget to follow us on Twitter - https://twitter.com/LaLigaLowdown

Enjoy!

#LLL

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Valencia's shock Copa win as Barça's double dream dies - BUMPER FINAL EDITION! May 27, 2019

We've gone double-length for this podcast, as it's the final one of the season and we wanted to give you, the fans, TOP value. Of course this pod focuses on the Copa del Rey final where Valencia shocked Barcelona to win 2-1 at the Estadio Benito Villamarín to lift their first trophy in 11 years, while also denying Barça a domestic double - the culés have to settle for one piece of silverware.

We dissect and analyse the final in real depth, the players who performed, the players who didn't, should Ernesto Valverde leave the Camp Nou and what this means for Los Che - David Garrido hosts, with Paco Polit who was at the stadium in Seville on Saturday night and Román de Arquer based in Barcelona.

We also speak to Euan McTear in Madrid as we take a considered look at the main narratives of the 2018-19 campaign, and David and Euan also reveal their teams of the season, but with a twist: only 1 player allowed per LaLiga team!

Don't forget to give us a lovely review and a 5-star rating if you'd be so kind, and also to check out our Twitter feed (@LaLigaLowdown) - we'd be so grateful.

Enjoy!

#LLL

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Valencia finish 4th, Athletic agony but Espanyol ecstasy, Girona down and Setién out - Matchday 38 recap! May 20, 2019

And so, LaLiga is done and dusted for another season...an up-and-down season finished with yet more twists and turns on the 38th and final matchday - with Valencia and Getafe in the race for Champions League qualification, and Athletic were the width of the crossbar away from the Europa League, but in the end, that accolade went to Espanyol as they snatched 7th place in the table.

Relegation was almost decided before time - Girona needed a miracle, but they were put out of their misery at Alavés, while Iago Aspas was once again the hero as Celta Vigo pulled off yet another comeback, this time against Rayo.

In the less meaningful matches, none of Barcelona, Atlético or Real Madrid managed to win, and in fact Madrid were awful in their defeat to Real Betis, who then announced that Quique Setién would not be carrying on as head coach.

Also, the LLL squad give their "moments of the season" - there are some interesting choices! Thanks for listening, any lovely ratings and reviews are welcome and don't forget to check out our Twitter feed (@LaLigaLowdown).

Enjoy!

#LLL

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Race for 4th takes a TWIST...while Levante, Villarreal and Valladolid are finally SAFE! Matchday 37 recap May 13, 2019

Football is often all about how you get up, not how you fell down in the first place. Barcelona and Valencia both responded to European exits last week by winning on Sunday, as all 10 matches in LaLiga were played at exactly the same time. Maybe it'll catch on, who knows? It made for a dramatic penultimate round of games, and a twist in the race for the Champions League.

Getafe went to Barça and had their chances but lost 2-0, even though the champions were poor by their own standards...while Valencia came from behind to beat Alavés 3-1 at home, to take control of the battle for 4th place. It means matters are in their own hands going into the final day of the league campaign. Sevilla could only draw 1-1 away to Atlético Madrid, so they are almost certainly going to have to settle for Europa League football next season.

There are still 3 teams who could finish 7th - Real Sociedad beat Real Madrid, Espanyol won at Leganés, Athletic Club defeated Celta Vigo...which in turn has implications for the relegation battle. Who will be playing in Segunda next season with Huesca and Rayo? It's down to Celta and Girona, but the latter need a miracle next Sunday to stay up, while Levante, Villarreal and Real Valladolid are safe - in fact, Valladolid are the only promoted team to stay up.

It's all set for a fascinating final day of LaLiga next Sunday - we'll bring you that, and also don't forget to check out our Twitter feed - we are @LaLigaLowdown.

Enjoy!

#LLL

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So long Rayo, farewell Huesca...but Geta are still doing better in the race for 4th... Matchday 36 recap! May 06, 2019

Finally, we've had 2 teams confirmed as relegated from LaLiga...Rayo Vallecano and Huesca gave it a good crack, but were put out of their misery after suffering big defeats on Matchday 36 - Rayo going down 4-1 at Levante, Huesca were smashed 6-2 at home by Valencia. Both of these are teams who came up from Segunda last season, so they return straight away - in truth, neither of them really looked like escaping the drop. But Real Valladolid still might - their 1-0 win at home to Athletic Club takes them out of the relegation zone...for now at least.

In terms of the other relegation candidates, Celta Vigo pulled off a 2-0 win over champions Barcelona at Balaídos, while Villarreal could only manage a 3-2 defeat away to Real Madrid - Girona also lost, 2-0 at Getafe who continue to keep their unlikely Champions League dreams alive. This was a comfortable win but a huge 3 points, and if Geta finish 4th, it'll be an astonishing achievement. Sevilla look like they've given up the ghost with a 3rd defeat in 4 - they went down 3-0 at home to Leganés, and they're now down to 6th in the table. Valencia's big win keeps them in the hunt, but remember they also have a Europa League semi-final 2nd leg at home to Arsenal to think about, and ultimately 4th place is out of their hands anyway.

We'll keep you across that game and also Barcelona's trip to Liverpool in the Champions League on our Twitter feed, so check it out: we are @LaLigaLowdown on Twitter.

Enjoy!

#LLL

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BARCELONA ARE CHAMPIONS! Full analysis and reaction on Barça's title triumph, plus a Matchday 35 recap. Apr 29, 2019

Well, we knew it was coming, and in the end, Barcelona have done it with 3 games to spare. They are once again champions of Spain, retaining their title, making it 8 out of the last 11 that they've won and their 26th crown overall. Lionel Messi, who else, scored the only goal in their 1-0 win over Levante, meaning that Barça could celebrate their triumph in front of their own fans. Atlético Madrid also won 1-0 at home to Real Valladolid, so the gap is 9 points with 3 games to go, but because Barcelona's head-to-head record is better between themselves and Atleti, it means that they are deserved champions.

Real Madrid surprisingly (or maybe not) went down at Rayo by the same scoreline, giving the side from Vallecas the slightest glimmer of hope that they might stay up, but there were also points for the teams around them. Huesca and Villarreal drew, and so did Celta Vigo, but Girona went one better and won.

That result was significant in the race for 4th place, as Sevilla were the team on the wrong end of that result. Not that they were made to pay, because Getafe above them and Valencia below them also lost - to Real Sociedad and Eibar respectively. Very, very odd. So it's as you were in that battle for the final Champions League spot, and 7th-placed Athletic and Alavés in 8th also drew.

Real Betis versus Espanyol is the meh-looking mid-table Monday night game, with both teams safe but neither really able to threaten the European spots.

Don't forget to follow us on Twitter, we are @LaLigaLowdown - don't forget the European semi-finals kick-off this week, with Barcelona at home to Liverpool on Wednesday and Valencia away to Arsenal on Thursday. And feel free to leave a nice comment or a 5-star review about the pod, we always really appreciate it.

Enjoy!

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Barça edge closer, Benzema keeps scoring, Sevilla slip up, Villarreal & Celta win again... Matchday 33 recap! Apr 22, 2019

Another weekend of significant results, but the most significant is that Barcelona can win LaLiga again in this next week after their 2-1 victory over Real Sociedad. 2 defenders scored for them, while it was Karim Benzema whose hat-trick gave Real Madrid their most convincing performance of late, beating Athletic Club 3-0. Standby for some stunning stats about the Frenchman...

It was 4th v 5th but Sevilla lost 3-0 at Getafe, and both sides finished with 10 men as referee Mateu Lahoz made himself the centre of attention - as per. Valencia took advantage by beating Real Betis away, with 2 rapier strikes from Gonzalo Guedes, but Rodrigo replaced the injured Denis Cheryshev and then got sent off. It's a compelling battle between those 3 teams for that 4th place...

In the relegation battle, the bottom 2 drew which helped neither side as it finished Rayo 0 Huesca 0, but there were vital wins for Celta Vigo and Villarreal, both at home, both 2-1, while Levante and Valladolid both came from behind but could only draw their games 2-2 against Espanyol and Alavés respectively.

Don't forget to check out our Twitter feed - @LaLigaLowdown - and feel free to leave us a lovely review and a 5-star rating, we really appreciate your support.

Enjoy!

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4-DERBY WEEKEND, including the madness of Sevilla-Betis! Matchday 32 recap. Apr 16, 2019

With the title race pretty much done in LaLiga, we had to major on the 4 derbies this week, especially the ones in Seville and Valencia, and in particular the 5-goal thriller at the Estadio Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán where Sevilla beat Real Betis 3-2. These 2 go at it hammer and tongs right from the first whistle, and even before then, the Sevilla anthem sends shivers down your spine. Just check out our Twitter feed -- @LaLigaLowdown -- if you don't believe us...

Along with that game, Valencia took the local bragging rights against a Levante side whose defence is horrendously bad, and Getafe just about got a point at Real Valladolid to keep their hopes alive of finishing in the Champions League places. It was a result that wounded Valladolid more than it really helped Geta.

Villarreal were the big winners this week in the relegation scrap, beating Girona 1-nil at Montilivi - Girona are so bad at home, it's just getting silly now. Rayo Vallecano lost by a single goal in 5 at Athletic Club, and while Huesca managed to pick up a point against Barcelona, survival still looks a long way off for them. We got a glimpse of the Barça of tomorrow in this game, especially Riqui Puig.

The other big story was Real Madrid being held 1-1 at Leganés in the Monday night game - a lacklustre display from Los Blancos, and they may now have to settle for 3rd place as Atlético beat Celta 2-0 to go 4 points clear of their rivals.

Don't forget to check out our Twitter feed - we'll keep you up-to-date on Barcelona's Champions League quarter-final 2nd leg against Manchester United and also Valencia v Villarreal part 2 in the Europa League with Los Che 3-1 up.

Enjoy!

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Costa's potty mouth, Aspas amazes again, but Cazorla cries... LaLiga Matchday 31 recap! Apr 08, 2019

Oi, Diego Costa - the LaLiga title race is officially over, thanks to you. After you got sent off, Atlético Madrid held out at the Camp Nou until 85 minutes...and then lost. Just imagine what they might have done if you hadn't lost your rag...

So yes, Barcelona are now 11 points clear after that 2-0 win over Atleti in the biggest fixture of Matchday 31, and that should really be that. Real Madrid might still finish 2nd - they needed to give their heads a wobble at home to Eibar and eventually turned that game around to win, but the Bernabéu still basically hates Gareth Bale. Elsewhere, Getafe and Sevilla both won in the race for 4th.

As for the relegation battle, bottom side Huesca got a point at Levante who are sailing worryingly close to the bottom 3, while Villarreal missed a last-minute penalty and lost 2-1 at Real Betis, Santi Cazorla was seen crying after full-time. But it's not all tears and fears - the best result belongs to Rayo Vallecano after their 2-0 victory over Valencia, their first win under new boss Paco Jémez, while Celta Vigo came from behind again, this time 3-1 at home to Real Sociedad.

Don't forget to check out our Twitter feed, @LaLigaLowdown, and we'll happily keep you across Barcelona's Champions League quarter-final 1st leg at Manchester United, as well as Villarreal v Valencia in the Europa League last 8.

Enjoy!

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The Tears of Iago Aspas... LaLiga Matchday 29 recap! Apr 01, 2019

At half-time of Celta Vigo's home game with Villarreal, it looked like the hosts were totally dead and buried...but for the irresistible force which is Iago Aspas, especially at Balaídos. 45 minutes later, Celta had fought back from 0-2 to win 3-2 and give their LaLiga survival hopes a real shot in the arm. The image of the night was Iago Aspas weeping on the bench, overcome by the emotion of it all - no doubt then about the hero of the weekend on Matchday 29 in LaLiga.

In terms of the other relegation-threatened teams, all of Huesca, Rayo Vallecano and Real Valladolid held leads, but none of them could see take 3 points - even though plucky Huesca almost got a single point away to Real Madrid, before losing 3-2. Levante also dropped 2 points at home to Eibar.

As for the title race, it really is Barcelona's to lose. They remain 10 points clear with now 9 games to go, after eventually getting past a stubborn Espanyol 2-0 - Lionel Messi with both goals, the first of which was a Panenka-style free-kick.

But Atleti are trying as best they can to give chase - their 4-0 victory at Alavés was a complete performance, featuring stunning strikes from Diego Costa and Thomas Partey, but you feel it's too little too late from Diego Simeone's side. Alavés though are still in with a shout of Champions League after Getafe's 2-0 defeat at home to Leganés in the southern Madrid derby, and Lega look safe.

The other key game was Valencia's 1-0 win at Sevilla, so Los Che could still clinch 4th, as well as still being in both the Europa League and Copa del Rey.

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INTERNATIONAL SPECIAL - Wins are wins, but Spain flatter to deceive... Mar 27, 2019

The Euro 2020 qualifiers are underway, and Spain are 2 from 2...so how are they shaping up after the excitement of the Nations League? In this special international podcast, Euan McTear hosts with Paco Polit and Román de Arquer as his guests, as we recap the 2-1 win over Norway and the 2-0 victory in Malta. If those scorelines sound underwhelming...it's because they were. So why did La Roja find it hard to smash their way through supposedly inferior opposition? We'll look at the situation with the strikers, who should lead the line, and what did we make of the rotations literally everywhere from Luis Enrique?

One team who did impress were the Spain under-21s so we discuss the future stars of the national side and we also talk about Catalunya after they played Venezuela. Don't forget LaLiga returns this weekend with Matchday 29 and some intriguing encounters such as the Barcelona derby (Barça v Espanyol), Sevilla against Valencia, and the battle of the southern Madrid suburbs (Getafe v Leganés) - one of those is our Partidazo Predictions choice for this week...

Feel free to check out our Twitter account (@LaLigaLowdown), and you can also follow all the guys at @emctear, @pacopolitENG and @Aeroslavee.

Thanks for listening and enjoy!

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Another Messi hat-trick, another step towards the title for Barça... Matchday 28 recap! Mar 18, 2019

You might as well just give Barcelona the title now. With 10 games to go they're 10 points clear, after another Lionel Messi-inspired display at Real Betis. That 4-1 win, coupled with Atlético Madrid's 2-0 defeat at Athletic Club means that the title race is effectively over, barring a total implosion from the champions.

Real Madrid have got Zinedine Zidane back in the dugout, so we chat about the impact he's had already, how it might affect Gareth Bale and Marcelo's futures at the Estadio Santiago Bernabéu, as well as youth development - at least Zizou kicked off with a win second time around, as Madrid beat Celta 2-0 at home.

Sevilla and Alavés both won to put pressure on 4th-placed Getafe, who drew at Valencia in a relatively dull game...and just up the road, Villarreal came from behind to defeat fellow relegation strugglers Rayo Vallecano 3-1. Elsewhere, Real Valladolid scored twice in stoppage-time to win at Eibar - a huge result.

LaLiga now takes a break as we turn our attention to the Spain national team. Don't forget to listen to our bonus podcasts here at La Liga Lowdown, as well as checking out our Twitter feed - you can find us at @LaLigaLowdown on Twitter.

Enjoy!

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BONUS PODCAST! Valencia CF: their revival, their centenary...and more! Mar 15, 2019

It's a momentous time for Valencia - it's their 100th birthday this month, and the momentum is building in their season as well. Los Che are through to the Copa del Rey final, they've qualified for the quarter-finals of the Europa League and they're on an unbeaten run in LaLiga which is edging them up towards that 4th place which they covet to return to the Champions League next season.

In this bonus podcast, La Liga Lowdown's Paco Polit discusses all the big talking points with Che Scandinavia, a fan group from the most northern part of Europe. Hans and Oscar are representing this "peña", and they give their thoughts on how Valencia have turned their season around after a difficult start, who the main players have been, who has disappointed, who has delighted, with particular focus on a couple of the youth products, Ferrán and Kang-in Lee.

They also tell us about their first memories of Mestalla, and discuss what is so good about the mad festival of "Fallas", which is this time of year in Valencia, as well as the upcoming Spain v Norway friendly and legends' game at Mestalla.

Thanks so much to Hans and Oscar for being part of this bonus podcast, and don't forget to follow us on Twitter - our handle is @LaLigaLowdown.

Enjoy!

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They won 4-1, so how come Madrid were still...meh? Oh, and Villarreal won. (Finally.) - Matchday 27 recap. Mar 11, 2019

The more things change, the more things stay the same...in some ways, it was a weird weekend. Madrid won, for one - that hadn't happened for 2 weeks. And Atleti played musical chairs with left-backs. And Barcelona went behind to the 2nd-bottom side...but guess what? Yes, they won. Again. LaLiga is theirs...

The big results came just below that top 3. Getafe were trailing Huesca but Jaime Mata got them all 3 points to keep them 4th, and Sevilla, Valencia and Real Betis all got victories too...that battle for Champions League and Europa League is on, but you heard it here first...GETA ARE GOING TO FINISH 4TH.

As for the relegation battle, Villarreal are out of the bottom 3 for the first time in a couple of months...was it a plucky battle and a hard-fought win? No, it wasn't. It was a game where neither they nor Levante wanted to win, but somehow the Yellow Submarine did. Oh, and Celta lost their first match under Fran Escribá.

Hope you enjoy our little meander through the action on Matchday 27 in Spain's top division - if so, feel free to rate us 5 stars and say nice things about us in a review...and check out our Twitter feed as well - we are @LaLigaLowdown.

Enjoy!

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The Giant Has Fallen... Real Madrid bonus podcast! Mar 07, 2019

In this bonus podcast, Euan McTear speaks to 2 colleagues in the Spanish capital about Real Madrid after Los Blancos suffered 7 days of their worst nightmares: being knocked out of the Copa del Rey by Barcelona, then losing in LaLiga to Barcelona and finally (and perhaps most shockingly) throwing away a 2-1 away first-leg advantage to crash out of the Champions League to Ajax.

In part 1, Euan and Robbie Dunne pick apart the week of woe, why it's gone so badly wrong, they discuss how much head coach Santi Solari is to blame or how much he has been let down by his players, and how much pressure is now on the Madrid president Florentino Pérez to take the right steps going forward.

In part 2, Euan speaks to Kiyan Sobhani about the Real Madrid loanees who are at other clubs, including Mateo Kovacic and Theo Hernández, but also the likes of Oscar Rodríguez at Leganés, Borja Mayoral at Levante and Raúl de Tomás at Rayo Vallecano. So how bright could the future look for Real Madrid, and who is likely to return to the Bernabeu and force their way back into the first team? Plus, who is the better player - Martin Ødegaard or Frenkie de Jong?!

You can find Robbie on Twitter at @robbiejdunne, and Kiyan is also @KiyanSo - thanks again to both for their contributions to this bonus podcast. Our Twitter handle is @ LaLigaLowdown so feel free to check that out too, and please do leave your lovely reviews and 5-star ratings for the pod if you've enjoyed it.

Enjoy!

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CLÁSICO RECAP: Piqué rules the Bernabéu, as Barça master Madrid. Mar 05, 2019

Real Madrid fans, we apologise. This won't be an easy listen. But it will be a comprehensive one, as we pick apart all the big talking points of El Clásico - the 4th clash between Madrid & Barcelona this season, and a 3rd win for Barça coming swiftly after their victory at the Bernabéu in the Copa del Rey. Gerard Piqué was majestic, but a few other players also stood out in an intense match. David Garrido speaks to Euan McTear in Madrid and Román de Arquer in Barcelona to dissect the big game of the weekend, but that wasn't the only action on another potentially pivotal Matchday 26 in Spain's top division...

David chats with Alex Jonson about Atlético who are just about keeping the LaLiga title race alive thanks to Alvaro Morata, and also the breaking story at Celta Vigo after they changed coach...and Paco Polit was at Mestalla as Valencia won and moved up to 7th in the table, but Villarreal lost yet again.

We also wrap up the rest of the games well inside half an hour, including Huesca's late heroics against Sevilla, Alavés keeping their miracle season going at Betis and history being made at Espanyol by one of their latest signings.

Don't forget to follow us on Twitter (@LaLigaLowdown) as well, and feel free to leave us a lovely review of this podcast and a 5-star rating if you'd be so kind!

Enjoy!

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Messi smashes Sevilla, and the oh-so-curious case of Casemiro - Matchday 25 recap Feb 26, 2019

What would Barcelona do without Lionel Messi? Well, lose a lot more for a start. The little Argentine came back to haunt Sevilla once again with an utterly outstanding hat-trick, helping them come from 1-0 and 2-1 to win at the Sanchez Pizjuan in the last 5 minutes. We celebrate Leo and all his stats, but it's still a bit of a worrying picture for out-of-sorts Philippe Coutinho...

Even more worrying is how referee Iglesias Villanueva gave a penalty as Casemiro got only feather-light contact from Cheick Doucouré if anything, perhaps one of the most controversial calls of the season, as Real Madrid beat Levante...VAR once again in the spotlight. If it wasn't used, why? Whose fault is it? Why couldn't they get it right? We are demanding answers...

Atleti also won, as did Getafe, and we're talking up LaLiga's unfashionable side from the southern Madrid suburbs, because they bloody well deserve it, even if you don't really like them.

That meant defeats for Villarreal & Rayo, while Huesca, Celta, Girona & Espanyol all picked up a single point in their survival battle...it's still tight, it's still tense, it could go down to the wire.

All of that in less than half an hour, feel free to give us a nice review and a 5-star rating on this podcast, and don't forget to check out our Twitter feed as well too - @LaLigaLowdown.

Enjoy!

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BARCELONA BONUS PODCAST - Román speaks to journalist Marco Chiazza Feb 21, 2019

There are so many talking points surrounding the LaLiga champions and Copa del Rey holders, and in this special bonus podcast edition, Román de Arquer speaks to respected journalist Marco Chiazza. If you're a Barcelona fan, or even if you're not, this is definitely for you.

Roman & Marco discuss all of the following topics, in a tight but informing half-an-hour chat:

- reaction to Barça's Champions League draw with Lyon

- why the rotations aren't quite working at the moment

- Coutinho, Arthur and Kevin-Prince Boateng - how are they doing?

- contract situations for Valverde, Jordi Alba and Rakitic

- the 2 Clásicos coming up against Real Madrid in Copa del Rey and LaLiga

- what titles will Barcelona win this season?

Thanks so much to Marco for coming on the show and speaking to us - you can follow him at @MarcoChiazza on Twitter, and you can follow us @LaLigaLowdown.

Enjoy!

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Thanks, Real Madrid, for basically ending the title race early... Matchday 24 recap Feb 19, 2019

Just when you thought you could predict LaLiga, it does something else to confuse you, and this time it's called Real Madrid. Every bit of form pointed towards them not only beating Girona but MAULING THEM...and yet they lost 2-1 at home, and it was basically all their fault. And it's also their fault that Barcelona keep inching further ahead, without doing anything special.

Lionel Messi's tale of 2 penalties was the main storyline from the Camp Nou as Barça just about did enough to beat Real Valladolid, and Atlético weren't much better in their victory at Rayo. For all the big teams, they're struggling to rotate effectively, as the Champions League returns. Sevilla also found that out to their cost as they lost 3-0 at Villarreal - a very poor performance.

So that's 3 vital points for the Yellow Submarine, helped by the fact that Huesca and Rayo lost, and Celta did too, in perhaps the most woeful display of the weekend, smashed 4-1 by Levante.

It's super tight by the way in the bunfight for Europe - 8 points separate 4th and 14th places.

We also look ahead to the Champions League last 16 ties involving Barça and Atleti this week.

Enjoy!

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V-A-arrrrgh! Madrid win an eventful derby v Atleti, while off-colour Barça are held... Feb 12, 2019

You can still hear the fans arguing in the bars of Madrid. To say there were a few controversial or questionable decisions in Saturday's derby is putting it mildly, and the poor old buggers in the VAR booth were right at the centre of it all...but the fact is Real Madrid beat Atleti to go 2nd in the table - they were better, and it's now 5 straight LaLiga wins for them, just 6 points off Barcelona.

The champions looked flat away to Athletic Club, and in fact could have lost this game if it wasn't for Marc-André ter Stegen...Sevilla drew too, getting a Desmond at home to Eibar, but only just...they had been 0-2 down with 10 men with less than 3 minutes to go, before Pablo Sarabia inspired the comeback.

Getafe and Alavés both stay to keep on Sevilla's coat-tails, while at the bottom Huesca won a 2nd consecutive game, defeating the woefully out-of-form Girona at Montilivi, but Villarreal continue to struggle and Rayo make up the bottom 3.

Elsewhere Leganés smashed Betis 3-nil at home, while Celta threw a bit of a hissy fit, complaining about the ref who sent off Maxi Gómez at Getafe.

Don't forget to check out our Twitter feed - @LaLigaLowdown - to keep up with all the European football this week, and we'll see you here next Tuesday!

Enjoy!

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BONUS PODCAST - Madrid edition! Real & Atleti in sharp focus... Feb 08, 2019

In our first special bonus edition of the La Liga Lowdown podcast, Euan McTear speaks to Madrid-based journalist and reporter Antía André about everything that's going on at the 2 big clubs in the Spanish capital.

In a comprehensive chat, they discuss their current form, and also the huge derby at the Wanda Metropolitano this weekend, so find out who Euan and Antía are backing for the game itself...here's a clue: they don't agree!

There's discussion of Alvaro Morata and whether he'll have an impact in the game, as well as Karim Benzema who has hit form, while Euan & Antía also talk about both clubs' genuine hopes in the Champions League as the competition moves into the knockout stages - Madrid face Ajax, Atleti meet Juventus.

Don't forget to check out our Twitter feed, @LaLigaLowdown, for all of the coverage of Matchday 23 in Spain's top division, and our next podcast, also broadcast on SiriusXM FC 157 in North America is out next Tuesday.

Enjoy!

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Messi bails out Barça, Atleti beaten by Betis, Madrid are back and the Basque battle! Feb 05, 2019

"Expect the unexpected" is the theme of LaLiga this season - Barcelona were held by Valencia (rescued by Leo Messi again), then Atlético Madrid could have made up ground on the leaders but they lost at Real Betis...Sevilla also went to out-of-form Celta Vigo, and they lost too. So that's 3 of the top 4 failing to win. Real Madrid have hit form though, 3-nil winners over Alavés.

The chasing pack is starting to look a bit more familiar - Valencia & Real Sociedad are prowling just outside the Europa League places, with La Real upsetting the form book and defeating Athletic Club in the Basque derby. It means they're still unbeaten under coach Imanol Alguacil.

But the relegation fight is getting even tastier - Huesca win, Villarreal draw, Celta win, Leganés win - a huge reaction from the strugglers. The scrap to avoid the drop pretty much involves anyone from 11th down, so tight are things in the bottom half of the table - it's a thrilling battle.

We also look ahead to the Copa del Rey semi-final 1st legs, including a Camp Nou Clásico.

Don't forget to check out our Twitter feed (@LaLigaLowdown), and feel free to rate this podcast 5 stars and give us some really nice comments - we'd be ever so grateful.

Enjoy!

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King Karim, Messi the Master, Rayo are rising, Yellow Sub sinking... Jan 29, 2019

Are Real Madrid back for good? Like REALly back? (Sorry.) Suddenly the boys in white (or actually a weird pinky red this week) are looking like European champions, with big names starring and scoring - especially Karim Benzema as they won at Espanyol. Question is: is he the best number 9 in the world?!

Just up the road, Barcelona beat Girona but it wasn't actually all that easy - still, it's 8 straight league wins, so they stay 5 points clear of Atlético who were totally in control at home to Getafe...and we make a deep analogy about watches.

Sevilla put 5 past leaky Levante who can now boast the worst defence in the division - all Sevilla's goals came in the 2nd half, all from different scorers. And they'll have enjoyed Betis' defeat at a rejuvenated Athletic Club by a goal to nil.

No big team seemed fazed on Derby Day as Valencia put away a poor Villarreal who look now to be really struggling 5 points from safety - whatever new boss Luis García Plaza is doing, it really ain't working, with all of the talent at his disposal. Rayo took advantage by beating Alavés to get out of the bottom 3.

That dropped Celta Vigo into it after they lost at Real Valladolid - we bring you an update after the Celta president decided to go public on a few things. Oh, and congratulations to Huesca - a first clean sheet after 23 games this season.

Enjoy!

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The Greatest Goals Are Scored In LaLiga - FACT. Boateng to Barça?? ALSO FACT. Jan 22, 2019

Some things in LaLiga are odd. Like Barcelona signing Kevin-Prince Boateng. (They actually have, on loan.) But other things aren't. We witnessed some incredible goals this weekend in Spain's top flight - Casemiro for Real Madrid, Jorge Molina for Getafe, Charles for Eibar just to name a few. If you want spectacular strikes and top tekkers, then LaLiga is THE place to be.

As for results, Barça made it 7 wins in a row with Dembélé starring to start off with, and Messi being Messi for the last half-hour, 2nd-placed Atlético were comfortable winners at lowly Huesca and Real Madrid finally put a decent 90 minutes together to beat Sevilla...even if it's no guarantee that it'll continue. And props to Getafe too - they stay 6th after smashing Alavés.

The relegation battle is hotting up - Villarreal could only draw at home to Athletic Club, Rayo Vallecano had the points in their hands but let Real Sociedad back in, Celta also led but threw it all away against Valencia, while Eibar jumped up the table after outclassing Espanyol.

Don't forget to check out our Twitter feed (@LaLigaLowdown) to keep across all the Copa del Rey quarter-final first legs this week, and feel free to rate this podcast 5 stars, you legends.

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MESSI HITS 400! Barca turn on the style, Sevilla lose ground, and it's tight at the bottom... Jan 15, 2019

This weekend we saw yet another milestone in the extraordinary career of Lionel Messi. He's now reached 400 goals in LaLiga after scoring in Barcelona's 3-0 win over Eibar, as the champions take a five-point lead into the second half of the season. The performance of Philippe Coutinho has given Ernesto Valverde food for thought, so Román tells us what the future holds for him.

With Atletico Madrid winning and Sevilla losing, maybe the title race is down to two horses - we're hearing from Euan on Atleti, while Sevilla have at least got some signings through the door including Barca forward Munir - Alex tells us a little bit about their new recruits.

As for the relegation battle, big wins for Leganés, Rayo Vallecano and resurgent Athletic Club, but Villarreal have plumbed new depths - defeat to Getafe leaves them second-bottom. Tough times at Valencia too - Paco was at Mestalla as they drew yet again, against Real Valladolid.

Don't forget to follow us on Twitter as well - our handle is @ LaLigaLowdown, and feel free to give us an amazing rating and review, however you listen to this podcast. Have a great week!

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REAL MADRID ARE OFFICIALLY AWFUL. Plus, Barca go 5 clear and the bottom 3 ALL WIN! Jan 08, 2019

3 words: More Madrid misery. Yes, they might be European champions, but Real Madrid definitely didn't look like it as they slumped to a 6th LaLiga defeat of the season at home to Real Sociedad. We absolutely tear into Los Blancos, and deservedly so because they were truly terrible. The result leaves them 10 points off leaders Barcelona who won away to hard men Getafe, but at least they've signed a 158th young player that they barely need in Brahim Diaz...

Barça were also helped by Sevilla and Atlético Madrid drawing in the glamour game of the weekend - some high-quality football in this one, but not so much from Valencia as they lost at Alavés to put Marcelino under real pressure...the result sends Alavés up to 4th, which is nuts.

In the relegation battle, all of the bottom 3 won, including an historic first LaLiga home victory for Huesca, but Rayo are also showing signs of life and Athletic Club look revitalised under Gaizka Garitano...Villarreal were held to a draw at Eibar, and it's they who are now in the drop zone.

There's also your 3-word verdicts on Matchday 18, thanks for sending those to us! Don't forget to follow us on Twitter - our handle is @LaLigaLowdown - so come have a chat, and feel free to give this podcast and amazing review and a 5-star rating. We'd be forever in your debt.

Hasta luego!

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Madrid are world champions, Barça are LaLiga's Christmas number 1 - Matchday 17 recap Dec 24, 2018

So, reasons for fans of both of Spain's Big 2 to be happy - Real Madrid got the job done in Abu Dhabi as they won a 3rd straight Club World Cup and Barcelona finish the year top of LaLiga and 3 points clear, while one of their rivals stumbled. We look at both in depth and in detail.

Atlético were 1-nil winners over Espanyol thanks to Antoine Griezmann again, but could there be trouble ahead in the January transfer window - anyone for Lucas Hernandez or Jan Oblak?

Sevilla could only draw at Leganés, Valencia needed a stoppage-time goal to beat bottom side Huesca, while Rayo got a big win to take them towards safety. But the established Basque teams didn't have the best results - Athletic Club conceded a late equaliser at home to Real Valladolid, and Real Sociedad were beaten at home by Alavés who sit 5th at Christmas.

There's also your 3-word verdicts on Matchday 17, thanks for sending those to us!

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MESSI, JUST STOP IT. Leo shines, Madrid suffer and Sevilla sparkle - Matchday 16 + Euro draws recap Dec 18, 2018

Go on then, YOU describe Lionel Messi. 3 goals + 2 assists = 1 masterful display as Barcelona got sweet revenge at Levante, winning 5-0 at the ground where they lost last season as they surrendered an unbeaten league campaign in the penultimate game. It means they stay top, but Sevilla were superb and Atletico survived a scare at Valladolid to keep pace with Barca.

Now Real Madrid also won, but it's rarely that simple at the Bernabéu - the stadium was barely half-full as they beat lowly Rayo Vallecano 1-0 and we also look at how vital it is for them to pick up silverware in Abu Dhabi as they play in the Club World Cup for the 3rd season in a row.

At the bottom, a mad game finished Huesca 2-2 Villarreal, while Leganés picked up a vital point in their survival fight away to Celta Vigo, but Valencia and Athletic both drew...again. *sigh*

We also get into the draws for Spanish teams involved in the the last 16 of the Champions League and the round of 32 in the Europa League, with plenty of intriguing ties.

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Hark now hear the angels sing, Messi is the free-kick king! Matchday 15 recap. Dec 11, 2018

How often have we said that superlatives don't do Lionel Messi justice? Well, we're saying it yet again after the little Argentine started and finished the Catalan derby with 2 sensational free-kicks, Barcelona beating Espanyol 4-0 away. We're giving our marks out of 10 to both sides.

Atlético and Real Madrid both win but neither of them had it easy, while Sevilla almost won at Mestalla in LaLiga for the first time in nearly 7 years, but were denied by a late equaliser. Still, things aren't great at Valencia, and they're even worse at Villarreal who sacked their coach Javi Calleja after yet another defeat, and immediately replaced him with Luis García Plaza.

Elsewhere, we saw an 8-goal thriller between Eibar and Levante, while Athletic Club finally got 3 points under the man who's taken over from Toto Berizzo, B-team coach Gaizka Garitano.

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Barça go top, but what's wrong? Madrid win too, Atleti & Sevilla held - Matchday 14 recap Dec 04, 2018

A win, a first clean sheet in 12 LaLiga games, they're back top of the table...but Barcelona fans still aren't happy. The style of play under Ernesto Valverde is coming under intense scrutiny, despite all the injuries they've got, but nevertheless they've reclaimed top spot, and the chasing pack slipped up.

Sevilla in 2nd and Alavés in 4th drew at Mendizorrotza, while 3rd-placed Atlético Madrid were held yet again by Girona - but now Real Madrid are up to 5th and not too far off the lead after beating Valencia...Santi Solari is putting faith in the youth players, and Ballon d'Or winner Luka Modric was also back on form.

There were big victories for Getafe and Levante to keep them in the European mix, and at the bottom, Leganés got a vital victory at Valladolid but Athletic Club and Villarreal can't improve their positions after defeats...Athletic in particular are in trouble after a 3-0 loss at Levante and a red card for Peru Nolaskoain.

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Go on, try and predict LaLiga...as Real Madrid crash and burn at Eibar! Matchday 13 recap Nov 27, 2018

Every week, you think you've got LaLiga figured out and then something else happens to completely ruin your logic. This time it was Real Madrid losing 3-0 at Eibar, having seemingly found their feet under new head coach Santi Solari in recent weeks. Meanwhile Barcelona couldn't win either - in fact, they needed a very late equaliser from Ousmane Dembélé to get a point at Atlético. All of that meant Sevilla are now top after beating Real Valladolid 1-0.

But elsewhere there were other surprises...Espanyol lost to Girona, having been previously 100% at home, and Alavés also went down at Leganés, and while Valencia and Villarreal got vital home wins, Athletic can't hold on to a lead for love nor money - they drop into the bottom 3. There's plenty of VAR chatter as well, as Huesca and Getafe cry foul this time around.

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Spain miss out on Final Four! Also focus on under-21s, the women's Clásico and Atleti v Barcelona preview! Nov 20, 2018

We have a bumper edition of the minipod this week...so maybe it's a maxipod? Or a gigapod?! David Garrido, Paco Polit and Román de Arquer are involved in this one and first up, we cover Spain who lost to Croatia to stop them reaching the Final Four in the UEFA Nations League, but then beat Bosnia in a friendly to round off 2018 - we dissect those matches and discuss how it's gone far under Luis Enrique and what the prospects are now for La Roja going forward.

Then in part 2 it's on Spain's under-21s - as we pick out some talents to look out for in future, including some not even playing in LaLiga at the moment! We also chat a bit of women's football with their Clásico between Barcelona and Atlético Madrid over the last weekend, plus we look ahead to Matchday 13 in LaLiga, featuring in particular Atleti v Barça at the Wanda.

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Enjoy!

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Barça LOSE at home, Madrid stick with Solari, Atleti & Sevilla comeback kings, but Celta SACK their coach! Nov 13, 2018

LaLiga continues to throw up surprise after surprise, and this week it came primarily with Barcelona losing a 7-goal thriller against Real Betis at the Camp Nou - it's their first home defeat in the league since September 2016. We discuss how and why it's happened, with the chasing pack reducing the gap to just 1 point as all of Atlético Madrid, Sevilla & Alavés came from behind to win.

The other big stories came at Balaídos in Galicia, where Real Madrid won 4-2 against Celta Vigo, making sure that Santi Solari stayed in charge for the foreseeable future, but it also led to Celta deciding to ditch Antonio Mohamed and bringing in Miguel Cardoso - we'll tell you more about the new man.

Elsewhere, Valencia got a vital victory to move up the table, but Athletic Club and Villarreal continue to struggle - so how long will their coaches last?

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Barcelona & Real Madrid ALMOST embarrassed, white hankies out for Valencia, but bonkers Betis are BACK - LaLiga Matchday 11 recap Nov 06, 2018

Matchday 11 in LaLiga was about late goals...we had 10 of them in the 80th minute or later spread across the games...and Barcelona needed to score 2 in the last 5 minutes to snatch the win at Rayo Vallecano - Luis Suárez continuing his scoring streak to rescue Barça in the absence of Lionel Messi. Real Madrid also scored twice late on to beat Real Valladolid.

It wasn't a great weekend for the chasing pack - Atlético Madrid and Sevilla held away from home, Alavés lost at Eibar, but Espanyol go back into 2nd place after defeating Athletic Club. As for the big-name strugglers, Valencia were booed off the pitch with the white hankies out at Mestalla after their 0-1 loss to Girona, and Villarreal only just scraped a draw against Levante.

We've also got your 3-word verdicts on the weekend, and we hear from a few fans too.

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Barcelona 5-1 Real Madrid, Lopetegui sacked! LaLiga matchday 10 recap - Clásico Special Oct 30, 2018

There might have been no Messi and no Ronaldo, but Clásicos NEVER lack drama and Sunday's match at the Camp Nou was no different. Barcelona's 5-1 victory at home to Real Madrid sent them back to the top of the table, and in the process ended Julen Lopetegui's reign as Madrid head coach. We discuss the big talking points in the game, why it's gone wrong for Los Blancos under the ex-Spain boss, and who Madrid should get in long-term to replace Lopetegui.

We also take you through the rest of Matchday 10 in LaLiga, featuring:

- Alavés score an injury-time winner to go 2nd in the table

- Sevilla and Atlético Madrid dominate at home, they sit 3rd and 4th

- but Villarreal, Valencia and Athletic Club continue to struggle

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Barcelona top but Messi misses El Clásico! Real Madrid lose again, will Lopetegui get the sack? - Matchday 9 round-up Oct 23, 2018

You could almost hear a pin drop as Lionel Messi was down receiving treatment after falling awkwardly on his arm...and despite already inspiring Barcelona towards victory at home to Sevilla on LaLiga Matchday 9, he will now be out for 3 weeks, meaning he'll miss El Clásico next Sunday.

In this minipod, we discuss that with one of our squad members based in Barcelona, plus how Barça cope without Messi...while Real Madrid continue to stagger and stumble with a home defeat to Levante, heaping the pressure on Julen Lopetegui. Atlético Madrid didn't take advantage as they failed to beat Villarreal, so instead, it's a top 3 of Barcelona, Espanyol and the remarkable Alavés.

Real Valladolid are another little team doing brilliantly - their win at Real Betis taking them up to 6th above Real Madrid, but it's not so fun for Valencia as they drew again at home to Leganés. La Liga is proving even more competitive than usual in a truly compelling season so far.

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England reign in Spain...just! Plus U21 & U19 focus, and LaLiga returns soon! Oct 16, 2018

It's another international special on the La Liga Lowdown minipod, as we recap Spain's 2 matches over the international break - a shock 3-2 loss to England in Seville in the UEFA Nations League as they suffered their first competitive home defeat in 15 years and 39 games, which came off the back of a 4-1 victory over Wales in a friendly in Cardiff last Thursday.

David Garrido takes you through the big talking points from both games, with the help of Román de Arquer in Barcelona and Euan McTear in Madrid, plus they also tell us who's coming up through the ranks as the youth teams both won in under-21s and under-19s Euro qualifying.

We'll preview the fortnight in prospect at Barcelona who have 3 tough home fixtures coming up, and tell you about the first managerial change in LaLiga, at newboys and first-timers Huesca.

We'll also quickly look-ahead to Matchday 9 of LaLliga which gets underway on Friday.

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Enjoy!

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Madrid in crisis, Barcelona held again, Sevilla go top! It's all happening in LaLiga - Matchday 8 recap! Oct 09, 2018

You'd never believe it, but Barcelona and Real Madrid aren't having it their own way in LaLiga - not by a long shot. For starters, they've both failed to win for a 3rd matchday in a row, and Sevilla are the team who've taken advantage to go top of the table, with Atlético Madrid well in the mix 1 point behind.

In this La Liga Lowdown matchday 8 minipod, we discuss how and why Madrid went down 1-0 at Alavés and what is going wrong there, while Barcelona could only draw at Valencia which means they are, unbelievably, winless in 4 in Spain's top division. Also coming up are Espanyol, who are perfect at home - they and Alavés are the early surprise packages as we head into another break.

Elsewhere, Real Valladolid have put a winning streak together, Leganés get a vital win to help them off the bottom, but Huesca, Villarreal and Athletic Club are among the teams struggling.

We hear from Atlético, Valencia and Espanyol fans, plus there's your 3-word verdicts too!

Here's how you can check out the rest of our content on our other platforms:

Twitter - https://www.twitter.com/LaLigaLowdown

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It's keepers on top in the Madrid derby, Barcelona fail to win again but Valencia finally do, and Sevilla score for fun - LaLiga Matchday 7 recap! Oct 02, 2018

Look at that LaLiga table. 6 points covering the top half after 7 games, which just goes to show that The Big 3 don't always have things their own way. In fact, none of them won in this latest round of fixtures, with leaders Barcelona held at home by Athletic Club which means they've taken only 2 out of the last 9 points on offer. What's going on there? Real Madrid and Atlético drew an entertaining derby at the Bernabéu, with Thibaut Courtois and Jan Oblak excelling.

Elsewhere, Sevilla are up to 3rd after a 4th straight win in all competitions at Eibar, scoring 17 goals in the process, and Valencia got a victory at the 7th time of asking - at Real Sociedad.

But at the bottom, it's tough for Leganés who conceded late to lose at Real Betis, whereas Rayo Vallecano and Huesca both had to come from behind to earn a vital point in their survival battle.

Here's how you can check out the rest of our content on our other platforms:

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Red Card Fiesta - as Barça drop points, Madrid & Atleti do enough, while Sevilla smash Levante for 6! Matchday 5 Re-Cap Sep 24, 2018

LaLiga was back to its usual crazy self this weekend, as there were goals galore and no fewer than 7 red cards spread over the 10 games on Matchday 5.

One of them came at the Camp Nou, as Clément Lenglet was sent off and Barcelona were held to a 2-all draw by Catalan neighbours Girona - and Cristhian Stuani scored twice to be joint top-scorer in LaLiga with 5, alongside Lionel Messi. Real Madrid rotated and survived as they beat Espanyol 1-0 at home, while Atleti were fortunate and won 2-0 at 10-man Getafe.

In the other games, madness reigned - Alavés winning 5-1 at Rayo Vallecano, who also finished the game with 10 men, while Sevilla put 6 past Levante. Celta Vigo also let a 2-goal lead slip, twice, as Real Valladolid fought back for a draw.

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Barça stay perfect, but Real Madrid & Atlético scrape draws while Sevilla suffer a shocker - Matchday 4 in LaLiga Sep 18, 2018

There's now just the one team with a 100% record in LaLiga, and that's Barcelona - not that they had it all their own way, having to come from behind to beat Real Sociedad in their newly refurbished stadium...but at least they won.

Both Real Madrid and Atlético had to settle for draws against Basque opposition - Madrid frustrated by an Athletic Club inspired by young keeper Unai Simón, while Eibar goalie Marko Dmitrovic was the man who stopped Atleti at the Wanda Metropolitano - it leaves Diego Simeone's side 7 points off the pace.

Sevilla haven't won since the opening day and they lost 2-0 at home to Getafe, while Valencia continue to struggle too...still no win for them this season, held to a goalless draw at home by Real Betis. But there are other teams who are taking advantage - Espanyol, Alavés and Girona all won to move on to 7 points.

We'll also take a brief lookahead at some of the European football this week as the group stages of both Champions League and Europa League get started.

Here's where you can catch the rest of our content on our other platforms...

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Spain shine at Wembley, thanks to Saúl, Rodrigo & Luis Enrique - International Break Extended Edition! Sep 10, 2018

This week there's no LaLiga, so we're focusing on the Spain national team as David Garrido is joined by Alex Jonson and Euan McTear to discuss their 2-1 win over England at Wembley.

David, Alex and Euan go through all the talking points, including what's different about this side under Luis Enrique compared to the one who failed at the World Cup, why Saúl is so pivotal, and which other players impressed as Spain begin their UEFA Nations League campaign.

We also look ahead to the Croatia game on Tuesday, gush about the under-21 team who have qualified for next summer's Euros, as well as looking back briefly on the first 3 matchdays of the LaLiga season, whilst also previewing the exciting games coming up this weekend.

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Twitter - https://www.twitter.com/LaLigaLowdown

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And if you like what you hear on this podcast, feel fee to give us a 5-star rating!

Enjoy!

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A Barça-bashing, brilliant Benzema and Betis brag - a frantic Matchday 3 in LaLiga! Sep 04, 2018

Shock horror, we now have Barcelona and Real Madrid as the only 2 teams with 100% records in LaLiga after 3 rounds of games, and both flexed their muscles this weekend.

Madrid are getting into their new style under Julen Lopetegui, beating Leganés 4-1 at the Bernabéu, while Barcelona doubled that scoreline, demolishing newboys Huesca 8-2.

There was a shock elsewhere, as Atlético Madrid had a real off day and lost at Celta Vigo, and the 2 big derbies in Spain ended Real Betis 1-0 Sevilla and Levante 2-2 Valencia.

We recap the end of the summer transfer window, look at Luis Enrique's first Spain squad, plus we've got your 3-word verdicts, so listen out for those at the end of this minipod!

Here's how you can catch the rest of our content on our other platforms:

Twitter - https://www.twitter.com/LaLigaLowdown

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Enjoy!

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Matchday 2 - pitch farce for Barça, Madrid "four" the title, Leganés and Huesca comeback kings! Aug 28, 2018

We had it all in the second round of games in LaLiga! Barcelona were involved in the big controversy, playing on a terrible pitch at Real Valladolid as they won 1-0 away - and it's gone right to the very top. Real Madrid put 4 past Girona, but had to come from behind to do it.

Talking of comebacks, 2 of the feel-good stories of the weekend - Leganés fighting back from 2 down against Real Sociedad on Friday night, while Huesca did likewise to Athletic Club on Monday night at San Mamés. Both draws were well-deserved. But none of Valencia, Sevilla, Villarreal or Real Betis managed to score a single goal between them on Matchday 2.

We also hear from two of the heroes of the weekend who we grabbed in the mixed zone after their games - Leganés' Nabil el Zhar and Pione Sisto who scored and assisted in Celta Vigo's 2-1 victory at Levante, plus we have your 3-word verdicts from the weekend as well.

And here are our other platforms where you can find our content on social and digital media:

Twitter - https://www.twitter.com/LaLigaLowdown

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Enjoy the start of the season!

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Matchday 1 - magic Messi, brilliant Bale, historic Huesca, Mestalla stunner. LaLiga is GO! Aug 21, 2018

What a weekend to get us underway in LaLiga! Where do we begin? The Big 2 won at home thanks to their talismen - Messi for Barcelona, Bale for Real Madrid...and what a belter at Mestalla on Monday night as Valencia and Atlético drew 1-1 - LaLiga has got off to an explosive start, with the stars delivering.

And there were some super debuts - Huesca won their first game ever in Spain's top division away to Eibar, while André Silva scored a hat-trick against Rayo Vallecano, having joined Sevilla on loan.

Elsewhere, Levante stunned Real Betis away, including a frankly ridiculous Forrest Gump-type goal from captain José Luis Morales, while Villarreal gifted Real Sociedad victory having been ahead, and Iker Muniaín netted a 93rd-minute winner for Athletic Club as they edged past Leganés.

We've also got a little snippet of our exclusive interview with Betis keeper Joel Robles which you can watch in full on our YouTube channel (details below), as well as Joel's attempt at the Penalty Paddle game, and there's your 3-word verdicts on the weekend.

All of the above in less than half an hour - it's a power-packed pod! Here are our other platforms where you can find the best of Spanish football content on social and digital media:

Twitter - https://www.twitter.com/LaLigaLowdown

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2018-19 Season Preview: 3-horse title race? Can Betis be brilliant again? Are the newboys doomed for the drop? Aug 14, 2018

LaLiga is well and truly BACK this weekend - have you missed it? So have we.

In this preview edition, we look at how Real Madrid will cope in the post-Zidane, post-Ronaldo era, whether Barcelona can fit in their Brazilians and how Atlético Madrid can challenge once again.

There's also that bunch of teams scrambling for the European places - expect Valencia to be there again, but can Villarreal and Real Betis make good on their summer signings, and what about 2 letdowns from last season, Athletic Club and Real Sociedad - will the Basques bounce back?

And after the amazing work from Eibar, Leganés and Girona in past seasons, will ANOTHER first-time LaLiga team manage to stay up? Can Huesca pull off the Houdini act? And can Rayo Vallecano and Real Valladolid do enough to stay clear of the trap door? Who else might just struggle?

We get through it all in less than half an hour - it's a power-packed pod! Here are our other platforms where you can find the best of Spanish football content on social and digital media:

Twitter - https://www.twitter.com/LaLigaLowdown

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Enjoy the start of the season!

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13: Adiós Andrés, Farewell Fernando...plus Matchday 38 recap and EXCLUSIVE interview with John Guidetti May 21, 2018

The curtain falls on the 2017-18 LaLiga season, and also on some big names at their current clubs - Andrés Iniesta at Barcelona, Fernando Torres at Atlético Madrid and Xabi Prieto at Real Sociedad. We focus on those farewells and take a broader look at how various clubs have fared this campaign after Matchday 38, plus there's a sneaky snippet of our exclusive interview with Alavés and Sweden striker John Guidetti which you can see on our YouTube channel on Wednesday and Thursday this week.

Diego looks at Barcelona and why some fans have doubted Ernesto Valverde despite Barça doing the domestic double.
Euan assesses Atlético Madrid's campaign in which they finished 2nd in LaLiga and also won the Europa League, while rivals Real Madrid let a 2-goal lead slip at Villarreal and had to settle for 3rd...and Zinedine Zidane's team selection was interesting ahead of their Champions League final against Liverpool next Saturday - could Gareth Bale start in Kiev after 4 goals in his last 3 games?
Paco focuses on all 3 teams in the Valencian Community and gives them his marks out of 10 (check out how he did Levante), while Alex is backing LaLiga's littl'uns...and tells us why she thinks the smaller teams in Spain's top division prospered this season.

There's also your 3-word verdicts, and while you're at it, why not check out the rest of our content across all of our platforms?

Find us, follow us and chat to us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/LaLigaLowdown

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Visit our website: www.laligalowdown.com And enjoy! #LLL

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12: Barcelona are beaten in 9-goal thriller! Madrid hit Celta for 6, Betis & Sevilla in derby draw... May 14, 2018

After getting through El Clásico the weekend before, Barcelona fell at the penultimate hurdle in their quest for LaLiga invincibility this season - it was a thrilling game at Levante's Estadio Ciudad de Valencia, where the home side just about held on to win 5-4 after surviving a second-half comeback from Barça, who finally lose their unbeaten league record. It had been 36 games this campaign, and in fact 43 in total.

Real Madrid intensified their preparations for the Champions League final by putting 6 goals past Celta Vigo...but a double from Gareth Bale and a superb strike from Isco has caused a headache for Zinedine Zidane who will soon have to decide on his starting XI versus Liverpool.

Elsewhere, a pulsating Gran Derbi finished honours even, as Sevilla went behind, then in front and Betis finally equalised in a 2-2 draw - Joaquín Caparrós' side clinch a place in the Europa League qualifiers with a game to spare, as Getafe lost at home to Atlético Madrid.

There was also Xabi Prieto's victorious farewell to the Estadio Anoeta as his Real Sociedad team-mates wore a shirt with his face as the badge, while Alavés, Eibar, Espanyol, Villarreal & Valencia also won.

Plus we have your 3-word verdicts from Matchday 37 in LaLiga, and we reveal who is our next EXCLUSIVE interview on our YouTube channel.

Why not check out the rest of our content on all our platforms?

Find us, follow us and chat to us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/LaLigaLowdown

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Visit our website with all of our content in one place: www.laligalowdown.com

And enjoy!

#LLL

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11: El CLASH-ico recap as Barca stay unbeaten but ref takes centre stage, Atleti lose at home, Valencia return to Champions League May 07, 2018

El Clásico was another enthralling affair and we take a look back at it in depth and detail as 10-man Barcelona drew 2-2 with Real Madrid to keep alive their hopes of completing an unbeaten LaLiga season. Plenty to discuss here, including the refereeing decisions of Alejandro Hernández Hernández - cards and fouls given and not given...

Elsewhere, Atlético Madrid conceded and lost at home to Espanyol but then they did field a severely weakened side as they turn their full attentions to the Europa League final next Wednesday, while Valencia were also defeated at Villarreal, but they can at least celebrate a return to the Champions League - having been away from Europe for 2 years.

The race for 7th place is still going strong with all of Sevilla (under a new boss), Getafe and even Eibar winning - and you can't discount Girona just yet. And speaking of Betis, we've also got a snippet of our extensive, EXCLUSIVE interview with defender Jordi Amat which we'll be releasing in 2 parts on our YouTube channel later this week.

Plus there's a look-back at the Galician derby and your 3-word verdicts.

Why not check out our other content on our other platforms?

Find us, follow us and chat to us on Twitter: twitter.com/LaLigaLowdown

Check out our videos and subscribe to our YouTube channel: youtube.com/c/LaLigaLowdown

Visit our website: www.laligalowdown.com

And enjoy!

#LLL

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10: BARCELONA SPECIAL - EXTENDED EDITION! Title-winners & Iniesta departure, while Montella leaves, Deportivo descend and Levante are safe... Apr 30, 2018

In this extended edition of the La Liga Lowdown minipod, Diego Lorijn steps into the hosting hotseat...as it's a Barcelona Special!

Our resident cule is joined by fellow LLL-ers Alex Jonson and Euan McTear, as they take us through Barca clinching the title with a 4-2 victory at El Riazor, with Lionel Messi fittingly scoring a hat-trick.

It means that Ernesto Valverde's side have won the league with three games to spare, and add that title to their Copa del Rey success in a domestic double - we discuss how they did it, what the key factors were in a season which had started with the departure of Neymar and a real humbling at the hands of Real Madrid in the Supercopa.

Before the game, Andres Iniesta confirmed he is leaving Barcelona at the end of the season, so Diego, Alex and Euan thrash out whether it's the right decision, and what legacy "El Don" leaves.

The 4-2 victory relegated Deportivo La Coruna, who will therefore be playing in Segunda Division next season along with Las Palmas and Malaga...and the rest of Matchday 35 featured wins for Atletico and a much-rotated Real Madrid who have European commitments coming up this week, Vincenzo Montella departing Sevilla as they lost at Levante who stay up in Primera, while fellow promoted sides Getafe and Girona drew as they fight for Europa League football.

Why not check out the rest of our content?

Find us, follow us and chat to us on Twitter: twitter.com/LaLigaLowdown

Watch our videos on YouTube: www.youtube.com/c/LaLigaLowdown

Our website is live: www.laligalowdown.com

Enjoy!

#LLL

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9: The Wanda of Iniesta, Las Palmas sink, Espanyol change coach...and Getafe for Europe?! Apr 23, 2018

"Don Andrés Iniesta" - that was one of your "3-Word Verdicts" in honour of the Barcelona captain after he scored in the Copa del Rey final to lift the trophy at the Wanda Metropolitano on Saturday night. We discuss the start of his farewell from Spanish football, but also what the 5-0 defeat means for Sevilla head coach Vincenzo Montella.

In LaLiga, we wave goodbye to Las Palmas whose relegation was confirmed in disastrous fashion - losing 4-0 at home to Alavés. Deportivo are almost down too after only drawing at Leganés.

While Atlético Madrid looked like they were saving themselves for Arsenal in a goalless draw with Real Betis, the real momentum in the race for the Europa League lies with Getafe, who are now 8th after three straight wins, and it'll be a proper bunfight from here on in.

Espanyol won their first game under interim head coach David Gallego who has replaced Quique Sánchez Flores, so we tell you about the new man and round up the rest of the talking points from Matchday 34.

Why not check out our other content on our other platforms:

Find us, follow us and chat with us on Twitter: twitter.com/LaLigaLowdown

Watch our videos on YouTube: youtube.com/c/LaLigaLowdown

Have a look at our website: www.laligalowdown.com

And enjoy!

#LLL

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8: Barca break records, Betis bang in form, Depor aren't dead, golazos galore! Apr 16, 2018

What a weekend it was in LaLiga on Matchday 32, and congratulations to FC Barcelona who set a new record of 39 matches unbeaten in Spain's top division - some achievement from Ernesto Valverde's side.

That's after a 2-1 victory over Valencia - Diego casts his expert eye over both teams' performances, while the Madrid sides also won.

There were some entertaining games as the fight for Europa League football next season goes on - Real Betis' winning streak continues, while Sevilla and Villarreal shared the points (and the red cards) in a crazy game at the Sánchez Pizjuán. A brilliant goal there from Steven N'Zonzi, likewise from Damián Suárez for Getafe - real golazos, both.

At the bottom, there is life in the relegation battle as Deportivo La Coruña won again while Levante lost - Málaga's position is so dire that they could get relegated on Thursday. We'll also have your 3-Word Verdicts on the weekend just gone - there are some crackers in there.

Find us, follow us and chat with us on Twitter: twitter.com/LaLigaLowdown

Check out our videos on our YouTube channel: youtube.com/c/LaLigaLowdown

And our website is now live: www.laligalowdown.com

Enjoy!

#LLL

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7: Derby draw, matchball for Messi & Iago Aspas, but poor Las Palmas... Apr 09, 2018

Two pivotal results could have settled two outstanding issues in LaLiga - at opposite ends of the LaLiga table. Barcelona are now totally champions in waiting after nearest challengers Atlético Madrid drew a pulsating derby 1-1 away to Real Madrid, who could and should have won. Barça's 3-1 victory over Leganés means they edge yet closer to an invincible league season, but could they slip up somewhere?

Diego looks at that, Euan gives both Madrid teams his report card, while they're split by Valencia who made it 25 points out of 27 with another win - Paco is delving deep into their head coach Marcelino.

The other significant outcome came at Valencia's neighbours, Levante, who beat Las Palmas 2-1 to go eight points clear of the relegation zone and almost certainly consign the Canary Islanders and Málaga to life in the Segunda División next season, while Deportivo finally won a game!

There's also the latest on the fight for Europa League football, with Real Betis looking very attractive indeed and Celta Vigo making their case for a place in the continent's second-tier competition in 2018-19.

Plus, we've got your 3-word verdicts, and you complete our Animal XI in LaLiga...some excellent suggestions, so thanks so much for those.

Find us, follow us and chat with us on Twitter: twitter.com/LaLigaLowdown

Watch and subscribe to our YouTube channel: youtube.com/c/LaLigaLowdown

Check out our new website: www.laligalowdown.com

Have a good week and enjoy!

#LLL

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6: Messi saves Barcelona, Málaga finally win and Machín speaks exclusively to LLL! Apr 02, 2018

Breathless. Pulsating. Frenetic. Dramatic. Unbelievable.

Although could could believe it - Barcelona scoring twice in the last 3 minutes to get a point at Sevilla, Lionel Messi with the equaliser.

That was the headline game on Matchday 30 in LaLiga, as Barça kept their unbeaten run alive, while the 3 teams immediately below them all won and kept a clean sheet too. But it'll take many more slip-ups for Ernesto Valverde's men to give up the title they have in their grasp…

Málaga won for the first time in 15 games and 112 days as they defeated a poor Villarreal at La Rosaleda, while Girona surrendered a lead but picked up a point, as they kept pushing for Europa League.

We hear from Girona's head coach Pablo Machín in a snippet of our exclusive interview, which you can watch on our YouTube channel: youtube.com/c/LaLigaLowdown

Find us, follow us and chat to us on Twitter: twitter.com/LaLigaLowdown

Check out our new website: www.laligalowdown.com

Enjoy!

#LLL

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5: Spain entertain: Iniesta fiesta, Isco disco...plus nationalities and loyalties Mar 26, 2018

LLL goes on the road as David visits Diego in Barcelona to discuss the Spain national team’s performance in Düsseldorf, as they drew 1-1 with world champions Germany. This is a feature-length episode of just over half an hour, and among the main talking points are:

Iniesta: his passing, his career, his future, his winery!
Isco shines, and the midfield make-up overall
is Rodrigo now Spain’s first-choice “striker”?
having two world-class keepers on show
what is it like having two teams to support at a major tournament?! David and Diego share their stories...

We feature YOUR comments throughout as well, so thank you for sending those through to us on Twitter: twitter.com/LaLigaLowdown

Subscribe to our YouTube channel here: youtube.com/c/LaLigaLowdown

And our website is now LIVE: laligalowdown.com

Enjoy!

#LLL

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4: Ronaldo goes goal-crazy, Atlético let it slip, Barça win again... Mar 19, 2018

The action's been relentless as we head into the international break, with some pivotal results at the top and bottom of the LaLiga table.

Real Madrid 6-3 Girona was the crazy game of Matchday 29, and now the champions have Atlético in their sights as they dropped 3 points away to Villarreal, and Barcelona have one hand on the trophy after beating Athletic Bilbao to go all of ELEVEN points clear at the top.

Crucial games at the bottom too, with Deportivo and Las Palmas still in the relegation zone after they drew at Riazor, but Levante won again under new boss Paco Lopez - La Liga Lowdown was at the Estadio Ciudad de Valencia to hear from some ecstatic fans, PLUS there's a couple of snippets from our chat with Levante full-back Shaq Moore.

If that wasn'tenough, we assess the Champions League and Europa League quarter-final draws and we've got your 3-word verdicts!

If you like this minipod, rate us 5 stars and subscribe now, plus...

Find us, follow us and chat to us on Twitter: twitter.com/LaLigaLowdown

Subscribe to our YouTube channel: youtube.com/c/LaLigaLowdown

Enjoy!

#LLL

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3: Ronaldo, Griezmann and Dembélé star, while it's lift-off for Levante! Mar 12, 2018

On this edition of the minipod, we hear from Barcelona fans preparing themselves for their Champions League showdown with Chelsea on Wednesday, plus Atlético Madrid win big again, but they need Barça to slip up to have any chance in the title race. Instead, their supporters tell us their priority this season - is it LaLiga or Europa League?

Paco Polit runs the rule over Sevilla v Valencia, and gives both teams marks out of 10, as Los Che close in on a return to Europe's top table for next season. And not too far away from them, Levante FINALLY get a win at the 16th time of asking, to pull away from the relegation zone.

Villarreal bounce back to win and go 6th, while Girona keep up the habit and they're amazingly they're just 2 points off 5th themselves.

Also, Diego Lorijn and Euan McTear make their minipod debuts, while there are some cracking 3-word verdicts on Matchday 28 in LaLiga!

Subscribe to our YouTube channel: youtube.com/c/LaLigaLowdown

Follow us on Twitter: twitter.com/LaLigaLowdown

And subscribe to this minipod - out each and every Monday.

Enjoy!

#LLL

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2: Title race over? Plus, Luis Garcia exclusive #LLL interview Mar 05, 2018

8 points. That's now Barcelona's lead in LaLiga after beating Atlético Madrid 1-0 - so has Lionel Messi called time in the title race? He scored his 600th goal during the game, yet another milestone...

Real Madrid and Valencia continue to give chase with decent wins, and props to Girona for getting giddy and hitting the heights of 7th place!

Towards the bottom, we check in on Levante with Paco López now replacing Juan Muñiz for the rest of the season, plus we have part 2 of our exclusive interview with Luis García, where he tells us about the early Barcelona years, working with Rafa Benitez, his return to Atlético and also the highlight of his career with the Spain national team.

Don't forget there's your 3-word verdicts on Matchday 27 in LaLiga!

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Follow us on Twitter: twitter.com/LaLigaLowdown

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1: La Liga Lowdown - Trailer Feb 28, 2018

Hello everyone,

We're just launching La Liga Lowdown, a new content hub on Spanish football in English, so we'd thought we'd give you a little taste of what we're all about. This is just a trailer episode to get us going, but we'll have our first full minipod on Monday 5th March, on a weekly basis.

In the meantime, check out our Twitter (@LaLigaLowdown) and we'll also be kicking off our YouTube content over the next few days.

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