La Liga Lowdown

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

Show notes

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.

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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.

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

¿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.

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

Show notes

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.

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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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