La Liga Lowdown

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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.

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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.

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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.

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

Show notes

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.

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

Show notes

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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