La Liga Lowdown

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

Show notes

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.

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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.

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LaLiga Matchday 8 Preview: So long, Julen Oct 06, 2022

Show notes

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

Show notes

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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