La Liga Lowdown

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LaLiga Matchday 35 Recap: Molina mastery makes Mallorca miserable May 09, 2022

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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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