La Liga Lowdown

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LaLiga Matchday 26 Recap: Fast and Furious - The European Race Heats up in Seville Feb 28, 2022

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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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