La Liga Lowdown

Latest Episodes:

Valencia's shock Copa win as Barça's double dream dies - BUMPER FINAL EDITION! May 27, 2019

Show notes

We've gone double-length for this podcast, as it's the final one of the season and we wanted to give you, the fans, TOP value. Of course this pod focuses on the Copa del Rey final where Valencia shocked Barcelona to win 2-1 at the Estadio Benito Villamarín to lift their first trophy in 11 years, while also denying Barça a domestic double - the culés have to settle for one piece of silverware.

We dissect and analyse the final in real depth, the players who performed, the players who didn't, should Ernesto Valverde leave the Camp Nou and what this means for Los Che - David Garrido hosts, with Paco Polit who was at the stadium in Seville on Saturday night and Román de Arquer based in Barcelona.

We also speak to Euan McTear in Madrid as we take a considered look at the main narratives of the 2018-19 campaign, and David and Euan also reveal their teams of the season, but with a twist: only 1 player allowed per LaLiga team!

Don't forget to give us a lovely review and a 5-star rating if you'd be so kind, and also to check out our Twitter feed (@LaLigaLowdown) - we'd be so grateful.

Enjoy!

#LLL

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Valencia finish 4th, Athletic agony but Espanyol ecstasy, Girona down and Setién out - Matchday 38 recap! May 20, 2019

Show notes

And so, LaLiga is done and dusted for another season...an up-and-down season finished with yet more twists and turns on the 38th and final matchday - with Valencia and Getafe in the race for Champions League qualification, and Athletic were the width of the crossbar away from the Europa League, but in the end, that accolade went to Espanyol as they snatched 7th place in the table.

Relegation was almost decided before time - Girona needed a miracle, but they were put out of their misery at Alavés, while Iago Aspas was once again the hero as Celta Vigo pulled off yet another comeback, this time against Rayo.

In the less meaningful matches, none of Barcelona, Atlético or Real Madrid managed to win, and in fact Madrid were awful in their defeat to Real Betis, who then announced that Quique Setién would not be carrying on as head coach.

Also, the LLL squad give their "moments of the season" - there are some interesting choices! Thanks for listening, any lovely ratings and reviews are welcome and don't forget to check out our Twitter feed (@LaLigaLowdown).

Enjoy!

#LLL

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Race for 4th takes a TWIST...while Levante, Villarreal and Valladolid are finally SAFE! Matchday 37 recap May 13, 2019

Show notes

Football is often all about how you get up, not how you fell down in the first place. Barcelona and Valencia both responded to European exits last week by winning on Sunday, as all 10 matches in LaLiga were played at exactly the same time. Maybe it'll catch on, who knows? It made for a dramatic penultimate round of games, and a twist in the race for the Champions League.

Getafe went to Barça and had their chances but lost 2-0, even though the champions were poor by their own standards...while Valencia came from behind to beat Alavés 3-1 at home, to take control of the battle for 4th place. It means matters are in their own hands going into the final day of the league campaign. Sevilla could only draw 1-1 away to Atlético Madrid, so they are almost certainly going to have to settle for Europa League football next season.

There are still 3 teams who could finish 7th - Real Sociedad beat Real Madrid, Espanyol won at Leganés, Athletic Club defeated Celta Vigo...which in turn has implications for the relegation battle. Who will be playing in Segunda next season with Huesca and Rayo? It's down to Celta and Girona, but the latter need a miracle next Sunday to stay up, while Levante, Villarreal and Real Valladolid are safe - in fact, Valladolid are the only promoted team to stay up.

It's all set for a fascinating final day of LaLiga next Sunday - we'll bring you that, and also don't forget to check out our Twitter feed - we are @LaLigaLowdown.

Enjoy!

#LLL

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So long Rayo, farewell Huesca...but Geta are still doing better in the race for 4th... Matchday 36 recap! May 06, 2019

Show notes

Finally, we've had 2 teams confirmed as relegated from LaLiga...Rayo Vallecano and Huesca gave it a good crack, but were put out of their misery after suffering big defeats on Matchday 36 - Rayo going down 4-1 at Levante, Huesca were smashed 6-2 at home by Valencia. Both of these are teams who came up from Segunda last season, so they return straight away - in truth, neither of them really looked like escaping the drop. But Real Valladolid still might - their 1-0 win at home to Athletic Club takes them out of the relegation zone...for now at least.

In terms of the other relegation candidates, Celta Vigo pulled off a 2-0 win over champions Barcelona at Balaídos, while Villarreal could only manage a 3-2 defeat away to Real Madrid - Girona also lost, 2-0 at Getafe who continue to keep their unlikely Champions League dreams alive. This was a comfortable win but a huge 3 points, and if Geta finish 4th, it'll be an astonishing achievement. Sevilla look like they've given up the ghost with a 3rd defeat in 4 - they went down 3-0 at home to Leganés, and they're now down to 6th in the table. Valencia's big win keeps them in the hunt, but remember they also have a Europa League semi-final 2nd leg at home to Arsenal to think about, and ultimately 4th place is out of their hands anyway.

We'll keep you across that game and also Barcelona's trip to Liverpool in the Champions League on our Twitter feed, so check it out: we are @LaLigaLowdown on Twitter.

Enjoy!

#LLL

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BARCELONA ARE CHAMPIONS! Full analysis and reaction on Barça's title triumph, plus a Matchday 35 recap. Apr 29, 2019

Show notes

Well, we knew it was coming, and in the end, Barcelona have done it with 3 games to spare. They are once again champions of Spain, retaining their title, making it 8 out of the last 11 that they've won and their 26th crown overall. Lionel Messi, who else, scored the only goal in their 1-0 win over Levante, meaning that Barça could celebrate their triumph in front of their own fans. Atlético Madrid also won 1-0 at home to Real Valladolid, so the gap is 9 points with 3 games to go, but because Barcelona's head-to-head record is better between themselves and Atleti, it means that they are deserved champions.

Real Madrid surprisingly (or maybe not) went down at Rayo by the same scoreline, giving the side from Vallecas the slightest glimmer of hope that they might stay up, but there were also points for the teams around them. Huesca and Villarreal drew, and so did Celta Vigo, but Girona went one better and won.

That result was significant in the race for 4th place, as Sevilla were the team on the wrong end of that result. Not that they were made to pay, because Getafe above them and Valencia below them also lost - to Real Sociedad and Eibar respectively. Very, very odd. So it's as you were in that battle for the final Champions League spot, and 7th-placed Athletic and Alavés in 8th also drew.

Real Betis versus Espanyol is the meh-looking mid-table Monday night game, with both teams safe but neither really able to threaten the European spots.

Don't forget to follow us on Twitter, we are @LaLigaLowdown - don't forget the European semi-finals kick-off this week, with Barcelona at home to Liverpool on Wednesday and Valencia away to Arsenal on Thursday. And feel free to leave a nice comment or a 5-star review about the pod, we always really appreciate it.

Enjoy!

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Barça edge closer, Benzema keeps scoring, Sevilla slip up, Villarreal & Celta win again... Matchday 33 recap! Apr 22, 2019

Show notes

Another weekend of significant results, but the most significant is that Barcelona can win LaLiga again in this next week after their 2-1 victory over Real Sociedad. 2 defenders scored for them, while it was Karim Benzema whose hat-trick gave Real Madrid their most convincing performance of late, beating Athletic Club 3-0. Standby for some stunning stats about the Frenchman...

It was 4th v 5th but Sevilla lost 3-0 at Getafe, and both sides finished with 10 men as referee Mateu Lahoz made himself the centre of attention - as per. Valencia took advantage by beating Real Betis away, with 2 rapier strikes from Gonzalo Guedes, but Rodrigo replaced the injured Denis Cheryshev and then got sent off. It's a compelling battle between those 3 teams for that 4th place...

In the relegation battle, the bottom 2 drew which helped neither side as it finished Rayo 0 Huesca 0, but there were vital wins for Celta Vigo and Villarreal, both at home, both 2-1, while Levante and Valladolid both came from behind but could only draw their games 2-2 against Espanyol and Alavés respectively.

Don't forget to check out our Twitter feed - @LaLigaLowdown - and feel free to leave us a lovely review and a 5-star rating, we really appreciate your support.

Enjoy!

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4-DERBY WEEKEND, including the madness of Sevilla-Betis! Matchday 32 recap. Apr 16, 2019

Show notes

With the title race pretty much done in LaLiga, we had to major on the 4 derbies this week, especially the ones in Seville and Valencia, and in particular the 5-goal thriller at the Estadio Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán where Sevilla beat Real Betis 3-2. These 2 go at it hammer and tongs right from the first whistle, and even before then, the Sevilla anthem sends shivers down your spine. Just check out our Twitter feed -- @LaLigaLowdown -- if you don't believe us...

Along with that game, Valencia took the local bragging rights against a Levante side whose defence is horrendously bad, and Getafe just about got a point at Real Valladolid to keep their hopes alive of finishing in the Champions League places. It was a result that wounded Valladolid more than it really helped Geta.

Villarreal were the big winners this week in the relegation scrap, beating Girona 1-nil at Montilivi - Girona are so bad at home, it's just getting silly now. Rayo Vallecano lost by a single goal in 5 at Athletic Club, and while Huesca managed to pick up a point against Barcelona, survival still looks a long way off for them. We got a glimpse of the Barça of tomorrow in this game, especially Riqui Puig.

The other big story was Real Madrid being held 1-1 at Leganés in the Monday night game - a lacklustre display from Los Blancos, and they may now have to settle for 3rd place as Atlético beat Celta 2-0 to go 4 points clear of their rivals.

Don't forget to check out our Twitter feed - we'll keep you up-to-date on Barcelona's Champions League quarter-final 2nd leg against Manchester United and also Valencia v Villarreal part 2 in the Europa League with Los Che 3-1 up.

Enjoy!

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Costa's potty mouth, Aspas amazes again, but Cazorla cries... LaLiga Matchday 31 recap! Apr 08, 2019

Show notes

Oi, Diego Costa - the LaLiga title race is officially over, thanks to you. After you got sent off, Atlético Madrid held out at the Camp Nou until 85 minutes...and then lost. Just imagine what they might have done if you hadn't lost your rag...

So yes, Barcelona are now 11 points clear after that 2-0 win over Atleti in the biggest fixture of Matchday 31, and that should really be that. Real Madrid might still finish 2nd - they needed to give their heads a wobble at home to Eibar and eventually turned that game around to win, but the Bernabéu still basically hates Gareth Bale. Elsewhere, Getafe and Sevilla both won in the race for 4th.

As for the relegation battle, bottom side Huesca got a point at Levante who are sailing worryingly close to the bottom 3, while Villarreal missed a last-minute penalty and lost 2-1 at Real Betis, Santi Cazorla was seen crying after full-time. But it's not all tears and fears - the best result belongs to Rayo Vallecano after their 2-0 victory over Valencia, their first win under new boss Paco Jémez, while Celta Vigo came from behind again, this time 3-1 at home to Real Sociedad.

Don't forget to check out our Twitter feed, @LaLigaLowdown, and we'll happily keep you across Barcelona's Champions League quarter-final 1st leg at Manchester United, as well as Villarreal v Valencia in the Europa League last 8.

Enjoy!

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The Tears of Iago Aspas... LaLiga Matchday 29 recap! Apr 01, 2019

Show notes

At half-time of Celta Vigo's home game with Villarreal, it looked like the hosts were totally dead and buried...but for the irresistible force which is Iago Aspas, especially at Balaídos. 45 minutes later, Celta had fought back from 0-2 to win 3-2 and give their LaLiga survival hopes a real shot in the arm. The image of the night was Iago Aspas weeping on the bench, overcome by the emotion of it all - no doubt then about the hero of the weekend on Matchday 29 in LaLiga.

In terms of the other relegation-threatened teams, all of Huesca, Rayo Vallecano and Real Valladolid held leads, but none of them could see take 3 points - even though plucky Huesca almost got a single point away to Real Madrid, before losing 3-2. Levante also dropped 2 points at home to Eibar.

As for the title race, it really is Barcelona's to lose. They remain 10 points clear with now 9 games to go, after eventually getting past a stubborn Espanyol 2-0 - Lionel Messi with both goals, the first of which was a Panenka-style free-kick.

But Atleti are trying as best they can to give chase - their 4-0 victory at Alavés was a complete performance, featuring stunning strikes from Diego Costa and Thomas Partey, but you feel it's too little too late from Diego Simeone's side. Alavés though are still in with a shout of Champions League after Getafe's 2-0 defeat at home to Leganés in the southern Madrid derby, and Lega look safe.

The other key game was Valencia's 1-0 win at Sevilla, so Los Che could still clinch 4th, as well as still being in both the Europa League and Copa del Rey.

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INTERNATIONAL SPECIAL - Wins are wins, but Spain flatter to deceive... Mar 27, 2019

Show notes

The Euro 2020 qualifiers are underway, and Spain are 2 from 2...so how are they shaping up after the excitement of the Nations League? In this special international podcast, Euan McTear hosts with Paco Polit and Román de Arquer as his guests, as we recap the 2-1 win over Norway and the 2-0 victory in Malta. If those scorelines sound underwhelming...it's because they were. So why did La Roja find it hard to smash their way through supposedly inferior opposition? We'll look at the situation with the strikers, who should lead the line, and what did we make of the rotations literally everywhere from Luis Enrique?

One team who did impress were the Spain under-21s so we discuss the future stars of the national side and we also talk about Catalunya after they played Venezuela. Don't forget LaLiga returns this weekend with Matchday 29 and some intriguing encounters such as the Barcelona derby (Barça v Espanyol), Sevilla against Valencia, and the battle of the southern Madrid suburbs (Getafe v Leganés) - one of those is our Partidazo Predictions choice for this week...

Feel free to check out our Twitter account (@LaLigaLowdown), and you can also follow all the guys at @emctear, @pacopolitENG and @Aeroslavee.

Thanks for listening and enjoy!

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