La Liga Lowdown

Latest Episodes:

Messi bails out Barça, Atleti beaten by Betis, Madrid are back and the Basque battle! Feb 05, 2019

Show notes

"Expect the unexpected" is the theme of LaLiga this season - Barcelona were held by Valencia (rescued by Leo Messi again), then Atlético Madrid could have made up ground on the leaders but they lost at Real Betis...Sevilla also went to out-of-form Celta Vigo, and they lost too. So that's 3 of the top 4 failing to win. Real Madrid have hit form though, 3-nil winners over Alavés.

The chasing pack is starting to look a bit more familiar - Valencia & Real Sociedad are prowling just outside the Europa League places, with La Real upsetting the form book and defeating Athletic Club in the Basque derby. It means they're still unbeaten under coach Imanol Alguacil.

But the relegation fight is getting even tastier - Huesca win, Villarreal draw, Celta win, Leganés win - a huge reaction from the strugglers. The scrap to avoid the drop pretty much involves anyone from 11th down, so tight are things in the bottom half of the table - it's a thrilling battle.

We also look ahead to the Copa del Rey semi-final 1st legs, including a Camp Nou Clásico.

Don't forget to check out our Twitter feed (@LaLigaLowdown), and feel free to rate this podcast 5 stars and give us some really nice comments - we'd be ever so grateful.

Enjoy!

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King Karim, Messi the Master, Rayo are rising, Yellow Sub sinking... Jan 29, 2019

Show notes

Are Real Madrid back for good? Like REALly back? (Sorry.) Suddenly the boys in white (or actually a weird pinky red this week) are looking like European champions, with big names starring and scoring - especially Karim Benzema as they won at Espanyol. Question is: is he the best number 9 in the world?!

Just up the road, Barcelona beat Girona but it wasn't actually all that easy - still, it's 8 straight league wins, so they stay 5 points clear of Atlético who were totally in control at home to Getafe...and we make a deep analogy about watches.

Sevilla put 5 past leaky Levante who can now boast the worst defence in the division - all Sevilla's goals came in the 2nd half, all from different scorers. And they'll have enjoyed Betis' defeat at a rejuvenated Athletic Club by a goal to nil.

No big team seemed fazed on Derby Day as Valencia put away a poor Villarreal who look now to be really struggling 5 points from safety - whatever new boss Luis García Plaza is doing, it really ain't working, with all of the talent at his disposal. Rayo took advantage by beating Alavés to get out of the bottom 3.

That dropped Celta Vigo into it after they lost at Real Valladolid - we bring you an update after the Celta president decided to go public on a few things. Oh, and congratulations to Huesca - a first clean sheet after 23 games this season.

Enjoy!

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The Greatest Goals Are Scored In LaLiga - FACT. Boateng to Barça?? ALSO FACT. Jan 22, 2019

Show notes

Some things in LaLiga are odd. Like Barcelona signing Kevin-Prince Boateng. (They actually have, on loan.) But other things aren't. We witnessed some incredible goals this weekend in Spain's top flight - Casemiro for Real Madrid, Jorge Molina for Getafe, Charles for Eibar just to name a few. If you want spectacular strikes and top tekkers, then LaLiga is THE place to be.

As for results, Barça made it 7 wins in a row with Dembélé starring to start off with, and Messi being Messi for the last half-hour, 2nd-placed Atlético were comfortable winners at lowly Huesca and Real Madrid finally put a decent 90 minutes together to beat Sevilla...even if it's no guarantee that it'll continue. And props to Getafe too - they stay 6th after smashing Alavés.

The relegation battle is hotting up - Villarreal could only draw at home to Athletic Club, Rayo Vallecano had the points in their hands but let Real Sociedad back in, Celta also led but threw it all away against Valencia, while Eibar jumped up the table after outclassing Espanyol.

Don't forget to check out our Twitter feed (@LaLigaLowdown) to keep across all the Copa del Rey quarter-final first legs this week, and feel free to rate this podcast 5 stars, you legends.

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MESSI HITS 400! Barca turn on the style, Sevilla lose ground, and it's tight at the bottom... Jan 15, 2019

Show notes

This weekend we saw yet another milestone in the extraordinary career of Lionel Messi. He's now reached 400 goals in LaLiga after scoring in Barcelona's 3-0 win over Eibar, as the champions take a five-point lead into the second half of the season. The performance of Philippe Coutinho has given Ernesto Valverde food for thought, so Román tells us what the future holds for him.

With Atletico Madrid winning and Sevilla losing, maybe the title race is down to two horses - we're hearing from Euan on Atleti, while Sevilla have at least got some signings through the door including Barca forward Munir - Alex tells us a little bit about their new recruits.

As for the relegation battle, big wins for Leganés, Rayo Vallecano and resurgent Athletic Club, but Villarreal have plumbed new depths - defeat to Getafe leaves them second-bottom. Tough times at Valencia too - Paco was at Mestalla as they drew yet again, against Real Valladolid.

Don't forget to follow us on Twitter as well - our handle is @ LaLigaLowdown, and feel free to give us an amazing rating and review, however you listen to this podcast. Have a great week!

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REAL MADRID ARE OFFICIALLY AWFUL. Plus, Barca go 5 clear and the bottom 3 ALL WIN! Jan 08, 2019

Show notes

3 words: More Madrid misery. Yes, they might be European champions, but Real Madrid definitely didn't look like it as they slumped to a 6th LaLiga defeat of the season at home to Real Sociedad. We absolutely tear into Los Blancos, and deservedly so because they were truly terrible. The result leaves them 10 points off leaders Barcelona who won away to hard men Getafe, but at least they've signed a 158th young player that they barely need in Brahim Diaz...

Barça were also helped by Sevilla and Atlético Madrid drawing in the glamour game of the weekend - some high-quality football in this one, but not so much from Valencia as they lost at Alavés to put Marcelino under real pressure...the result sends Alavés up to 4th, which is nuts.

In the relegation battle, all of the bottom 3 won, including an historic first LaLiga home victory for Huesca, but Rayo are also showing signs of life and Athletic Club look revitalised under Gaizka Garitano...Villarreal were held to a draw at Eibar, and it's they who are now in the drop zone.

There's also your 3-word verdicts on Matchday 18, thanks for sending those to us! Don't forget to follow us on Twitter - our handle is @LaLigaLowdown - so come have a chat, and feel free to give this podcast and amazing review and a 5-star rating. We'd be forever in your debt.

Hasta luego!

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Madrid are world champions, Barça are LaLiga's Christmas number 1 - Matchday 17 recap Dec 24, 2018

Show notes

So, reasons for fans of both of Spain's Big 2 to be happy - Real Madrid got the job done in Abu Dhabi as they won a 3rd straight Club World Cup and Barcelona finish the year top of LaLiga and 3 points clear, while one of their rivals stumbled. We look at both in depth and in detail.

Atlético were 1-nil winners over Espanyol thanks to Antoine Griezmann again, but could there be trouble ahead in the January transfer window - anyone for Lucas Hernandez or Jan Oblak?

Sevilla could only draw at Leganés, Valencia needed a stoppage-time goal to beat bottom side Huesca, while Rayo got a big win to take them towards safety. But the established Basque teams didn't have the best results - Athletic Club conceded a late equaliser at home to Real Valladolid, and Real Sociedad were beaten at home by Alavés who sit 5th at Christmas.

There's also your 3-word verdicts on Matchday 17, thanks for sending those to us!

Here's where you can catch our content on our other platforms...

Twitter - https://www.twitter.com/LaLigaLowdown

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/LaLigaLowdown

Website - https://www.laligalowdown.com

Enjoy!

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MESSI, JUST STOP IT. Leo shines, Madrid suffer and Sevilla sparkle - Matchday 16 + Euro draws recap Dec 18, 2018

Show notes

Go on then, YOU describe Lionel Messi. 3 goals + 2 assists = 1 masterful display as Barcelona got sweet revenge at Levante, winning 5-0 at the ground where they lost last season as they surrendered an unbeaten league campaign in the penultimate game. It means they stay top, but Sevilla were superb and Atletico survived a scare at Valladolid to keep pace with Barca.

Now Real Madrid also won, but it's rarely that simple at the Bernabéu - the stadium was barely half-full as they beat lowly Rayo Vallecano 1-0 and we also look at how vital it is for them to pick up silverware in Abu Dhabi as they play in the Club World Cup for the 3rd season in a row.

At the bottom, a mad game finished Huesca 2-2 Villarreal, while Leganés picked up a vital point in their survival fight away to Celta Vigo, but Valencia and Athletic both drew...again. *sigh*

We also get into the draws for Spanish teams involved in the the last 16 of the Champions League and the round of 32 in the Europa League, with plenty of intriguing ties.

Here's where you can catch our content on our other platforms...

Twitter - https://www.twitter.com/LaLigaLowdown

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/LaLigaLowdown

Website - https://www.laligalowdown.com

Enjoy!

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Hark now hear the angels sing, Messi is the free-kick king! Matchday 15 recap. Dec 11, 2018

Show notes

How often have we said that superlatives don't do Lionel Messi justice? Well, we're saying it yet again after the little Argentine started and finished the Catalan derby with 2 sensational free-kicks, Barcelona beating Espanyol 4-0 away. We're giving our marks out of 10 to both sides.

Atlético and Real Madrid both win but neither of them had it easy, while Sevilla almost won at Mestalla in LaLiga for the first time in nearly 7 years, but were denied by a late equaliser. Still, things aren't great at Valencia, and they're even worse at Villarreal who sacked their coach Javi Calleja after yet another defeat, and immediately replaced him with Luis García Plaza.

Elsewhere, we saw an 8-goal thriller between Eibar and Levante, while Athletic Club finally got 3 points under the man who's taken over from Toto Berizzo, B-team coach Gaizka Garitano.

Here's where you can catch our content on our other platforms...

Twitter - https://www.twitter.com/LaLigaLowdown

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/LaLigaLowdown

Website - https://www.laligalowdown.com

Enjoy!

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Barça go top, but what's wrong? Madrid win too, Atleti & Sevilla held - Matchday 14 recap Dec 04, 2018

Show notes

A win, a first clean sheet in 12 LaLiga games, they're back top of the table...but Barcelona fans still aren't happy. The style of play under Ernesto Valverde is coming under intense scrutiny, despite all the injuries they've got, but nevertheless they've reclaimed top spot, and the chasing pack slipped up.

Sevilla in 2nd and Alavés in 4th drew at Mendizorrotza, while 3rd-placed Atlético Madrid were held yet again by Girona - but now Real Madrid are up to 5th and not too far off the lead after beating Valencia...Santi Solari is putting faith in the youth players, and Ballon d'Or winner Luka Modric was also back on form.

There were big victories for Getafe and Levante to keep them in the European mix, and at the bottom, Leganés got a vital victory at Valladolid but Athletic Club and Villarreal can't improve their positions after defeats...Athletic in particular are in trouble after a 3-0 loss at Levante and a red card for Peru Nolaskoain.

Here's where you can catch our content on our other platforms...

Twitter - https://www.twitter.com/LaLigaLowdown

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/LaLigaLowdown

Website - https://www.laligalowdown.com

Enjoy!

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Go on, try and predict LaLiga...as Real Madrid crash and burn at Eibar! Matchday 13 recap Nov 27, 2018

Show notes

Every week, you think you've got LaLiga figured out and then something else happens to completely ruin your logic. This time it was Real Madrid losing 3-0 at Eibar, having seemingly found their feet under new head coach Santi Solari in recent weeks. Meanwhile Barcelona couldn't win either - in fact, they needed a very late equaliser from Ousmane Dembélé to get a point at Atlético. All of that meant Sevilla are now top after beating Real Valladolid 1-0.

But elsewhere there were other surprises...Espanyol lost to Girona, having been previously 100% at home, and Alavés also went down at Leganés, and while Valencia and Villarreal got vital home wins, Athletic can't hold on to a lead for love nor money - they drop into the bottom 3. There's plenty of VAR chatter as well, as Huesca and Getafe cry foul this time around.

Here's where you can catch our content on our other platforms...

Twitter - https://www.twitter.com/LaLigaLowdown

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/LaLigaLowdown

Website - https://www.laligalowdown.com

Enjoy!

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