Is the title race over? As Real Madrid lost in Mallorca, and Barcelona snatched a 2-1 win away at Atleti, the Catalan giants now have a seven point lead over Los Blancos. We discuss if the two Madrid clubs will now turn all of their attention to the Champions League, something Simeone seemed to suggest against Barça, leaving Julián Alvarez and Ademola Lookman on the bench. 

The league winner might be a certainty, but the race for the European places is gets more exciting with every week. We discuss the parallels between Real Betis and Celta, as both clubs are fighting for the same goals. Celta deployed some beautiful football away in Valencia, showing once again the fearless play style of Claudio Giráldez. Real Sociedad and Getafe have also greatly impressed and are well in the hunt to qualify for Europe. 

As for the bottom of the table, we discuss the stark reality for Sevilla fans that the seven-time Europa League winners get relegated, with Mallorca and Alavés putting in better performances in the fight against the drop. We also spare a thought for Real Oviedo, where it might be a case of too little too late for the Asturian side. 

And as always, thanks for listening and subscribing!

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A friendly game where Spain didn't really face too much opposition and Luis de la Fuente got the chance to try things and give newcomers, like Victor Muñoz, a chance to shine. He also sent a clear message by starting Unai Simón ahead of the other in-form goalkeepers... 

Matt & Román also pick their favourites to challenge Spain in their ambition of winning the World Cup and take some time to talk about Raphinha's injury which will keep him away for a while, missing both UCL matches vs Atleti, and potentially a UCL semifinal.

We hope you enjoy the pod and thank you for listening! Remember you can also access our bonus podcast and multiple weekly articles over at lllonline.substack.com.

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We begin in the capital for the Madrid derby. The visitors were looking to do the double over their rivals and took the lead, but Fede Valverde and Vini Jr turned things around to keep the title race alive. 

Elsewhere, Barcelona were made to work extremely hard to maintain their 100% home record against Rayo, with Joan García again showing why Luis de le Fuente could no longer ignore his stellar form.

Villarreal cemented their place in the top four with a comfortable win over Real Sociedad, while Athletic returned to winning ways in their first match since Ernesto Valverde announced he will leave at the end of the season. Betis are five without a win in LaLiga, and the coveted potential fifth Champions League spot is very much up for grabs.

In Part Two we delve into the relegation scrap, which is returning to be a dogfight as the weeks go by. Alavés could have folded and capitulated when Celta went 3-0 up on Sunday afternoon, but instead they fought back and produced a magnificent comeback, something not seen in LaLiga since 2005. Four goals and three priceless points.

Earlier in the weekend, there were two enormous six-pointers at the bottom. Firstly, Elche ended their accursed winless run with a come-from-behind win over Mallorca, helped by Vedat Muriqi missing the target from the penalty spot in stoppage time. Then, Levante put four past a spirited Oviedo to give themselves more than half a chance of survival. 

The real losers of the weekend were Sevilla, who were defeated at home again, and look set to sack Matiás Almeyda this week. It can hardly be a surprise for a side who have only won twice since mid-December, but the revolving door to the gaffer’s office is not the biggest problem in the intense heat of Seville.

We are back in midweek with the international break bonus podcast. Like, follow, and subscribe at lllonline.substack.com for all our content as the season heads into the business end.

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On election day in Barcelona, Joan Laporta was in triumphant mood after being emphatically re-elected as Barcelona president. There were celebrations on the pitch too after a 5-2 victory over Sevilla re-established their four-point lead over Real Madrid. We hear from Román what it was like around Camp Nou on polling day and the impressive performance from Barça, particularly hat-trick hero Raphinha.

Real Madrid enjoyed a comfortable night too, beating sorry Elche 4-1 ahead of their trip to Manchester. Fede Valverde stepped up again, but it was the youthful flavour to Los Blancos and Arda Güler’s incredible 68-metre golazo which stole the headlines.

Atleti dealt with Getafe in between their sparring with Spurs with a stunning strike of their own, while Real Sociedad are dreaming big after dispatching Osasuna 3-1 on Sunday night. The bloated middle all struggled to break clear of the pack, allowing Pellegrino Matarazzo’s side to steal a march. Betis-Celta ended all square, while Athletic Club could not honour Iñaki Williams’ landmark with a result.

Plus, there were some significant movements at the bottom of the table, as Elche’s defeat allowed Mallorca to take full advantage and come from behind to beat Espanyol (who like Elche remain winless in 2026). Martín Demichelis registered his first win with a clear style, but Quique Sánchez Flores will have to wait after another gut-wrenching late goal against his Alavés side.

Like, follow, and subscribe at lllonline.substack.com for all our LaLiga and Champions League content as the season heads into the business end.

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In part one, the title race comes to life with Real Madrid's late winner against Celta de Vigo, while Barça relies on Lamine Yamal to win the game against an Athletic Club side that possibly deserved more. We also get a preview of the Copa del Rey final, with Atlético de Madrid defeating Real Sociedad, and a look into Elche's critical situation after yet another winless match, this time losing to Villarreal.

Part two kicks off with the exciting Valencia vs Alavés, with Quique Sánchez Flores falling short in his debut after a late Che comeback. Ben & Román also praise José Bordalás' supernatural abilities to get the most out of his players and talk about Mallorca's throwaway at El Sadar, as well as all the other fixtures of the weekend.

Thank you for listening to our pod, and remember that you can subscribe to access our bonus podcast and weekly articles over at lllonline.substack.com.

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Part One focuses on Barça's 4-1 victory against Villarreal, with special praise for Lamine Yamal and his first hat-trick as a professional footballer. Three fantastic goals that ensure Barça remain up top and put some fear into Atlético de Madrid before the second leg of the Copa del Rey tie. An Atleti who in fact struggled to defeat Real Oviedo away, leaving it to the very end, thanks to a Julián Álvarez goal that ended his goalless streak in LaLiga. The Basque teams also get a shout, with Athletic drawing vs Rayo and Real Sociedad still riding the Pellegrino Matarazzo effect.

Part Two starts with one of the matches of the weekend: the Andalusian derby between Betis and Sevilla. A game of two halves, where Betis went ahead by two goals in the first half, but ultimately threw away their advantage, allowing Sevilla to grab a point. Our duo also talk about Celta's comeback at Girona, Valencia's solid win against Osasuna, Levante still believing and Elche's late draw against Espanyol.

We hope you enjoy the pod and thank you for listening! Remember you can also access our bonus podcast and multiple weekly articles over at lllonline.substack.com.

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Osasuna have been in strong form and they continued that at El Sadar on Saturday evening, taking the lead with another Ante Budimir goal. Vini Jr ended a tumultuous week with an equalising goal, but the Madrid surge for a winner never came to pass, and it was the hosts who provided the late drama, Raúl García de Haro striking late to euphoric scenes in Pamplona. We discuss what this means for the race, and the decision to start Dani Carvajal after his lengthy absence.

Barça took full advantage of the gift by dispatching a sunken Levante 3-0, with a return for Pedri and another goal for Marc Bernal and Fermín López. 

To round off Part One, we review Atleti’s latest unpredictable showing and recap another Valencian regional derby, which was won by Villarreal.

In Part Two, we analyse the partidazo at Anoeta between Real Sociedad and Real Oviedo, plus wins for Athletic and Celta, the latter courtesy of Iago Aspas. Better than a fine wine.

The only away winners of the weekend were Sevilla, but having to play against ten for most of the game, it was “like watching Getafe play Getafe”. You can never have enough Fútbol Champán…

Subscribe with us at lllonline.substack.com for more content all through the week across the season.

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Martín Presa’s relationship with Rayo fans is beyond repair, as demonstrated by the sparse attendance at Butarque for Sunday’s clash with Atlético Madrid. Rayo’s date at Leganés's home ground at least proved to be successful as Iñigo Pérez’s side cruised to a 3-0 victory. 

We then give José Bordalás his flowers following Getafe’s impressive victory over Villarreal, before we start part two with Valencia’s crucial derby win - a result that helped Carlos Corberán avoid a divorce from his role as head coach.

Elsewhere, there were plenty of cards on display at the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán, Oviedo’s relationship with LaLiga looks set to be brief, and Mallorca are left flirting with the wrong side of the dotted line.

We wrap up with a couple of draws, including Borja Iglesias’s late equaliser that sent an arrow through Espanyol’s hopes of all three points.

If you love listening and reading our content, make sure to join us over at lllonline.substack.com. Any support is greatly appreciated.

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Part one covers Real Madrid’s win at Mestalla, with Arbeloa’s men not fully convincing but still putting pressure on the league leaders... Barça, who managed to win against Mallorca. Once again, the Blaugrana had a shaky start and left it all for the second half. While Betis managed to shock Atlético de Madrid at the Metropolitano, getting their revenge a few days after the 0-5 thrashing in Copa.

Part two takes us to Anoeta, where Real Sociedad’s fine form and Elche’s decline continue. Athletic ended their dry spell against Levante after an early sending off tipped the balance in favour of the home team. The same goes for Getafe, with Bordalás breathing a bit easier after a long-awaited victory. The pod also covers Osasuna’s win, Sevilla’s late draw and the controversial postponement of Rayo Vallecano vs Real Oviedo.

We thank you for listening to our pod, and remind you that you can access our bonus podcast and weekly articles over at lllonline.substack.com.

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In Part One we review the Basque derby, which did not disappoint, with both teams giving their all on the pitch and putting on a fantastic display. Equally, or even more entertaining, was Elche vs Barça, with the visiting team breaking a new LaLiga xG record with 6.30. We also touch upon Real Madrid's, late, late, late penalty win and Atleti's dull performance vs Levante.

In Part Two we give Real Oviedo's win the credit it deserves, look into Espanyol's worrying form, analyse Villarreal's poor run, and review all the other matches of the weekend, including some intriguing post-match comments from José Bordalás...

We hope you enjoy the pod and thank you for listening! Remember you can also access our bonus podcast and multiple weekly articles over at lllonline.substack.com.

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Part one will take you to the Valencian community to review Levante's late, late winner that keeps their hopes alive, Valencia's (also late) winner to stay afloat above the relegation zone and Villarreal's defeat to a Real Madrid that seems to be improving under Arbeloa.

Barça's slightly unconvincing win against Oviedo ends part one, before heading into part two to analyse Real Sociedad's epic win under the rain over an in-form Celta de Vigo, Osasuna's first away victory at Rayo's crumbling stadium, Atlético's very comfortable win against Mallorca, and much more!

We thank you for listening to our pod, and remind you that you can access our bonus podcast and weekly articles over at lllonline.substack.com.

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A tumultuous week for Real Madrid ended positively. After the Bernabéu crowd made their discontented feelings vociferously known on Saturday lunchtime, Los Blancos laboured to a rather uncomfortable 2-0 win over lowly Levante for Álvaro Arbeloa’s first win in charge. After fielding questions about “Florentino dimisión” chants, the boss angered fans further by staunchly defending his President, claiming those who want Pérez to resign aren’t genuine Madridistas. 

This victory put pressure on Barcelona, who lined up without Raphinha and lost their winning run. La Real continued their incredible – albeit fortuitous – start under Pellegrino Matarazzo after beating Barça 2-1 through a combination of goalkeeping excellence, luck and tight VAR calls. Just 60 seconds after Marcus Rashford had equalised, Gonçalo Guedes restored their lead. Despite accumulating over 3.5 xG and 25 shots (including five to the woodwork), there was no way past Álex Remiro, who reminded everyone why he is a worthy member of Luis de la Fuente’s triumvirate. The gap at the top is now just a solitary point. ¡¡¡Hay Liga!!!

Real Betis beat Villarreal to take a big step towards European football next season, but we ask why there is still some dissatisfaction among the fanbase. On Friday night, Girona continued their incredible resurgence by beating Espanyol in a Catalan derby, courtesy of two Vanat penalties. Los Pericos have had a rough start to the year, but are still well placed.

Onto Part Two, we focus on the compactness of the table from 8th down to 18th. Real Sociedad are ten places above Alavés, but only five points clear of their fellow Basques.

Mallorca took a huge step forward by winning a thriller against Athletic Club. Jagoba Arrasate will be thanking his giant Kosovan Vedat Muriqi who scored a hat-trick to tame Los Leones. Only Kylian Mbappé has scored more this season, and Muriqi is priceless for the island side. Three goals and three precious points. We reflect on that as well as Athletic’s malaise. With a crucial set of fixtures ahead, is this Ernesto Valverde’s last season in charge?

Osasuna won by the same scoreline but in even more dramatic fashion. Trailing twice to Real Oviedo, it seemed like the Asturian side might finally get their win. But alas, Ante Budimir equalised twice and then Víctor Muñoz broke hearts with a 92nd-minute winner. Even when they score twice, they can’t even draw, let alone win.

Rayo are another club looking over their shoulder after they were well beaten by Euro-chasing Celta. They won their third in a row to cement 7th spot and put pressure on those above them.

Valencia stunned the Coliseum with a late, well-constructed winner with their only shot on target of the game. Getafe are in freefall now, with just one point since the end of November. Alavés made it hard for Atleti, but ultimately came away from the capital with nothing, and they slipped into the drop zone. But, given the tightness of the table, things can change extremely quickly. A relegation battle for the ages is in prospect.

You can keep up to date with all our content at lllonline.substack.com.

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In part one, they delve into another action-packed ‘el clásico’. Barça conquered the Supercopa de España against an atypical Real Madrid, who sat back really deep, ultimately falling short and being eclipsed by Raphinha’s fantastic performance. Will Xabi Alonso continue? Only time will tell...

In part two, they focus on LaLiga and the seven fixtures that took place during the weekend. Girona finally escape the relegation zone, Villarreal keep up their winning momentum with an inspired Moleiro, Oviedo and Levante keep adding points to their tally, Rayo finally win after a dry run, and more...

Thank you for listening to our pod, and remember that you can access our bonus podcast and weekly articles over at lllonline.substack.com.

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We start with the Catalan derby between Espanyol and Barça, which for many ended in an unfair result. Espanyol's admirable efforts were parried away by an towering Joan García, who was unfazed by the hostile environment in his return to the RCDE Stadium. Real Madrid's commanding win vs Betis follows, with Gonzalo eclipsing Mbappé's absence, and then we review Atleti's draw against Real Sociedad and Villarreal's victory toppling Elche's fortress.

In Part Two, we look at the teams in the relegation battle, with a special focus on Girona climbing out at Valencia's expense, Levante grabbing a very big win at Sevilla and Oviedo deserving to win but ultimately failing to do so. It was a solid showing for the new managers in their respective first outings.

All this and more in our first pod of the year! Thank you for listening, and remember you can access our bonus podcast and multiple weekly articles over at lllonline.substack.com.

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We start with the on-paper partidazo between Villarreal and Barcelona, which was unfortunately conditioned by a first half red card. The visitors won comfortably in the end to become Christmas number one, keeping Real Madrid four points back. Los Blancos had their own 2-0 victory on Saturday night against Sevilla, but left more doubts once again. The only real bright sparks were the form of Thibaut Courtois and Kylian Mbappé, who equalled Cristiano Ronaldo's club record for goals in a calendar year.

Atleti won convincingly on the road to leave Girona in the danger zone, while Betis put four past Getafe to apply some pressure on Espanyol.

In Part Two we discuss Elche returning to their best form and our concern for Rayo, who might be taking their eye off the ball domestically. The managerless sides played out a 1-1 draw, but Real Sociedad will really feel that it was two points dropped. Both clubs confirmed the appointments of their new coaches, so we evaluate their potential chances. Guillermo Almada has already begun life at Oviedo, but could not prevent the inevitable stalemate. 

We end by picking our moments of the year and wishing our listeners and subscribers at lllonline.substack.com a happy festive season. ¡¡Feliz Navidad!!

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Part One kicks off with Real Madrid winning... but not convincing. Matt and Román share their views on Xabi Alonso's future, which could be far from the Bernabéu if he fails to succeed in his next two matches. 

They also highlight Raphinha's doblete to keep Barça up top, as well as Atleti's veterans, Koke, and particularly Antoine Griezmann, who ensured Atleti doesn't lose grip of the top three. In fact, it's Villarreal who hold that 3rd spot, but their fixture was postponed, giving way for an unstoppable Espanyol to round off the first half of the show with the praise they deserve.

Part Two focuses on the manager sackings of the weekend, with Sergio Francisco and Luís Carrión having to say goodbye after further poor results from their teams. Is it the right call? Who could take over? Our podcasters help answer those questions as well as analysing Mallorca's convincing performance over Elche, Celta's first home win, and more...

Thank you for listening, and remember you can access our bonus podcast and multiple weekly articles over at lllonline.substack.com.

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Our very own Ben Sully (@SullyBen) and Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee) kick off the weekend review, dissecting Madrid’s shocking defeat versus a fantastic Celta de Vigo. It’s been just under two decades since Celta last managed to snatch a win at the Bernabeu... this time raising big questions regarding Xabi Alonso and his players.

Atleti also dropped points, extending their awful away form and losing grip of the title run, while Athletic Club finally secured a big win this season. A contrasting result with Barça’s visit to la Cartuja, where eight goals livened up the night despite the disappointment felt by Betis fans.

In part one, they also take some time to analyse Villarreal’s contrasting form, with their best version showing in LaLiga, before moving on to part two and reviewing Elche’s first win in over two months, Espanyol’s unstoppable European form, Oviedo’s serious issues and more...

We thank you for listening to our pod, and want to remind you that you can access our bonus podcast and written articles over at lllonline.substack.com.

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The temperature may be getting colder, but LaLiga is hotting up, with plenty for Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Román De Arquer (@Aeroslavee) to unpack from Matchday 14.

We begin at the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán, where Betis confirmed their superiority in the city of Seville. Victory here made it back-to-back gran derbi wins for the first time in 30 years! What a watch to celebrate the renewal of Manuel Pellegrini's contract.

We then turn to the title race, which could barely be much closer. Just three points separate the top four. Real Madrid dropped points for the third consecutive match – this time at Montilivi – to cede leadership of the league and hand it back to Barcelona, just a month after beating them to go five points clear. We ask why it's going wrong lately, and where they go from here (Bilbao, because they have yet another away game).

Despite being top anew, Barça have problems of their own, not least Hansi Flick's demeanour on the bench or the club's problems with the digital tickets at the new Camp Nou.

In Part Two, we headline with the goal-fest of the weekend, as Villarreal maintained their rhythm, domestically that is. A genuine two-faced team, they fought to the end to ward off the La Real comeback and position themselves nicely in third spot.

Atleti won their seventh game in succession, but the big test is Tuesday night in Barcelona.

Elsewhere, Espanyol keep up their bright start, Celta still can't win at home, Getafe keep doing their thing, and a referee sent off a former referee.

Last, but by no means least, Levante are looking for a new coach after they sacked Julián Calero following their 2-0 defeat at home to Athletic. Winless at home, albeit with a tough run of fixtures, Luis García Plaza is the favourite to replace Calero.

Two big LaLiga matches and the next round of the Copa del Rey to look forward to this week, as well as plenty of content at lllonline.substack.com. Subscribe now for all the access.

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Is a four-horse race on the cards? In Part One, our two LaLiga experts look into the matches, kicking off with Barça's grand return to the Spotify Camp Nou, with Román actually being there to see it all unfold. He explains the new experiences before analysing the win over Athletic and first clean sheet in two months. Then they review Madrid's second league draw in a row against a brave and bold Elche, followed by Villarreal and Atlético de Madrid achieving narrow wins to keep close track of the top two. Just four points separate the top four now!!

In Part Two, Matt and Román talk about the the Valencian derby, and the slow yet steady rise of Real Sociedad and Celta de Vigo in the standings with a win apiece. They also review the other two draws of the weekend, with a goalless Oviedo vs Rayo and a controversial Betis vs Girona, ending with Antony being sent off and missing the derby against Sevilla.

Once again, thanks for listening, and remember you can access our bonus podcast and multiple weekly articles over at lllonline.substack.com.

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Before focusing on Tuesday’s game, Ben Sully (@SullyBen) and Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) kick off the podcast by focusing on Spain’s commanding 4-0 away win over Georgia on Saturday. 

After winning their first five qualifiers by a combined 19-0 scoreline, Spain would have been hoping to secure qualification with a win in their home game against Turkey. We delve into the 2-2 draw before rounding off part one by focusing on Spain’s striker situation and Dani Olmo’s status in the squad.

In part two, we reflect on a positive 2025 for La Roja and look ahead to next year’s tournament in the USA, Mexico and Canada, discussing whether Spain have what it takes to add another star to their jersey. 

Away from international matters, Barcelona are finally set to return to their redeveloped Camp Nou home while Levante and Valencia are preparing to lock horns in a highly anticipated derby fixture.

Remember, you can access all of our written and audio content over at lllonline.substack.com.

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Ben Sully (@SullyBen) and Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee) start by focusing on Lewandowski’s hat-trick in Barcelona’s exciting 4-2 away win over Celta Vigo. We then focus on Atlético Madrid and Griezmann’s role as an impact sub in a successful home outing against Levante. 

Elsewhere, Gerard helped Villarreal bounce back from a disappointing Champions League result with a 2-0 triumph over Espanyol. Marcelino’s side are now just five points adrift of the summit after Real Madrid failed in their quest to beat Rayo Vallecano in their final outing before the international break.

In part two, we discuss Valencia’s improved showing against Real Betis, Mikel Oyarzabal’s late penalty and Nico Williams’s stunning goal in one of four 1-0 wins that took place over the weekend. We then turn our attention to Sevilla’s return to winning ways, as well as three points for Girona and Mallorca.

LaLiga now pauses for the international break, but we will continue to produce content over at lllonline.substack.com, where you can access our bonus podcasts and regular articles on a variety of topics.

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Part one kicks off with the passionate Basque derby, which had all the ingredients to become a 'partidazo', and saw Real Sociedad take the win right at the very end. They also review Villarreal's cruising win against Rayo Vallecano and both Barça and Madrid's wins in the title race.

In part two, you'll find words of praise for Antony, aka Antonio de Triana, who wowed LaLiga fans with two stunning goals and an assist for a comfortable 3-0 win over Mallorca. Getafe also keeps showing their consistency as they climb up to 7th, while Atleti dispatch Sevilla as Griezmann scored his 200th LaLiga goal.

As always, thanks for listening, and remember, you can access our bonus podcast and weekly articles over at lllonline.substack.com.

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In the first part of the pod they look into what happened between Madrid and Barça. It was billed by some as the English Clásico, and Jude Bellingham was the man who decided it. Neither side seemed to be in their best form of late, but during the game there was definitely a superior side, which ultimately pulled off a big win to widen the gap to five points in the standings. The football, the players, the beefs, the controversy... it's all covered.

In Part Two, they go through the rest of the Matchday, with some big results: including Girona's 6-goal home draw vs Real Oviedo in a fight to escape relegation, Celta's first win of the season and Bordalás' masterclass to sink Athletic in their misery, unable to break down Getafe's defensive wall. All this and more in our Monday pod!

Thanks for listening, and remember you can access our bonus podcast and multiple weekly articles over at lllonline.substack.com.

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Relevant, the sponsoring company organising the match, and LaLiga both released statements expressing their disappointment at the need to cancel, citing the “uncertainty generated in Spain”. It seems apparent that the AFE protests from last weekend certainly had a timely effect.

In this additional bonus podcast, we bring you all the news, reaction and fallout. Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) convenes Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG), Ben Sully (@SullyBen), Román De Arquer (@Aeroslavee) and Louis Scattergood (@louiscxtt) to analyse the situation and answer the myriad questions this dramatic day has raised.

How embarrassing is this for Javier Tebas? Should he resign? Is the Miami plan now dead in the water?

What about Barcelona and Joan Laporta, who was so confident and bullish only hours earlier on Tuesday? Román gives his perspective.

As for Villarreal, they are furious about the decision and the way they feel sidelined from the process. The news broke during their Champions League match with Manchester City, leaving CEO Fernando Roig Negueroles to make a hasty exit from the Directors’ box. Louis offers his take on the situation as a whole and the Villarreal angle.

For more, read Christian Poulsen's piece below, available to paid subscribers:

LaLiga’s Miami dream collapses as Villarreal–Barcelona returns home

Remember, you can subscribe at lllonline.substack.com to get ALL of our content, including comprehensive coverage of El Clásico this weekend!

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We begin with those protests from the Players’ Union, who have been angered by the lack of communication from the league about the Miami match. This led to the captains agreeing to stop playing for 10-15 seconds at the start of this weekend’s matches. To exacerbate the problems for themselves, LaLiga appeared to direct their broadcast partners not to show these protests live on television, latterly conjuring up the explanation of a ‘commitment to peace’ strapline across screens. A pretty cynical ploy and it was widely denounced.

Onto the football, and Barcelona avoided three games without a win in all competitions, but it took a 93rd-minute winner from an unlikely source, as Ronald Araújo spared their blushes. A visibly angered Hansi Flick was sent off and will be absent from the touchline for the Clásico. 

Real Madrid also had to work hard for their three points, leaving it relatively late to get the better of Getafe. Kylian Mbappé continued his incredible run of scoring and once again it was Arda Güler who provided the assist. The hosts ended with nine men, as Vini Jr's introduction – off the bench – led to two players seeing red. 

Román would not be drawn too much on a prediction for next week’s big encounter, but did acknowledge it wasn’t looking great for the Catalans at the moment.

Across Madrid, Atleti also recorded a narrow win, just about getting the better of Osasuna, whose away record is a problem that Alessio Lisci must solve quickly. Form on the road is something which Diego Simeone himself also needs to correct. 

In Part Two, we begin with a partidazo between Villarreal and Betis, as Marcelino overtook his counterpart to become the coach who has led the Yellow Submarine in most matches. They led 2-0 and looked good for all three points, but Antony was the verdiblanco hero once more as his brace (including another late goal) saved the point.

Then we turn our attention to the Robin Hood of LaLiga: Sevilla had just beaten the league leaders, but this weekend they lost at home to the side who was propping up the table. Mallorca came from behind with three goals in ten minutes to earn a massive win for Jagoba Arrasate.

Elsewhere, it was groundhog day at Balaídos as Celta drew 1-1 for the seventh time in nine matchdays. Carl Starfelt’s red card changed the game, and La Real finally got a break as two of their summer signings combined to equalise late on.

Rayo enjoyed a big win on the road to make it three in a row in all competitions, Espanyol ruined Luis Carrión’s Oviedo return, and Elche played out a stalemate with Athletic Club.

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We start by focusing on Saturday’s 2-0 success against Georgia in Elche, where Yéremy Pino and Mikel Oyarzabal got on the scoresheet. The focus then turns to Tuesday’s 4-0 triumph against Bulgaria in Valladolid. Of course, we have to discuss Mikel Merino’s goalscoring exploits, as well as Spain’s impressive form and De la Fuente’s striker situation.

In part two, Barcelona’s injury crisis is on the agenda, including the news that Robert Lewandowski looks set to miss the Clásico later this month. There is also time to reflect upon the controversial managerial change at Real Oviedo and look ahead to the weekend’s round of LaLiga fixtures.

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In part one, they look into Barça’s worrying form, after consecutive defeats, first to PSG and now to Sevilla after a shocking 4-1 scoreline. They also look into Villarreal’s disappointing performance against Real Madrid, Atleti’s hard-fought draw vs Celta de Vigo and Betis’ comeback, including a late, late penalty save by Pau López against his former club.

In part two, Girona takes the forefront after their first win of the season came against a combative Valencia. Ben and Román also talk about how the Basque teams fared in their respective games, Levante’s crucial victory at Oviedo and Osasuna’s 90th-minute winner against Getafe.

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Now Los Blancos have dropped to second, just behind an FC Barcelona who struggled quite a bit to defeat Real Sociedad at Montjuïc. Given the circumstances, Hansi Flick had to rely on Lamine Yamal, who'd just recovered from his injury, to complete the comeback and climb to the top.

Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee) tell us all about these two matches in Part One, but then go on to expand on the other games in Part Two.

Elche keep surprising us all with their consistent form and now sleep in a Champions League spot, Athletic continue in their negative spiral, Sevilla are leaving the dark days behind them and progressing well with Matías Almeyda, Mallorca finally remember what it's like to win, and many more stories...

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But this time, with a twist! Instead of kicking off with LaLiga's duopoly, in Part One we start by looking into the teams that are struggling the most and potentially heading into a crisis: Atleti, Girona, Real Sociedad... What's going on? Can they turn things around or is it going to be as hard as it seems for them?

In Part Two, we focus on Barça and Real Madrid, who seem to be cruising through, as well as other surprising teams such as Elche and Sevilla. They also make some time for a quick chat on the Ballon d'Or, which no one seems to be talking about these days... We wonder why...

Once again, thanks for listening, and remember, you can access our bonus podcast and multiple weekly articles over at lllonline.substack.com.

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Real Madrid contended with a controversial Dean Huijsen red card to claim a fourth consecutive victory, ensuring they finish the weekend as the only team with a 100% record in LaLiga.

Wins have not been as easy to come by for Atlético Madrid, but they finally ended their wait for a victory with a confidence-boosting display against Villarreal. Like Marcelino’s side, Athletic Club suffered their first loss of the season, spoiling their perfect start to the campaign.

In part two, we focus on Real Betis and Sevilla’s tricky games against newly-promoted opposition, as well as another successful outing for expectation-defying Getafe. Elsewhere, Borja Iglesias prolonged Girona’s wait for a win, while Osasuna took all the spoils against Rayo Vallecano.

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Without getting too far ahead of ourselves, we analyse a truly resounding victory for Luis de la Fuente’s men, who tore the Turkish side apart. Mikel Merino enhanced his reputation further, scoring his first career hat-trick. Mercurial Pedri is becoming the most complete midfielder of his generation — a “generational talent” according to Paco. Martín Zubimendi is making it hard for Ballon d’Or winner Rodri to find his way back in the team, as absurd as that statement sounds. And Mikel Oyarzabal is making the false forward position his own with increasing consistency and confidence.

We discuss the absence of a pure number nine in Spanish football (find out who Paco thinks is the closest), and evaluate who are untouchable in the lineup. Plus, the injury to Nico Williams could be a huge blow ahead of a crucial month for Athletic. Ernesto Valverde won’t be happy, especially as he has also lost Yeray Álvarez until April after his doping ban was confirmed.

We close with a brief round-up of the other international fixtures, with a former LaLiga player breaking his national team’s scoring record among the headlines.

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We went from five clubs on 100% records to just two, as Barcelona, Villarreal and Getafe all dropped points, leaving Real Madrid and Athletic Club as leaders going into September. Real Oviedo also got their first top-flight win in almost a quarter of a century, producing an incredible atmosphere in Asturias.

Hansi Flick's side travelled to Vallecas knowing a win would take them top, but despite the help of a penalty (awarded with VAR out of action), they suffered in the second half and ultimately succumbed to Rayo pressure. If it wasn't for Joan García, they would surely have lost.

Villarreal also let a lead slip, but Celta deserved their last-minute equaliser. Let's not forget Athletic either, who produced a typically-efficient 2-1 over Betis at La Cartuja to join Real Madrid at the top of the standings.

Poor old Atleti still can't buy a win, dropping two more points at Mendizorroza. Are they in crisis yet?

On the flip side, Elche and Espanyol have enjoyed impressive starts to the season, and Román is backing them to continue that trend.

We end with a little transfer talk ahead of the deadline day, plus briefly reflect on the Champions League draw.

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Barça appeared to be heading for an early slip in defence of their title, trailing newly-promoted Levante at half-time. But Hansi Flick worked his magic again and produced another super-remontada, with the winner coming late to break Granota hearts. However, Flick and Román have a clear message: Don’t sell Casadó.

Villarreal barely needed 25 minutes to ensure they took another three points, as they demolished Girona 5-0 on Sunday. Tayjon Buchanan was the star of the show with the first hat-trick of the season, and a celebration to match. Currently top, how long can Marcelino’s side stay there; where will this season of promise take them? As for the visitors, where do they go from here? Míchel was crestfallen and spoke pointedly and publicly after the game.

What about Atleti? The sensations are not good after they stumbled once again. Despite taking the lead, they could only draw with newly-promoted — albeit extremely encouraging — Elche. With just one point from six, are they already out of serious contention for the title?

After the break we look at Real Madrid and their 3-0 win over Oviedo. It wasn’t quite as simple as the score-line suggested, but it was a deserved victory, spearheaded by the player Román says is the best in the league. We talk about interesting personnel decisions from Xabi Alonso, too. It could be a race for the ages.

There was also an entertaining draw between Real Sociedad and Espanyol, a first win for Betis in their new temporary home, and Alessio Lisci’s first victory coming courtesy of their Croatian swan.

Ahead of Monday’s matches, we try and predict who Getafe might lineup against Sevilla, especially if they sell Christantus Uche before kick off…

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Before we laud the Getafe boss, we start by focusing on Barcelona’s eventful away clash against Mallorca, which produced three goals, two red cards and a victory for the defending champions. Hansi Flick’s charges are already three points better off than Atlético Madrid, who were left stunned by a late Espanyol turnaround. 

Real Oviedo’s LaLiga return kicked off with a tough away day against Villarreal, which was made all the more difficult by a penalty miss and an early red card. 

After discussing Getafe’s successful outing, we focus on Valencia’s score draw against a Real Sociedad side under new management. Elsewhere, newly-promoted Levante conceded late on in a narrow defeat to Alavés, while Paulo Gazzaniga had a night to forget in Girona’s loss to Rayo Vallecano. 

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We kick off this special pod on a positive note by picking our best players from the season. SPOILER ALERT - There may be one or two from Barcelona.

Best coach is up next, and of course, that means a mention for Hansi Flick. But away from the Barcelona boss, we discuss a number of coaches who impressed with their work during the course of the season.

Once the positives were out of the way, it was time to share our disappointments with the group. Everything was on the table for this one, including players, coaches, clubs, and even an unreliable laptop.

Away from the season review, we also touch upon some key news stories and Spain’s upcoming UEFA Nations League semi-final tie against France.

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We kick off with Celta Vigo’s narrow 2-1 away win over Getafe, as club legend Iago Aspas netted a late winner to seal Europa League football for Claudio Giráldez's side. Meanwhile, there was a pitch invasion over in Vallecas after Rayo Vallecano booked their place in the Conference League. A goalless draw was enough to clinch eighth spot as Osasuna failed to take three points off Alavés.

The focus then turns to Espanyol’s successful survival bid. A 2-0 victory over Las Palmas secured their safety and condemned Leganés to the second tier despite their win over basement side Real Valladolid.

We then start part two with Kylian Mbappé’s goals and Real Madrid’s farewells. Carlo Ancelotti and Luka Modrić were among those to say their goodbyes in an emotional day at the Santiago Bernabéu. As for champions Barcelona, they wrapped up their treble-winning campaign with a dominant win over Athletic.

Elsewhere, Alexander Sørloth continued his red-hot form with a hat-trick, Villarreal piled the misery on Sevilla, and Real Betis warmed up for the Conference League final with a draw against Valencia.

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Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) recap it all and decipher what it all means for the table and the ramifications.

Villarreal went to the newly-crowned champions and got the win they needed to secure a coveted return to the Champions League. Barça didn't mind losing this one, as they were in full fiesta mode to receive the title trophy and say farewell to Montjuïc.

Betis waved goodbye to their chances with a heavy defeat at Atlético, but their final is the Conference League next week. Julián Álvarez shone once again as compatriot Ángel Correa got a heavenly send-off of his own.

Kylian Mbappé kept on scoring as Real Madrid beat nine-man Sevilla. All eyes are firmly on the Xabi Alonso reign now, as the signing of Dean Huijsen was also confirmed this weekend.

In the European race, Rayo came from behind to win a massive six-pointer at Balaídos. Celta will be kicking themselves because it was all in their hands to qualify here, but they let their first chance slip. Osasuna beat Espanyol to stay in the hunt too: two teams will make Europe, one will miss out next week.

At the bottom, Alavés and Getafe secured their respective statuses with narrow wins, but Espanyol must sweat another week after suffering a fifth consecutive defeat. From what looked like safety has become a shoot-out.

Leganés maintained their survival hopes with a win at recently doomed Las Palmas. Both Lega and Espanyol face home games against Segunda-bound sides, so the drama is sure to be cranked up next weekend.

Lastly, we salute Imanol Alguacil as he waved goodbye to his public with a win, sadly roo rare for Real Sociedad this season. Fittingly, Mikel Oyarzabal was on the scoresheet from the spot, while a youngster scored the winner. Imanol's tenure and legacy in a neat nutshell.

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Barça took a decisive step towards clinching the title with another super-remontada in this epic season. Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and a jubilant Román De Arquer (@Aeroslavee) review everything from Montjuïc and around the country as we hurtle towards the finishing post.

Real Madrid came flying out of the blocks but Hansi Flick's side were not to be beaten, roaring back to lead 4-2 at half time. Kylian Mbappé completed his hat-trick, but just like in the World Cup final, he was on the losing side. Just two points required, Barça could win it at the RCDE like two years ago.

We analyse Barça's impressive performances, and ponder where Real Madrid go from here. Xabi Alonso is the short answer.

In Part Two we review everything else from the weekend, including Alexander Sørloth's scoring blitz, a huge win for Leganés, worrying times for Sevilla in a relegation battle that continues to heat up, and dropped points for Betis in the race for the Champions League.

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A much-changed Barcelona side were forced to come from behind to maintain their unbeaten league record with a win over Real Valladolid. The Blaugrana will take a four-point lead into El Clásico after Real Madrid survived a late Celta Vigo fightback to claim a 3-2 victory at the Santiago Bernabéu.

Meanwhile, the battle to secure Champions League qualification is heating up with just four points covering Athletic Club, Villarreal and Real Betis. Ayoze Pérez netted a brace to fire Villarreal to a 4-2 victory over Osasuna, while Athletic dropped two points in an underwhelming Basque derby. 

We kick off part two by discussing Antony’s stunning strike to snatch all three points for Betis against Espanyol. Elsewhere, Valencia continued their fine run of form with a win over Las Palmas, as Sevilla and Leganés played out a draw that extends their respective winless runs. There is also time to quickly reflect upon Atleti’s frustrating outing against Alavés and another 1-0 defeat for Getafe.

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Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) discuss Barça's triumph and Real Madrid's reaction to yet another Clásico loss.

Who were the standouts? Who should have stepped up? How does this affect Carlo Ancelotti's future? All of these questions are discussed and debated.

In Part Two, we have a quick review of Villarreal's win over Espanyol to move back into 5th, plus look ahead to the European semi-finals, with Spanish sides alive in all three competitions.

We end with a simple but big question: can Barça do the quadruple...?

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A Borja Iglesias hat-trick proved to be in vain, as Barcelona staged a dramatic fightback to overturn a 3-1 deficit in Saturday’s LaLiga clash with Celta Vigo. Raphinha netted a brace, including a 98th-minute penalty, to seal a 4-3 victory to boost Barça’s title aspirations. Real Madrid moved back to within three points of the leaders after Fede Valverde produced one of his trademark stunners to snatch all three points against Athletic Club.

We also discuss a surprise victory for relegation-threatened Las Palmas in their home encounter against Atlético Madrid, ending any lingering hopes of a title bid for Diego Simeone’s side. Meanwhile, there was plenty of controversy in Villarreal’s draw against Real Sociedad, as the Yellow Submarine saw three potential winners disallowed. 

In part two, we focus on Ante Budimir’s match-winning brace, a hard-fought point for Valencia and Sevilla’s first game since García Pimienta’s dismissal. There was also another successful outing for in-form Espanyol and a forgettable encounter at Son Moix.

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Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) review Matchday 31 which saw Barça maintain their four point lead over Real Madrid with a narrow win over Leganés. Real Madrid also had a tight game, made more difficult by Kylian Mbappé's awful challenge leading to his expulsion: will he miss the Copa del Rey final?

In the race for Europe, Villarreal pulled off a seismic win at the Benito Villamarín to put themselves in charge of 5th spot, with Athletic also getting the job done to stay 4th.

At the bottom, there were huge wins for Valencia, Espanyol and surprisingly Las Palmas, adding extra spice to the relegation battle.

Sevilla bit the bullet and sacked García Pimienta just months after extending his contract, looking set to replace him with good old Joaquín Caparrós. How not to run a football club exhibit A...

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Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) & Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) review the weekend which was characterised by the rarity of not one single home team winning.

At the top, Real Madrid were stunned by Valencia for a famous Los Che win, but Barça could only partially take advantage, being held by Betis. Atleti left it late but got back to winning ways, courtesy of a Pablo Barrios stunner at the death.

It was a colossal weekend at the bottom too, maybe even a turning point? There were huge wins for Espanyol and Alavés to go along with Valencia. It leaves Real Valladolid in tatters and looking even more disparate, while Las Palmas are going to have to pull a rabbit out of the hat themselves, as their winless streak in 2025 goes on.

Subscribe for all our content at lllonline.substack.com ahead of a big week with four LaLiga sides in European quarter-final action.

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Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) review another tremendous Matchday, which saw Betis win a league derbi for the first time in almost seven years, Real Madrid edge a five-goal thriller against Leganés, and Atleti saying goodbye to any realistic title hopes in Cornellà.

Elsewhere, Valencia moved a step closer to safety, Villarreal got back to winning ways after a long wait, but the poor run of form goes on for Vicente Moreno and Chacho Coudet.

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Ben Sully (@SullyBen) and Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee) review all the action and key talking points of this entertaining tie, as well as taking a closer look at their upcoming opponents and their World Cup qualifying group for 2026.

They also discuss the controversy in the Barça - Madrid women's match and reflect on the RFEF's decision to make Barça and Osasuna face off next Thursday, giving players little time to recover from the international break.

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Join Ben Sully (@SullyBen) and Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) as they dissect the six-goal thriller in the Matchday 28 recap and ask whether Atleti can still win the title this season.

Kylian Mbappé’s brace against Villarreal kept Real Madrid’s title bid on track, as we discuss Carlo Ancelotti’s threat to boycott games over scheduling concerns. Elsewhere in the top six, there was a stunning comeback win for Real Betis and a late winner for Athletic Club.

In part two, there were a couple of 2-2 draws to discuss, featuring a first LaLiga goal for a Real Sociedad youngster and a dramatic fightback from Las Palmas. There was penalty controversy in Mallorca’s home clash against Espanyol - a game that provided a rollercoaster of emotions for Vedat Muriqi. We then reflect upon Getafe's away day success, as well as Celta’s narrow win over doomed Real Valladolid.

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Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) review the remaining eight games, with the title focus turning to Madrid.

Atleti suffered a late remontada at Getafe, while Real Madrid were uninspiring, but did get all three points ahead of the massive second leg showdown at the Metropolitano.

Athletic Club had another Europa hangover, while Villarreal "choked" against Alavés, who managed to win despite having inferiority on the pitch.

In Part Two, we applaud in-form Betis and Sevilla's García Pimienta, lament Las Palmas and salute Valencia finally climbing out of the danger zone.

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Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) are here to review the pulsating weekend.

Real Madrid lost in the Benito Villamarín as former player Isco haunted them in their title quest. Atleti had to suffer but managed to overcome Athletic, and Barça made things look much easier by thrashing Real Sociedad at home. Their reward was being able to be líderes en solitario, one point clear of Atleti and three ahead of Carlo Ancelotti's side.

The was a six-goal thrilling game at El Sadar, a humongous late goal in the South Madrid Derby in another weekend with draws as a feature.

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Barcelona required some magic from half-time substitute Dani Olmo to set them on their way to all three points against struggling Las Palmas. Real Madrid’s magician, Luka Modrić, then proved that age is just a number, conjuring up a stunning strike to help Los Blancos dispatch Girona. 

As for Atleti, they spent a brief period at the top of the table after sweeping past Valencia on Saturday. However, Atlético Madrid’s three-goal return looked pretty average compared to Athletic Club's seven-goal tally in a thumping victory over doomed Real Valladolid.

Elsewhere, we discuss Villarreal's successful trip to Vallecas, ensuring all of the top five emerged victorious from Matchday 25. Meanwhile, there was a mixed day for Antony at the Coliseum and a routine win for Real Sociedad in the race to secure European football. We are again left questioning Alavés' decision to sack Luis García Plaza following a costly defeat against a relegation rival. And of course, we cannot finish the pod without talking about a winner from Celta’s talisman Iago Aspas.

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Barça started so strongly and then gifted points away like Valentine's Day promotions. Then Real Madrid hit the summit before hitting the buffers amid cries of injustice and refereeing conspiracies. Even Atleti couldn't get the job done at home.

Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) are here to discuss everything from the weekend, a Matchday which saw 28 goals, six red cards and five draws.

Wins were at a premium, especially for those in the top half of the table.

Real Madrid were held in Pamplona, Jude Bellingham's frustration finally getting punished, but what exactly did he say?

Atleti were down to ten even earlier, but managed to grab a point late on against Celta.

Getafe turned Girona over on their own patch, Valencia snatched a point in their community derby, while Athletic had to also settle for a point at the RCDE.

Betis smashed a sorry Real Sociedad, whose domestic issues continue to plague them.

At the bottom, there was a pulsating draw between Lega and Alavés, while Real Valladolid are now well and truly adrift after being hammered at home by Sevilla.

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Real Madrid had to settle for a draw in Saturday’s derby clash with Atlético Madrid, opening the door for Barcelona in third position. We discuss the controversial moments from the Madrid derby, including THAT first-half penalty decision. Barcelona took full advantage of the draw, sweeping aside Sevilla to move to within two points of leaders Real Madrid. Is Diego Simeone right? Are Hansi Flick’s charges the favourites to clinch the title? Meanwhile, we recap Oihan Sancet’s memorable outing against Girona and a five-goal thriller at Balaídos.

We kick off part two by reflecting upon Villarreal’s 2-1 victory over Las Palmas and the show of support for Kirian Rodríguez. Elsewhere, Valencia boosted their survival hopes with a win over Leganés, Real Sociedad saw off Espanyol and Rayo continued their European push against basement side Real Valladolid. There was also joy for Getafe, as they collected three points and another clean sheet.

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The league leaders were stunned in Cornellà as Espanyol took advantage of their reprieves to snatch a late winner. Carlo Ancelotti said it was 'inexplicable' that Carlos Romero was still on the field to be able to score the only goal, but Espanyol (and Real's title rivals) were not concerned with that.

Atleti celebrated Diego Simeone's 500th LaLiga match with a classic win to put themselves just one point behind their neighbours ahead of next week's tantalising derby. Barça suffered but were just about able to beat Alavés to stay in touch.

As well as Espanyol, there was a huge win for Valencia at Mestalla, beating Celta to heat up the relegation battle and drag Celta into it. Anyone from 13th down must be looking worried.

Rayo have their goalkeeper to thank for securing the win at local Leganés, who missed two chances to equalise from the spot. Rayo are flying high in 6th and were the only visiting side to win in MD22.

Villarreal kept their quest for a top four finish alive with a thumping win over hapless Real Valladolid, who have conceded 47 goals, ten more than the next worst defence in the league.

Osasuna showed Real Sociedad what a clinical goalscorer looks like with a deserved 2-1 win on the back of Ante Budimir's brace. Only Robert Lewandowski and Kylian Mbappé have scored more than the Croatian front man. Paco thinks time is soon up for Imanol, and colourfully compares managerial longevity to food going off in your fridge.

The two most experienced coaches in LaLiga faced off at the Benito Villamarín as Manuel Pellegrini's Betis twice took the lead against Ernesto Valverde's Athletic, but Los Leones roared back twice to maintain their unbeaten run. Antony looked bright on debut for Los Verdiblancos, but his Manchester United counterpart Marcus Rashford won't be gracing LaLiga, opting instead for Unai Emery's Aston Villa.

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Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) are here to review it all, commencing at Montjuïc, where Valencia suffered a chastening, historic defeat by seven goals to one.

We discuss whether they have hit rock bottom, or whether this is the clearest sign yet that they won't be able to escape from relegation and their worst possible fears? The only bright spot was the return of Mouctar Diakhaby from injury.

Barça were relieved to get three points in the league, but it only keeps them third, as Real Madrid continued to motor on at the top of the table. Kylian Mbappé's first hat-trick in the famous white was the headline in Valladolid, extending their lead to four points at the summit.

Atleti dropped more points in their home game with Villarreal, but in truth, it could have been worse. Athletic Club failed to capitalise following a stalemate at San Mamés, as Leganés achieved another impressive defensive performance and result.

In Part Two, we pay tribute to José Bordalás (yes, again), as his Getafe side shocked everyone by winning 3-0 away against La Real, rounding off a torrid week for Imanol Alguacil. Are his days at the helm numbered? 17% of Getafe's LaLiga goals this season came in the final 20 minutes of this game.

If that was not enough, we talk Sevilla struggling, Jagoba Arrasate raging, and why Míchel wasn't happy with Rayo's President.

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Leganés proved to be LaLiga’s giant killers once again, claiming a surprise win over Atlético Madrid to go with December’s stunning victory over Barcelona. Meanwhile, Hansi Flick discovered how tricky a trip to the Coliseum can be, as Getafe held Barça to a draw in Saturday’s encounter.

Real Madrid ultimately took full advantage of Atleti and Barça’s slip-ups, with Kylian Mbappé starring in a dominant performance against Las Palmas. There was also a win for Athletic Club, who moved level on points with Barcelona thanks to a successful trip to Balaídos.

In part two, we discuss Kike García’s perfect hat-trick at the Benito Villamarín as well as a crucial victory for Espanyol in their relegation six-pointer with Real Valladolid. Carlos Corberán celebrated his first league win as Valencia boss, while Dodi Lukebakio proved to be the hero for Sevilla. We then conclude our recap with a quick review of Rayo Vallecano’s hard-fought point against Osasuna.

Thanks for listening and remember you can access all of our audio and written content at lllonline.substack.com.

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Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee) analyse the Supercopa final and review the weekend in LaLiga which saw the competition reach the halfway stage.

In Part One, we look back on a thrilling final in Jeddah, one which saw seven goals, a red card, a comeback, and another title for Barça, their 100th in history. A jubilant Román hopes this can be the springboard to challenge on all fronts in 2025 and expects Real Madrid to recover from their second heavy Clásico defeat of the season. Work for Carlo Ancelotti to do.

Back in Spain, Diego Simeone is loving life at the top of the table, as his side won a record-setting 14th match in a row to regain top spot and crown themselves winter champions. Can they sustain this form all the way to the end of the campaign?

Elsewhere, Valencia were denied victory by a late leveller in Seville, pain which was compounded by wins for relegation rivals Getafe and Real Valladolid this weekend. Girona got a late winner of their own, Rayo's coach had to wear a bib on thr touchline, and the points were shared at the RCDE.

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We begin at Mestalla for Carlos Corberán's debut, and things started well for Valencia, with Hugo Duro's goal giving them a deserved lead.

Then there was the flash point moment when Vini Jr was sent off for raising his hands to goalkeeper Stole Dimitrievski.

Luka Modrić came on for the ten men and grabbed a vital equaliser before Jude Bellingham (who else) took centre stage to snatch all three points for Carlo Ancelotti's side. Los Blancos move top of the table ahead of their congested week of fixtures.

In Part Two, we review the Copa and salute Pontevedra, Almería, Elche and Ourense, who all knocked out LaLiga sides and will eagerly await the draw in anticipation.

We end by looking forward to the Supercopa de España in Riyadh, although Paco probably won't be watching too closely.

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Did Atleti execute the perfect gameplan? Or were Barça unfortunate not to win given the chances they created? Either way, Diego Simeone is on top of the tree this Christmas, with LaLiga fans excited at the prospect of a three-horse race!

Real Madrid also piled on the pressure, as they swept Sevilla aside in Jesús Navas' final game as a player. The emotional scenes overshadowed what ended up being a routine win for Carlo Ancelotti, but they looked somewhat closer to their best version.

Athletic continued their fine form with a comeback win in Pamplona, leaving some to whisper that they might even be in the title conversation.

Villarreal were involved in a 7-goal-thriller at Butarque, while Mallorca are quietly keeping pace with Marcelino's men.

Diego Martínez continues to amaze with his saviour operation at Las Palmas, and there was an 80s pop theme in Vigo.

At the bottom, Valencia just can't buy a win. Neither can Espanyol. They will be hoping the turn of the year brings a reversal in their fortunes.

We want to wish all of our subscribers a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. ¡Feliz Navidad y Próspero Ano Nuevo!

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Real Madrid had to settle for a point after they trailed by two and then led by one in Saturday’s thrilling clash against Rayo Vallecano. As it proved, Los Blancos gained a point on leaders Barcelona, who suffered a shock defeat in their home game against relegation-threatened Leganés.

Meanwhile, Atleti were made to work for three points by a dogged Getafe side, collecting a narrow win to move above Real Madrid and level on points with Barcelona. There was also plenty of drama in Sunday’s clash at the Estadio de la Cerámica as 10-man Betis squeezed past Villarreal.

Elsewhere, Jesús Navas said an emotional farewell to the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán, while Valencia’s woes continued against Valladolid. There was also a precious point for Coudet’s Alavés, a hard-fought win for 10-man Mallorca and a couple of goalless draws.

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Assane Diao’s deft touch denied Barcelona maximum points in Saturday’s gripping contest, allowing Real Madrid to close the gap to two points with a Jude Bellingham-inspired victory over Girona.

This isn’t a two-horse race, though, as Atlético Madrid showcased their title credentials in Sunday’s comeback win against Sevilla. Away from the title race, Athletic Club made full use of the San Mamés factor to clinch a crucial win in the battle for Champions League qualification.

In part two, we discuss Kike García’s goalscoring return to El Sadar. We also reflect on Valencia’s disappointing result against Rayo, Sandro’s match-winning display against Valladolid and another win for rejuvenated Real Sociedad. Meanwhile, the evergreen Iago Aspas got on the scoresheet as Celta moved into the top half with a victory over Mallorca.

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It all began on Friday night, when Mallorca extended their fantastic start to the season by coming from behind to beat Valencia.

A potentially pivotal Saturday in the race? Barcelona were celebrating their 125th birthday, but there was nothing left to enjoy on the pitch, as they lost 2-1 at home to Las Palmas. That's three without a win for Hansi Flick's men, with just one point from a possible nine, allowing the chasing Madrid pack back in the fight. 

Atleti took full advantage with a crushing 5-0 win in Valladolid, a result which saw them strike 11 goals on the road in the space of four days, and one which spelt the end of the road for Paulo Pezzolano, who was finally relieved of his duties at the Pucela helm. 

Real Madrid also put Anfield behind them with a comfortable enough 2-0 win over Getafe, with Jude Bellingham promoted to penalty taker. 

It was also a great weekend for Espanyol, and Athletic, the latter capping a superb week with a come-from-behind win at Rayo. Wth Villarreal involved in yet another 2-2 draw with late action, Los Leones took advantage to move up to 4th.

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Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) unpick all the action from Matchday 14.

Paco was at Mestalla for Valencia's first game since the devastating floods, and there was poignancy in large supply. The game was superb, too, with Los Che earning a much-needed win in a six-goal thriller.

The headline partidazo of the weekend ended in favour of Athletic Club, as the Basque Derby points stayed with the hosts yet again.

Barça stumbled in a chaotic last ten minutes at Balaídos, dropping two important points in the title race. Real Madrid took full advantage on Sunday to cut the gap to just four points – and Los Blancos have that game in hand.

In Part Two, we salute Diego Simeone on reaching 700 games at the helm of Atleti, who celebrated in pure style with a healthy dollop of suffering.

Elsewhere, there was a bizarre end to a five-goal show in Gran Canaria, five goals at Montilivi to leave Manolo González on the precipice, and four shared at El Sadar.

Last but by no means least, there were also crucial home wins for Getafe and Sevilla. Paco might just be a fan of Allan Nyom's performance on Friday night.

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As well as analysing the matches and those players that have stood out, they also look into some of Spain's future talents such as Marc Casadó and Samu A., who finally made their official debuts and have promising international careers ahead of them.

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Join Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Román De Arquer (@Aeroslavee) as they reflect on Real Sociedad's surprise but well-deserved victory, preventing the Catalans from having a single shot on target.

Elsewhere, Vini scored three goals, Real Madrid won three points, but also lost three players to injury, on a freak Saturday that saw players suffer ACL injuries in all three matches.

Villarreal are looking good for a top four challenge, as their rivals Betis and Athletic both stumbled but rallied to get late draws.

Atleti got another suffering single-goal victory in Mallorca, while Leganés put more pressure on Sevilla. 

Diego Martínez is enjoying life in the Canaries, successfully turning around Las Palmas with three wins in four.

There is concern for Getafe, Alavés and Real Valladolid ahead of the final international break of 2024.

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First and foremost, our thoughts are with everyone affected by the recent flash floods that have devastated the Valencian community. At the time of recording, the confirmed death toll sadly stands at over 200 while many more are missing. People have also seen homes, properties and land destroyed by the horrific natural disaster.

If you want to help those affected, you can donate to the Red Cross via: https://cercadeti.cruzroja.es/ayudaafectadosinundacionesdana

Paco begins the podcast by describing the extent of the devastation. We also discuss the response of the authorities and the recent visit of the King, Queen and Prime Minister to the region. Our focus then turns to LaLiga and the decision to push ahead with the majority of the scheduled fixtures on matchday 12.

In part two, we review the action that took place over the weekend. Barcelona claimed derby bragging rights to extend their lead at the top of the table. The Simeone family enjoyed a successful outing against Las Palmas, while Girona and Leganés put on a seven-goal thriller at Montilivi. Betis fought hard for a point at San Mamés, as Real Sociedad took maximum points from their trip to the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán. Meanwhile, Osasuna and Alavés both collected narrow wins in their respective fixtures.

Remember, you can access all of our content by subscribing at https://lllonline.substack.com/.

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This weekend, LaLiga delivered some serious twists, with unexpected upsets, including a shocking 0-4 result at the Bernabéu. For any doubters, now we can confirm that Barça and their youngsters are the real deal, with a promising season ahead. In contrast, Carlo Ancelotti has a lot of work ahead of him to get Real Madrid to react and find a better way to integrate Kylian Mbappé.

Down in the relegation zone, Las Palmas managed their second win in a row since Diego Martínez landed in the island, while Valencia held on to keep a point at Getafe and Real Valladolid suffered a late defeat at the hands of Ayoze Pérez and Villarreal. Leganés were the biggest winners of the weekend, handing a surprise 3-0 defeat to Celta and clambering out of the drop zone.

All of this and other hard fought battles in our recap pod!

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Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) are here to reflect on it all as the top three all won in different ways, and a couple of surprises were found in unexpected places.

Barça continue where they left off before the break: scoring lots of goals and winning matches comfortably. They swatted Sevilla aside with another brace from Robert Lewandowski, but surely the best part was Gavi's return after almost a year out injured. With Bayern and El Clásico next up for Hansi Flick, this was the perfect start to a testing week.

Real Madrid also won, but struggled to take all three points from Balaídos. In the end, experience and individual quality came through, but Carlo Ancelotti may be concerned with the lack of rhythm in their playing style.

Atleti also resemble something which has lots of shiny parts but no clear instructions on how to piece them together. Leganés gave them a scare in the partially-closed Metropolitano, but Alexander Sørloth's brace turned the game around.

Athletic found home comforts easier to come by as they dispatched Espanyol, but Villarreal were made to pay the penalty against Getafe. Marcelino was raging post-game, and Paco sympathises, but only so far...

There were also significant away wins for the Reals Valladolid, Betis and Sociedad, all of which leaves the middle of the table looking intriguing and tightly compacted. Perhaps the under-rated story of the season, however, is Mallorca, who are just one point off a Champions League spot as we approach November. Bravo Jagoba Arrasate.

Subscribe to get all the reaction to the matches this week, which includes a battle at the bottom in LaLiga (Paco's beloved Valencia), plus a full round of European action. Join the fun at lllonline.substack.com.

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Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) are back to review this game and look ahead to the clash with Serbia, in which Spain can qualify for the final stages of this edition of the Nations League. Which players caught the eye in the absence of so many starters from the Euros? Who will replace Lamine Yamal in the Serbia match? All of these questions are answered.

There is also a quick round-up of Segunda's action, which as always featured plenty of goals and drama.

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Robert Lewandowski continued his red-hot form with a rapid hat-trick in Barcelona’s commanding victory over Alavés. Real Madrid also claimed maximum points, but their win over Villarreal was overshadowed by Dani Carvajal’s serious knee injury. As for Atleti, they lost ground to the top two after Luka Sučić produced a sensational strike to rescue a point for Real Sociedad. At the Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán, García Pimienta claimed the spoils in his first experience of El Gran Derbi.

In the second part, we focus on the penalty chaos at Montilivi and Espanyol’s successful home outing. We then discuss Las Palmas’ failure to break the resistance of nine-man Celta in what might have been Luis Carrión’s final game in charge. Elsewhere, De Frutos starred for Rayo, Getafe played out another draw and Valencia fans expressed their frustration after Friday’s forgettable clash with Leganés.

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El Derbi Madrileño left plenty of talking points, with a game packed with tension, controversy, a temporary suspension, and even a late goal from the home side. Neither of the two sides managed to shine, and are only a single point closer to league leaders, Barça. 

Osasuna ended Hansi Flick's winning streak with a brave and outstanding performance, proving to be a very tough cookie when playing at home.

They also review Getafe's first win, Real Sociedad's slow, yet steady improvement and pose the following question: is Gio Lo Celso be the best signing of the season? So far, he might be... scoring week in, week out for Betis and helping the team grab some essential points. All this and much more in our recap pod!

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Elsewhere, Real Madrid fought back from a goal down to dispatch Espanyol, while their city rivals Atlético Madrid dropped a couple of points against a determined Rayo Vallecano side. Meanwhile, Athletic Club warmed up for a trip to the Italian capital with a home victory over Aspas & company.

Valencia ended their long wait for a win, while Alaves piled the pressure on Sevilla boss García Pimienta. There was also a derby draw, another Las Palmas defeat and a frustrating outing for Real Sociedad.

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Lamine Yamal starred for flawless Barcelona, while Real Madrid made Real Sociedad pay the penalty for numerous missed chances. Conor Gallagher and Julián Alvarez scored their first LaLiga goals as Atleti piled more misery on Valencia. There was also another late winner for unbeaten Villarreal, who look set to challenge for the top four.

Elsewhere, there was a hat-trick of assists for Athletic Club’s Iñaki Williams and a perfect hat-trick for Espanyol’s Javi Puado. Celta enjoyed another successful home outing, while García Pimienta celebrated a win and Vitor Roque ended his long wait for a LaLiga goal.

Remember, you can subscribe to our Substack (lllonline.substack.com) where we will review all the Champions League action in our bonus podcast later this week.

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Luis de la Fuente's side produced a superb all-round performance to beat Switzerland 4-1 in Geneva, despite playing for over an hour with ten men.

Spain raced out of the blocks, with Joselu quickly reminding everyone that he can still provide the answer as Spain's number 9. Lamine Yamal produced yet another goal contribution, leading Paco to make a bold prediction for his season's total output, while comparing him to a certain former Barça player...

Fabián continued his fine form with Spain's second inside the first quarter of an hour. Robin Le Normand's dismissal (harsh, but we are biased) changed the picture, and the hosts pulled one back before the break.

Spain suffered in the second half, finishing with their lowest possession ever recorded. But they were clinical when they did have the ball: Ferran Torres showed his shark-like killer instincts in the pouring rain as he produced an assist and a goal to seal the victory.

We also discuss the Segunda weekend, including Paco's trip to Elda on Sunday night. You won't want to miss out on that!

This pod is free, but by subscribing, you can gain access to so much more content throughout the week. Head to lllonline.substack.com to find out more.

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There's plenty to go through, starting with Mbappé's scoring debut in LaLiga. Two crucial goals ensure three points against Betis and carry 'los blancos' all the way up to second position in the standings. Barça, on the other hand, thrashed Valladolid and are looking stronger than ever despite the (for many) disappointing transfer window.

Sevilla are feeling the heat as another home defeat brings back not too distant memories of suffering, after losing to an improving Girona. Meanwhile, the Valencian derby ended 1-1, with Villarreal clinging on to a draw after losing a player in the second half.

Find all this and so much more in our pod and remember, you can access all our content throughout the 2024-25 campaign by upgrading at lllonline.substack.com.

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While Barça maintained their 100% record, city rivals Real Madrid and Atleti celebrated 3-0 victories in their respective home matches. However, there was to be no win in García Pimienta’s first home match as ex-Betis forward Ayoze Pérez proved to be Villarreal's hero against Sevilla.

In part two, we discuss super Celta, Kubo’s statement and Arrasate’s unsuccessful return to El Sadar. There was also a win for Leganés and a typical Bordalás performance.

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We discuss Real Madrid’s underwhelming start to their title defence and Barcelona’s hard-fought victory at Mestalla. Atlético Madrid’s Alexander Sørloth celebrated his return to Estadio de la Cerámica with a goal, while a LaLiga debutant stole the show for Getafe and Rayo Vallecano claimed a surprise win over Real Sociedad.

In the second part, we focus on Míchel’s new-look Girona side and García Pimienta’s Sevilla bow against his former employers. There was also plenty of time to laud the evergreen Iago Aspas and focus on the three newly promoted clubs.

Remember, you can access all our content throughout the 2024-25 campaign by upgrading at lllonline.substack.com.

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Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Román De Arquer (@Aeroslavee) preview the campaign with some exciting new faces and uncertainty at many of the clubs.

Hansi Flick is in the Barça hotseat. Can he revitalise the Catalans to challenge Real Madrid for the title? 

What about the impact of Kylian Mbappé? A signing that has been coming for years, Los Blancos finally have him, but how will he perform?

Atleti have had a busy summer of departures and potential arrivals? Can they challenge again?

How will Girona fare with key players gone and Champions League football to content with?

Athletic, La Real, Betis, Villarreal, Sevilla – can any of those push on into the top four?

We also discuss the rest of the clubs, including the three promoted sides. 

It feels hard to predict where things will end up, but we are excited to get back underway!

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But such a special game deserved a special pod, which is why we brought together Matt Clark (@MattClark_08), Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG), Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee) and Ben Sully (@SullyBen) to cover all the angles and opinions.

In fact, Paco was at the final in Berlin to give us his insight and share his unforgettable experience. All four review the match, the standout players, and provide the keys to Spain's success during the whole tournament. They also relive Spain's post-match celebrations and talk about England and whether it'll ever be coming home...

For more Spanish football, subscribe with us at lllonline.substack.com and get ready for what's coming in the 2024/25 season!

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Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee) celebrate Spain's latest triumph and the sensational form of Lamine Yamal, still just 16 years old. A goal for the ages saw Spain draw level, before Dani Olmo – another unexpected standout of the tournament – scored the winner.

We praise Luis de la Fuente and his work in winning all six matches so far, before looking ahead to Sunday's final against England.

They came from behind in their semi against the Netherlands, as they have had to do in each of their knockout matches. Can they upset the form book and win the entire tournament, or will Spain's class shine through in Berlin?

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Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Ben Sully (@SullyBen) reflect on the dramatic 120 minutes of action in Stuttgart, before looking ahead to the French clash.

Joselu said in the build-up they wanted to retire Toni Kroos, but it was actually Pedri who was forced to leave the field early, courtesy of a bad challenge from Kroos himself. In an ill-tempered first half, Robin Le Normand saw himself suspended for the semis against the country of his birth.

Dani Olmo broke the deadlock early in the second half, thanks to yet another assist from the prodigious Lamine Yamal. Luis de la Fuente took both wingers off, a gamble that almost backfired when Florian Wirtz equalised late in the game.

Extra time ticked by and it looked like penalties awaited, but up stepped Olmo to cross for fellow sub Mikel Merino to head home, reminiscent of Carles Puyol's momentous testazo in Durban in 2010.

Despite the dramatic chaos of the moment, Merino had the presence of mind to replicate a celebration performed by his father in the same stadium 33 years ago. A precious moment for him and all Spanish fans. We include the fabulous commentary from Antonio Muelas Aberasturi from Radio Nacional de España.

In Part Two we look ahead to the semis, talking Kylian Mbappé and the other strong LaLiga links in the French team, and Didier Deschamps' blasé attitude to his critics.

We applaud the powerful political statements made by many of the French players, in contrast to Unai Simon's recent dead-batting of similar questions.

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Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) reflect on this big win and look ahead to a mouthwatering clash with the hosts Germany.

There is praise for Rodri, Lamine Yamal, Nico Williams and Robin Le Normand and of course consolation for Giorgi Mamardashvili. 

Ahead of the clash with Germany, Paco is nervous after Joselu's comments in the press conference, but believes Spain can end the 'curse of the hosts'.

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In the first half of the show, Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Ben Sully (@SullyBen) analyse Spain's 1-0 win over Albania. Luis de la Fuente made ten changes to his side, but the back-ups proved they can certainly do a job for the team. Dani Olmo and Ferran Torres linked up beautifully for the only goal of the game.

In Part Two, we delve into Spain's next opponents: Georgia. Despite being tournament debutants, Willy Sagnol's side have been positive and got their rewards by beating Portugal to qualify. Well known to Spanish fans, these sides met in the qualifying campaign just last year, while Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Giorgi Mamardashvili need no introductions.

We then assess the wider draw for the Last 16, and try to plot a route for Spain to go all the way. On the tougher side of the bracket, is there anyone who Spain should be fearing?

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Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) is joined by Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee) to reflect on La Roja's 1-0 victory over the Azzurri to seal top spot in what was deemed the 'Group of Death'.

While the scoreline was slender, the comprehensiveness of the display was not. Spain were worthy winners, with Nico Williams and Lamine Yamal tormenting the Italian full backs.

Can Spain go all the way? Or will their lack of a clinical edge come back to haunt them later in the tournament?

After the break we evaluate the other runners and riders in the competition, as England stuttered, Portugal flattered to deceive, and Germany continued to impress.

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Paco wasn't too enthused ahead of the tournament, but now he is "the most Spanish of the Spaniards in the Spanish country". 

We salute Álvaro Morata, the least likely leader, Fabián Ruiz proving doubters wrong, Lamine Yamal's remarkable maturity and Dani Carvajal's terrific fortnight.

In Part Two we assess the early stages of the completion as a whole, with Germany impressing but Italy less so.

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In the first half of the pod, we go through Luis de la Fuente's squad selection for Spain, picking out some of its strengths and weaknesses, as well as previewing the first game against a tough and talented nation such as Croatia. Matt even gives us his prediction on how England will fare!

In the second part, we delve into each group and pick some of the favourites to lift the desired trophy, as well as trying to decipher the potential dark horses and disappointments.

So, give our pod a listen and start warming up for what's coming! Also, remember that you can subscribe to our Substack and support our work: lllonline.substack.com.

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For the final pod of the season, Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Román De Arquer (@Aeroslavee) review the game and assess the magnitude of this team's achievement.

With more than double the number of titles as the next best club – Milan – Los Blancos continue to raise their own ceiling. 

This one is even more momentous, being the sixth in 11 years, matching the feat of the originals in the 1950s.

One of those stars was Paco Gento, and he was joined at the summit by four current Madridistas as the only players with six European Cups.

We talk about the stories and the subplots, from Jude to Joselu, Courtois to Carletto.

Later in the show we discuss some of the new coaches appointed by LaLiga clubs, as well as check in on how Segunda wrapped up.

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Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) bring you the lowdown on the ‘adiós’ by Toni Kroos, Javier Aguirre, Jagoba Arrasate… and, yes, Xavi Hernández, whose additional season at Barça’s helm came to an abrupt end a few days ago after getting rage-sacked by President Joan Laporta. 

Hansi Flick will be Barça’s boss next season, even though Xavi’s stats have stuck pretty close to the template he showed in the successful 2022-2023 season.

With only Real Madrid’s showdown against Dortmund pending, another Champions League final was played this weekend in Bilbao, with over 50,000 in attendance and with Barça dominating European football after beating Olympique Lyon (2-0). The lads might have disappointed, but Barça’s women’s team has been absolutely brilliant and the shining light in a dramatic season.

Don’t miss the coda with our predictions regarding Luis de la Fuente’s 26-man squad for Spain in the Euro 2024.

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Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) bring you the lowdown on the ‘adiós’ by Toni Kroos, Javier Aguirre, Jagoba Arrasate… and, yes, Xavi Hernández, whose additional season at Barça’s helm came to an abrupt end a few days ago after getting rage-sacked by President Joan Laporta. 

Hansi Flick will be Barça’s boss next season, even though Xavi’s stats have stuck pretty close to the template he showed in the successful 2022-2023 season.

With only Real Madrid’s showdown against Dortmund pending, another Champions League final was played this weekend in Bilbao, with over 50,000 in attendance and with Barça dominating European football after beating Olympique Lyon (2-0). The lads might have disappointed, but Barça’s women’s team has been absolutely brilliant and the shining light in a dramatic season.

Don’t miss the coda with our predictions regarding Luis de la Fuente’s 26-man squad for Spain in the Euro 2024.

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Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Román De Arquer (@Aeroslavee) look back at it all, from Cádiz's familiar faults costing them their top-flight status, to a partidazo at La Cerámica, with Alexander Sørloth firing himself into the Pichichi lead. 

Elsewhere, there was a huge Europa League decider in Seville, but this one went the way of the visitors. Barça and Girona both won to confirm their spots in 2nd and 3rd respectively.

Atleti suffered perhaps the shock of the weekend, being routed on their own turf by Osasuna.

There were emotional goodbyes at San Mamés, and more home comforts for Alavés.

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Join Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Ben Sully (@SullyBen) as they review that one-sided affair and the rest of the weekend’s action.

Cádiz continued their LaLiga survival fight with a crucial win, while Jon Guridi dented Girona’s runners-up hopes. Sergio Herrera dropped two points at San Mamés as Rodrigo De Paul thumped Atleti closer to Champions League qualification. 

Elsewhere, Mallorca took a giant leap towards safety against free-falling Las Palmas. We also reflect on two thrilling games at Estadio de la Cerámica and the Benito Villamarín as well as a cagey affair at Mestalla.

We will be back to discuss the midweek round of fixtures over at lllonline.substack.com.

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Real Madrid's 36th league title was decided in Catalunya, after Girona beat Barça in a pulsating match at Montilivi. The home fans were celebrating too, as they secured Champions League qualification for the first time in their history. We salute the stars of both teams, the composure of Carlo Ancelotti and the magic of Míchel.

Elsewhere Celta took a giant leap towards survival by beating Villarreal in another goal-fest, while La Real and Betis moved further clear in the final European places.

Granada aren't relegated quite yet, but their defeat in Seville makes it a matter of time. In truth, Cádiz look doomed too.

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Real Madrid got the job done, with Carlo Ancelotti's rotations working to perfection, Girona are now just one win away from their Champions League dream, and 'El Gran Derbi' ended with a draw. Almería are officially relegated, whereas Granada and Cádiz are doing all they can to stay in the fight for survival. Celta, Mallorca and Rayo cannot sleep easy just yet.

All this, and more, in our weekend recap. So, give us a listen, and don't forget to subscribe at lllonline.substack.com for the latest on Spanish football!

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Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) reflect on this game and the rest of the action in LaLiga this weekend.

There was goal-line controversy, golazos and much more to get stuck into. Atleti compounded a bad week by losing at Alavés, keeping Athletic in the hunt for fourth spot. Valencia lost to Betis, but Real Sociedad were unable to take full advantage. 

Girona sealed European qualification for the first time ever, while Iago Aspas did what he does best and led Celta to a massive three points in their battle against the drop.

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As always, we look at all the games, starting with Atleti's massive win against Girona, before keeping an eye on their upcoming return at Signal Iduna Park. Barça & Madrid both obtained routine 0-1 away wins, with João Félix and Aurélien Tchouaméni scoring beautiful goals. Betis finally snapped their bad streak, but another is ongoing, as Las Palmas can't stop losing after falling to Sevilla.

This, and much more, in our weekend recap of all the action. So don't forget to follow us on lllonline.substack.com if you don't want to miss a thing!

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Join Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) to review a spectacular night in Seville.

We congratulate Athletic and Mallorca for a thrilling approach to a final, laud the two coaches, and discuss the key players in the game.

Ernesto Valverde has sealed his place in Athletic Club history, as has Iker Muniain and company.

After the break, we react to Valencia's win over Granada and the race for 7th which has now opened up.

We also preview the Champions League quarter-final first legs, as three Spanish sides look to reach the final four.

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We delve into an egg-citing game at Montilivi, where Cristhian Stuani delivered a sweet treat for the home faithful in a five-goal thriller. Real Madrid bounced past Athletic Club thanks to a Rodrygo brace, while Álvaro Valles chicks out early in Las Palmas’ defeat to Barcelona.

Elsewhere, Jon Pacheco scores the decisive goal to leave La Real feeling hoppy, as Osasuna experienced an egg-cellent outing against Almería. Birthday boy Sergio Ramos gifts Sevilla a precious victory in their quest for resurrection, Cádiz enjoy a Good Friday and Celta fail to come out of their shells in Rayo stalemate. We then go on a hunt for talking points in a goalless affair at Mestalla.

April promises to be an egg-ceptional month for Spanish football – sorry, that’s the last pun, we promise. To keep across all of the domestic and European action, come and join us over at lllonline.substack.com.

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Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Román De Arquer (@Aeroslavee) reflect on another big weekend in LaLiga. 

Barça remain unbeaten on the road after taking all three points from the Metropolitano, just as they did 26 games ago back in January 2023. Of course João Félix had a part to play, but it was Robert Lewandowski who was the main man. More vindication for Xavi?

As for Atleti, they drop out of the top four and have a daunting task ahead of them.

Real Madrid continue clear at the top after a 4-2 win at El Sadar. Despite Vini's brace and Fede Valverde's trio of assists, it is a certain Moroccan who we discuss...

Girona's woes on the road continued at the Coliseum, while Athletic continued to power at San Mamés.

Almería stole headlines on Sunday, picking up their first win of the season in Pepe Mel's first match in charge.

There was also a new manager bounce for Claudio Giráldez at Celta, as they came from behind to beat Sevilla. The game even featured Lucas Ocampos peacemaking between his teammate and his coach.

Rayo also tasted victory after what seemed like an eternity, but the troubles go on for Granada.

Betis are in a slump at the wrong time, but Real Sociedad and Villarreal picked up important wins to keep their European goals alive.

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First up, we discuss a five-goal thriller at the Benito Villamarín and another red card for Chimy Ávila. Attention then turns to Cádiz's surprise win over Atlético Madrid, reigniting the battle for survival and piling the pressure on Atleti and Diego Simeone. Real Sociedad showed great fight to beat Granada, while Real Madrid swept past Celta Vigo to take another step towards the title.

Elsewhere in the top four, Barcelona prodigy Lamine Yamal produced a stunner as Girona made full use of home comforts to reclaim second spot just 24 hours after they had lost it. Meanwhile, Valencia’s European charge gained more momentum, Alavés ramped up Rayo’s relegation fears and Athletic Club basked in the Gran Canarian sun. 

We also look ahead to the midweek Champions League fixtures, and remember you can catch our recap of the European action over at lllonline.substack.com later in the week.

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Starting with the controversy in Valencia, where the referee was the unfortunate protagonist of the night after blowing the final whistle just seconds before Jude Bellingham scored what could've been a match winner. They also cover Girona and Barça's missed chance to revive the title race, as well as Atlético's bounce-back from their Copa del Rey elimination.

Goals were also a big part of the weekend, with a crazy 3-3 draw between Getafe and Las Palmas, Villarreal thrashing Granada and Sevilla sticking their finger a bit deeper into Real Sociedad's wounds. At the bottom there was late drama, relief for Rafa and a hailstorm at Vallecas.

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Time waits for no man, and as one Real Madrid legend returned to his former home, another nearing the end of his time stole the show with a typically magical strike. Luka Modrić doesn't score many, but when he does they are spectacular. It needed to be to break down a stubborn Sevilla.

Barça found things much easier for a change, easing past Getafe at Montjuïc, as they climb to second in the standings.

In Seville, Betis put aside their European disappointment with a statement victory over Athletic Club. The Basque side don't travel well lately, and will now be without Nico Williams for their next game. His sarcastic applause of the referee earning him an early bath. Paco ponders whether this rule is applied consistently enough?

Real Sociedad also lost 3-1, at home to Villarreal as their mini-resurgence continues. 

At the bottom it was a huge six-pointer at the Nuevo Mirandilla but ultimately Celta were left to count the cost of conceding late yet again. From a position of 2-0 up against a side who don't score, this was a damaging loss of two points. Darwin Machís' golazo keeps Cádiz alive and keeps Celta in trouble.

Atleti had another poor result on the road, drawing in Almería, who remain winless. Luka Romero (remember him?) stole the show with his brace.

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Join Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) to review Matchday 25 in LaLiga. Real Madrid did extend their lead to six points, but Girona have the opportunity to cut that in half, should they win at San Mamés on Monday. A huge game just got even bigger.

Atleti warmed up in style for their Italian job by putting five past Las Palmas. Marcos Llorente up front...who says Diego Simeone isn't a revolutionary?

As for Barça, it was the same old story. They were made to struggle and suffer, this time with a winning outcome, but the doubts still remain strong. Rafa and Celta can't catch a break, and continue to stutter along, as Robert Lewandowski stuttered from the penalty spot.

Elsewhere, there were important wins for Real Sociedad and Osasuna, and a plethora of draws, most of which were unsatisfactory for the clubs involved.

This was especially true for Granada and Almería, who seem destined to play each other again next season back down in Segunda.

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Vinícius Júnior and Jude Bellingham played starring roles in the demolition job, moving Carlo Ancelotti’s side five points clear at the top. Elsewhere in Part One, we discuss another poor home result for Barcelona as they play out an entertaining 3-3 draw against relegation-threatened Granada. There was also disappointment for Atlético Madrid, who lost out to a rejuvenated Sevilla side at the Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán.

Real Betis swept past struggling Cádiz to move into sixth place as goal-shy Real Sociedad dropped down to seventh with a home defeat to Osasuna. Meanwhile, Celta showed all their fighting qualities at the Coliseum to come back from two goals down, only for Getafe to land the killer blow late on. Matt and Ben also discuss all the other fixtures from the weekend, including another solid win for surprise European hopefuls Las Palmas.

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First off is the Madrid derby, in which Marcos Llorente gave Los Blancos a taste of their own medicine with a very late equaliser. A goal that opens up LaLiga and gives Girona a massive shot next weekend at the Bernabéu.

Matt and Román then talk about Girona's messy draw, Barça's convincing win, Athletic thrashing Mallorca, Celta taking home three massive points from El Sadar and all the other fixtures, as well as previewing the first legs of the Copa del Rey semi-finals.

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Following weeks of discussion and a calamitous 5-3 defeat at home to Villarreal, there were backroom discussions, a delayed press conference and then the bombshell. Xavi will leave at the end of the season. 

We spend most of Part One discussing the news, its timing, and how things fell apart so quickly for the club legend. 

Real Madrid, Girona and Atleti all won their respective matches to keep up the pace at the top end of the table, but the main Basque pair both suffered Copa hangovers and had to settle for stalemates. A worthy debut point for new Cádiz coach Mauricio Pellegrino. Betis and Manuel Pellegrini were the beneficiaries of those results as they closed the gap on the top six.

Elsewhere, there was more misery for Sevilla and Almería, who are making Groundhog Day look refreshingly different. Spare a thought for the fans.

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Real Madrid managed what should have been a heroic comeback, against Almería of all sides, but three highly controversial VAR reviews even had some Madridistas feel raising their eyebrow. Paco explains how the circumstances were damaging to the La Liga product, but at the end of it all, Los Blancos are closer to the title.

Girona ensured they would not sleep at the top of the table though, as Artem Dovbyk trampled Sevilla and put himself top of the Pichichi standings in the process. Barcelona are hanging on by their fingernails, as we discuss a potential sea change in the Catalan capital.

In the second half of the show, we bid farewell to Sergio González in a sacking that even he saw coming. The picture still seems somewhat bleak for the Yellow Submarine though. Valencia halted Athletic Club’s march in its tracks, and Osasuna’s Jesús Areso impersonates Roberto Carlos. Paco looks ahead to the Copa del Rey quarter-finals too.

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In Part Two we look at all the LaLiga action from the weekend: Sevilla and Villarreal's unstoppable downfall, Girona's shock result against Almería, the Basque derby and plenty more. Remember you can subscribe to our Substack for a very small sum to support our work and get unlimited access to all our content! With action coming thick and fast, there has never been a better time to upgrade.

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The new format has largely been regarded as a success over recent years, and the pros and cons are broken down after a largely uninspiring Round of 32. Alavés did cause one of the few upsets, beating 2022 winners Real Betis, and causing a sour start to 2024 for Manuel Pellegrini. Elsewhere there was a Real Madrid debut six months in the making.

In the second half of the show, we break down the Spanish Supercup semi-finals on the way, beginning with the Madrid derby. Atlético are looking as shaky as they have done since 2022, and El Cholo is backed to double down. However coming up against them are the seemingly impregnable Real Madrid. The contrast between side that were beaten in September and this one is pretty stark. Osasuna face Barcelona in the other semi-final - neither side is looking especially special right now, as we discuss Vitor Roque's first minutes too.

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For those hoping for a four-horse title race, hopes were dashed as both Barça and Atlético Madrid stumbled on the road. Xavi's side are now winless in three following their point at Mestalla, as the doubts and questions continue to mount.

For Atleti, they simply couldn't cope with a rampant Athletic Club, spearheaded by the Williams brothers. We ask how Ernesto Valverde is getting such a tune out of a side that struggled for goals last season.

Real Madrid made a statement by dispatching Villarreal with ease to put the ball back into Girona's court ahead of their game on Monday night. With a clear gap over their usual rivals, is the title race a two-horse race? 

Elsewhere, Sevilla lurched from chaos to full blown crisis as they suffered a hammering at home to Getafe, after which Diego Alonso was promptly sacked. We review his miserable tenure and ask whether Quique Sánchez Flores is capable or arresting the slide.

At the bottom there were positive results for Celta and Cádiz but more misery for Granada, Almería and Mallorca. The bottom two look cut adrift now, is there any way back for them?

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The first half of the show is dedicated to the first time ever that Girona have beaten Barcelona - and what a way to do it. Míchel's side showed Culers the football they've been desperate to see all season, and even if Barcelona had their chances, Paco explains why Girona were so much better. Then there's the post-mortem for Barcelona and Xavi Hernández - we have a checklist. 

In the second half of the show, we start with Aitor Ruibal's screamer to earn Real Betis a point against Real Madrid - one that both sides were content with. Real Sociedad gave the Yellow Submarine a bath and Diego Alonso is on borrowed time. Meanwhile Valencia get Bordalás'd. Subscribe for extra content at lllonline.substack.com. 

Our thoughts go out to the Granada fan that tragically lost their life to a heart attack during their clash with Athletic Club. Descansa en paz. 

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The weekend culminated with a heavyweight clash at Montjuïc as Barça took on Atleti knowing they could be effectively out of the title race had they lost. João Félix – on loan from Atleti – proved to be the match-winner, and how he enjoyed that. Iñaki Peña was also vital with a couple of superb saves to deny Diego Simeone's men.

Athletic Club routed Rayo with both Williams brothers on the scoresheet, celebrating Nico's contract renewal.

Real Madrid and Girona keep winning at the top. Ruairidh Barlow (@RuriBarlow) drops in to give us his reaction from the capital. Meanwhile, Girona made hard work of it against Valencia, requiring a late doblete from Cristhian Stuani to complete the remontada.

In Part Two we review the rest of the games, including controversy denying Marcelino a fourth win in four, praise for revelatory Las Palmas, and some stalemates which suited nobody.

We end by reacting to Spain's tough Euro 2024 group draw.

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They look into the Marcelino - Morales connection that has brought Villarreal back to life, Umar Sadiq's glorious goal that saw Real Sociedad overpower Sevilla, Rodrygo recovering his best version, Rayo becoming Xavi's worst nightmare and Paco López's untimely departure, among all the other stories of the weekend.

Is Antoine Griezmann the best player in the league? Were Sevilla wrong to fire José Luis Mendilibar? Is Barcelona's season on the line this week? All these questions and more are pondered.

They also take a moment to remember Terry Venables, who sadly passed away this weekend. 'El Tel' leaves behind a great legacy that will be remembered for years to come. From the La Liga Lowdown team we send out our condolences to his family and friends.

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Luis de la Fuente called it the most bitter victory he's ever experienced after Spain defeated Georgia 3-1, the only thing anyone was talking about was Gavi. The 19-year-old star came off before the half-hour mark with what is all-but-confirmed a season-ending anterior cruciate ligament tear. The impact of this is discussed, both for Spain and Barcelona, as it looks like it might keep him ouof the Euros next year. Paco tries to assess De la Fuente's spell up until now - the next time Spain play, de la Fuente will have been in the job over a year.

The second half of the show unfortunately has to deal with injuries too: Real Madrid have lost Eduardo Camavinga and Vinícius Junior for multiple months. The upshot is a rather thin set of options for Carlo Ancelotti, who has nine injuries to deal with as things stand. Have Real Betis left Manuel Pellegrini with one too many miracles to work? Their defensive options are analysed. There was some bright news for Barcelona fans, who thumped Real Madrid 5-0 at Montjuïc, which wraps up a chastening show.

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Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) review a goal-filled weekend which saw every team score, contributing to 3.66 goals per game, four comebacks from the top five, and familiar heroes coming to the rescue.

The Seville Derby may not have been too high on quality, but the narratives stayed strong. All square at the Sánchez-Pizjuán courtesy of Ivan Rakitić.

The game of the weekend was on Friday in Bilbao, as Athletic grabbed a late winner in a seven-goal thriller to condemn Celta to yet another defeat.

Atleti had to come from behind too, but succeeded in defeating managerless Villarreal to extend their home winning run. Of course Antoine Griezmann was at the heart of things. Marcelino is seemingly all but in the door, and Paco says he should be given the keys to the Submarine hatch.

The leaders are still Girona, who once again trailed at Míchel's old stomping ground but turned it around. Their powers of recovery are almost as impressive as their league position.

In Part Two we discuss the other two horses in the race, both of whom won but in very contrasting circumstances.

Robert Lewandowski made his own scoring return to wake Barça up from their slump while Real Madrid won without Jude Bellingham. Xavi still has plenty of issues to solve, but Madrid appear to have passed this test with flying colours.

We round up the remainder of the action before assessing the table as it stands.

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Part One begins at El Sadar where Míchel's side showed little apprehension about the difficulty of their task when they went down to Osasuna. Why are they so much better this season than last? Why is football cruel, and why should Real Sociedad fans continue to watch it after they were beaten by Barcelona? Our pair discuss the silver linings of their robbery, and the puzzle for Imanol Alguacil. Made all the sweeter for the Catalans by both Madrid giants stumbling in the face of frisky opposition.

In Part Two, everyone is moaning. All sides went home in a cantankerous mood from Celta Vigo-Sevilla, and even Pacheta's puppy-dog enthusiasm is wilting in the face of Villarreal's performances. Elsewhere Alavés win a crucial clash at the bottom of the table, Paco López and Javier Aguirre have reason to bring out their inner Benítez too.

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Join Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Román De Arquer (@Aeroslavee) as they review the game in depth. 

Román was in attendance so shares his matchgoing experience, as well as wondering whether Real Madrid deserved to win, or Barça in fact let it slip. We talk tactics, substitutes, key players, and of course, a lot about Jude Bellingham. As always it seems. There is time for discussion of İlkay Gündoğan's post-match comments too, and where it leaves the respective sides for the rest of the season.

In Part Two we travel on a whistle-stop tour around the rest of the matches from the weekend, one that saw two thirds of the fixtures decided by stoppage time goals. There were late winners, high-scoring draws, magical goals... and Getafe with another bore draw.

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Part one begins with the Sergio Ramos derby. Ramos had Real Madrid pulling faces, as Carlo Ancelotti turns to irony. Diego Alonso's Sevilla debut was interesting watch - Jude Bellingham has failed to score or assist in just three games this season, and Real Madrid have dropped points in two of them. Elsewhere, discretion advised if you want to mess with Girona, and Antoine Griezmann shows Rafa Benítez just how rainy it can be in Vigo.

Part two begins with the Sunday night partidazo in Barcelona - which was decided by yet another Barcelona youngster. Marc Guiu makes his case for the best ever opening minute of a debut. Villarreal fail to beat Alavés at home, as they sink to their worst start in La Liga ever. Manuel Pellegrini is the latest to get the Papa Bordalás treatement.

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Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) discuss the two close encounters, beginning with Thursday night's win over Scotland in Seville.

Ruairidh Barlow (@RuriBarlow) - our Scot living in Spain - was at La Cartuja to witness the match, and shares his thoughts on the match and Luis de la Fuente's tenure so far.

We examine the controversy surrounding Scott McTominay's disallowed goal and explain why Spain were able to kick on from that point.

In Part Two we analyse Sunday's win in Oslo against a rather disappointing Norway side. There were more debatable decisions here too, with Álvaro Morata at the heart of most of it.

We conclude by assessing Spain's likelihood of contending next summer. 

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Matchday 9 brought us a colossal amount of goals, drama and narratives.

We've had records broken, comebacks, a new coach, a sacking and more. Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) break it all down in this bumper pod before the international break kicks in again.

We start with Zaragoza in Granada, not to confuse the geographers. Bryan is the revelation of the season, and in just 17 seconds, he made sure Barça knew about it. If his first was quick, his second was more spectacular, earning him the Spain call up his fans were clamouring for. Barça had to dig deep to get themselves out of another hole. They thought they had won it, but were denied by a controversial offside decision. Lamine Yamal will never forget the game, as he became the youngest goalscorer in LaLiga history.

In Madrid, there was more drama, with handballs this time. Paco laments the level of officiating this season, but praises the grittiness of Atlético and the quality of La Real.

Another week, another Bellingham showcase, who is challenging journalists to find new superlatives and fresh copy. A thumping win leaves Los Blancos top of the league, with Girona their closest challengers.

In Part Two, we look at remaining games and the managerial movements. José Luis Mendilibar was sacked by Sevilla as a late draw at home to Rayo was not enough to fend off the doubters. The vicious cycle is continuing in Seville, and there are similar predicaments for Rafa Benítez at Celta and Pacheta at Villarreal. Celta saved a point against Getafe but Villarreal fell to Las Palmas. All seem to be suffering from seasons "born in a twisted way", opines Paco.

What will the coming days bring? A nervous wait for many.

Athletic beat Almería, who subsequently appointed former-Athletic coach Gaizka Garitano as the man to try and save them. We discuss this choice and whether or not he can have the luck required.

After rounding off the matches, we play out on Lamine Yamal's moment of history.

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Part One begins in Catalonia - Girona naturally. Real Madrid returned to the top of the table in ruthless fashion, stomping all over Míchel and his magic full-backs. There was a surprise benching, and back down in Barcelona, it was a Real Madrid legend doing the Blaugrana a big favour. The Basque derby delivered, if you were in Txuri-Urdin - and even if you weren't, well, you may as well enjoy it. The partidazo of the week came in the depths of the LaLiga table, with the bottom two sides wondering 'if only' in a wild game.

Part Two sees us round up the rest of the games, including an unexpected partidazo at the Metropolitano, a vital win for Osasuna, and Real Betis show that there's a new generation coming after losing some key veterans. Finally we wonder if Villarreal manager Pacheta might already be in must-win territory just five games in.

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In part 2 we're back at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys where Román witnessed a historic comeback for Barcelona. The João's and Xavi would have deserved the criticism lined up for them with 15 minutes to go, but 8 minutes of magic made it just another happy headline. Problems in Andalusia, but Catalonia is flying. Girona are joint-top, and nobody who enjoys entertaining football will begrudge them that. Find out who our revelation of the season is six games in.

Follow us on Twitter @LaLigaLowdown, but if you can subscribe to our premium Substack deal to receive a bundle of extra written and audio content. Enjoy your (midweek La Liga) semana!

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Part one kicks off in Barcelona, where Román was present to see Barcelona devour a depleted Real Betis, with some sensational debuts too. Are we looking at a change of approach from Barcelona? Atlético Madrid were humbled by Valencia, who have their own young stars showing they can mix it in LaLiga, while Rafael Benítez is doing a lot of complaining - that could soon be drowned out by groans at Balaídos though.

In part two, Real Madrid continue to get the job done, even without Jude Bellingham on the scoresheet. Are Real Madrid and Barcelona essentially playing the same setup now? Sergio Ramos is back at Sevilla, but the big news is that they're off the bottom. Pacheta also squeezed three points out of his first game, and he's really very happy about it. 

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Before the pod begins, Matt brings you up to date with the breaking bombshell that Luis Rubiales will resign from the RFEF and as UEFA vice-president. The news came on Piers Morgan's Uncensored show, just to add to the surrealism.

To the main pod, and a magnificent seven for La Roja, with an Álvaro Morata hat-trick and history made by Lamine Yamal. He became the youngest player and youngest goalscorer in all of Spanish national team history. We discuss this feat, as well as our hopes that he doesn't follow the path of difficulties endured by Ansu Fati recently.

Does this win reinforce Luis de la Fuente's position as head coach? Paco shares his view.

We then discuss the wider international break, with Hansi Flick also sacked by Germany on Sunday.

In Part Two, we analyse the managerial movement at the Estadio de le Cerámica, with Juan José Rojo Martín appointed at Villarreal. That's Pacheta of course, and we evaluate whether the mixed reaction to the news is warranted or a little unfair.

Finally we discuss the return of Sergio Ramos to Sevilla, a big name who rejected "yummy offers" and a man who is sure to provide "spicy quotes". A journalist's dream.

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Part One begins with a breakdown of your weekly Jude Bellingham winner, but there's perhaps cloud on the horizon above the silver Santiago Bernabéu. Barcelona come out with all their teeth in tact after a trip to the dentist, but not their ear, and we look at two very different sides of the Alexander Sørloth transfer this week.

In Part Two, we round up the rest of the matches, with wins for Girona, Real Betis, Alavés and Celta Vigo. João Félix has played a grand total of 20 minutes for Barcelona, but already there's a seed of scepticism. We wrap up with a look at a rather pleasant European tour for the final edition of the Champions League in its current format. Finally, there is a bombazo to close the show, with Sergio Ramos set for a sensational return to Seville.

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We begin with an update on the scandal rocking Spanish football and discuss the future of now-suspended President Luis Rubiales.

Happily, there was a lot of football to enjoy, with 27 goals in eight games. 

There were partidazos galore on Sunday, with young talent shining bright on an otherwise dark week for Spanish football. 

Lamine Yamal is only 16 but he is already being decisive for Barça, who ended up winning a thriller at La Cerámica, a game which also featured another Ferran Torres cameo.

At San Mamés there were six goals and a remontada, as Athletic came from 2-0 down to beat Betis comfortably in the end. Isco is looking sharp and almost back to his best, but it was the Williams brothers who stole the show, albeit with some controversy.

Real Madrid are still top of the pile and Jude Bellingham is still the main man. We discuss how freakishly good he is to already be running things for Carlo Ancelotti. But is it actually a concern that they are already so dependent on him?

In Part Two we round up the remaining games, including an impressive Girona and a goalfest in Granada.

Osasuna shook off their Conference League disappointment to beat Valencia at Mestalla thanks to a 95th-minute overhead kick, which left Los Che feeling blue.

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Part one is exclusively dedicated to Spain ruling the world again, 13 years later. Overcoming England, La Roja dominated the game and were rewarded with the World Cup. We bring you on the ground accounts from the celebrations, look back on the game and look ahead to the future. Also a word on the tragic post-match for scorer Olga Carmona.

Football doesn't rest though, and there was a full round of La Liga matches this weekend, which forms our basis for the second half of the show. Barcelona battle their way to three points, Jude Bellingham is that guy and Ruben Baraja's teenage kicks hold Valencia fans tight. That and all the talking points from Matchday 2 in La Liga.

Follow us on Twitter @LaLigaLowdown and make sure to subscribe to us on Substack, whhich is our main platform this season and we would love it if you subscribed and upgraded for less than a fiver a month, allowing you access to an extra podcast and multiple articles on our Substack home. We think it is great value, and we hope you do too.

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We begin in the south of Madrid after a fiery stalemate between Getafe and defending champions Barcelona. Xavi saw red, and he wasn’t the only one in a game which saw 25 additional minutes played. Bordalás ball is back with a bang!

Elsewhere there were late wins for Valencia and Betis, as well as a perfect start to post-Iraola life at Rayo. 

In Part Two we begin in Bilbao where Jude Bellingham angered the crowd and wowed the rest of us with his performance. The Madrid press are falling at his feet already, going early with the Zinedine Zidane comparisons.

Paco offers his view of the title race this season, as well as his assessment of the rest of the runners and riders across the league. Plus, find out who he fears could be in for a “rude spanking” in their next game.

Substack is our main platform this season and we would love it if you subscribed and upgraded for less than a fiver a month, allowing you access to an extra podcast and multiple articles on our Substack home. We think it is great value, and we hope you do too. 

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For ten long months, with an unprecedented World Cup in the middle, it has been a unique campaign.

The title changed hands for the fourth time in a row, while we had a relegation battle for the ages.

We discuss Barça's success, Real Madrid's difficulties, Atleti's improvement, La Real making the top four, Euro Osasuna and more.

Carlo Ancelotti's side won three trophies but for many their season was underwhelming. How will they replace Karim Benzema?

In Part Two we break down the relegation battle and discuss the comings and (mostly) goings at the end of the season. Adios to some legends and some not so iconic.

Thank you to everyone who supported us this season. We will be back for 23/24.

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Part one deals with the second slate of games in the day, and the relegation battle, as six teams sweated into the final stages of Sunday evening. Ultimately, Ronaldo Nazário’s Real Valladolid were the victims of something he’s never had to deal with - lack of goal. José Bordalás’ trundled Getafe to safety, and none of the other teams had the required slips for La Pucela. We also deal with the first of two major farewells.

Part two is dedicated to the European race, but there too, the team that started the day in the position in question finished it there. Victory for Osasuna meant a return to Europe for the first time in 16 years. Karim Benzema scored with his final touch as a Real Madrid player, on a weekend of goodbyes at the Santiago Bernabéu. Athletic Club said sayonara to their European hopes in frustratingly familiar fashion.

Follow us @LaLigaLowdown on Twitter for the latest Spanish football news, and tune in to our written work right here.

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After more than 150 minutes of brutal football in Budapest, in a game which traversed the end of May and the beginning of June, the Spanish side beat Roma on penalties to seal a record-extending seventh Europa League title. After all, nobody loves it like they do.

Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) review a dramatic and emotional final, breaking down the key moments and discussing methodical Mendi and the Machiavellian Mourinho. 

Perhaps the most unlikely of Sevilla's seven, they won it having been in danger of relegation a matter of weeks ago, when they had just fired their second coach of the season.

We salute the efforts of the players, the marvellous job undertaken by José Luis Mendilibar, his halftime tactical tweaks, his long road to glory, Jesús Navas, Ivan Rakitić, the Argentine connection, brilliant Bono and much much more.

In Part Two we look ahead to the last act in the enduring drama that is LaLiga 22/23, as one club will hop onto the European train and six try to avoid the final curtain.

There is plenty more available on Twitter @LaLigaLowdown and on our Substack at lllonline.substack.com.

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There is nowhere else to start than the relegation battle, and with three different ties involving direct rivals, even three 0-0 draws would have been the height of drama. As it was, there was no shortage of action, with Getafe and Cádiz coming out winners. Espanyol, were very much the losers. This podcast was brought to you by the Barcelona metro service, which quickly transported one of our hosts from Camp Nou to our recording location, and we close out part one with reaction direct from the final game before it becomes the Camp Vell.

Part two sees us head north, as we reflect on the ongoing European battles with heavy representation from the Basque country - La Real continue to make their case for being the best run club in Spain. That Europa Conference League spot was always going down to the last day, but nobody thought that it would end up with six teams still in the running. Finally we close out part two with Sevilla, who lost to Real Madrid, but in an unusual turn of events for Los Blancos, have bigger fish to fry.

If you aren’t already, follow @LaLigaLowdown on Twitter to keep up to date with all the latest in Spanish football, and head to laligalowdown.substack.com for our written content.

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Real Valladolid and Espanyol kept their hopes of playing in La Liga alive with major results against the two best teams in the division in 2023 - it sets up a Sunday showdown for both. It's tight at the bottom in general though, with six of the bottom eight separated by just two points. La Bordaleta chugged into life this week in Andalusia, but Getafe also lost their best driver. For a region famed for its rain, things are also uncomfortably warm in Galicia.

In part two, we discuss the dying embers of the Champions League race and one player who is all but unstoppable right now. The Europa Conference League race is a matter of intrigue too. Just the six teams are involved in that, four of them separated by two points. Finally, there's an update on the actions being taken in Spain in the aftermath of a major international reaction to Vinícius being abused again, an assessment on the general reaction within Spain, and where perhaps there is room for growth.

Follow us on @LaLigaLowdown on Twitter to keep across all of the latest in the Spanish game, and ensure you visit lllonline.substack.com for all of our written content.

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On Sunday evening Vinícius Júnior was racially abused by a Valencia fan, and some time later, ended up being sent off. It was the boiling point in a absurd and awful situation that has been bulding for some time. We give you an objective and correct timeline of events, and discuss the problems with both the dealing of the situation, and the discussion surrounding.

With some degree of difficulty, we then discuss some major results in the relegation battle, including major results for Cádiz and Almería.

In part two, we attempt a little less gloom, and at the very least Real Sociedad provided that, as they continue their march towards the Champions League at Camp Nou. There's also Sevilla's heated clash with Real Betis in the derby, a twist of fortune for Villarreal with one of the in-form forwards in La Liga, and a smash and grab from Espanyol. The final European spot looks as if it may go down to the wire.

Follow us @LaLigaLowdown on Twitter to keep up to date with all the goings on, and ensure you are subscribed to our Substack in order to receive our written content - lllonline.substack.com.

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The entirety of part one is dedicated to the simply stupendous goings on in Nervión. An electric game, a swaying Sánchez Pizjuán, and another Europa League final. Sevilla dispatch Juventus, we break down the man behind that success, José Luis Mendilibar, how they managed to beat Juventus, peak at the final itself. Another familiar José awaits.

Grit your teeth for part two Madridistas. Part two sees us look at what went wrong during Real Madrid's pummeling at the hands of Manchester City... It's not as bad as you think. Paco picks through Carlo Ancelotti's mistakes, but just give more praise to City for stopping Real Madrid doing the one thing they do best. How exactly does it affect the Italian's future, and we touch on a major problem for Ancelotti that really isn't his fault. Finally, we take a brief look ahead to the fixtures in La Liga this weekend.

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In part one, we break down who the main culprits for the Blaugrana victory, and which were the key moments in ensuring that it was they that triumphed. Román closes out part one with a wish and a worry for the summer months.

Part two comes onto the numerous other goings on in Spain this weekend, including a fiery relegation battle or three. Only Valencia won out of the relegation candidates this weekend, which is worth four more places in the table to Los Che. Real Valladolid were up in arms about defeat to Sevilla, which tightened the race for Europe right down to 12th-placed Real Mallorca. Up in top four country, La Real lost ground to give Villarreal narrow hope.

Follow us on Twitter @LaLigaLowdown, where we will be covering the title celebrations, and find all of our written content at lllonline.substack.com

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In the European competitions, Real Madrid and Sevilla both had to settle for 1-1 draws following two hugely entertaining and different first legs. 

In Madrid, City resisted the City pressure and managed to keep Erling Haaland quiet, but were unable to generate any advantage to take to Manchester next week.  

In Turin, Sevilla were seconds away from a famous win, but should be happy enough to come away unscathed. Having dominated the first half, to concede in the last play of the game was a suckerpunch, but this disappointment illustrates the progression made by the side in recent weeks.

In the second half of the show we pay homage to Sergio Busquets, undisputed legend of Spanish football, as he announced his imminent departure from Barça. We delve into his unique attributes as well as asking how he can be replaced, if at all.

We then look ahead to MD34, including discussion on Barça's chances of wrapping up the title at Espanyol, as well as some key games in the relegation battle and the fight for European spots.

Follow @LaLigaLowdown for all the latest, and subscribe to our Substack at lllonline.substack.com.

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Nine years since their last, Los Blancos have the Copa back in their possession after beating Osasuna 2-1 in a pulsating final at La Cartuja. Join Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Thom Harris (@ThomHarris_) to review the showpiece in Seville, which saw a fifth winner of the competition in as many seasons.

We talk about the key protagonists of the game, including Vini Jr, Rodrygo and Dani Carvajal.

Vini showed his blistering best and his frustrating worst at times in this game, and we evaluate whether this can be resolved before it costs him or his team dearly.

In Part Two we analyse what this triumph means to the club and to Carlo Ancelotti. Real become the first Spanish side to win 100 trophies, 10% of which have been won under the affable Italian.

Before we're done we salute Osasuna on a proud and persistent performance, and then look ahead briefly to the huge European semi-finals this week.

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As the UK is set to officially crown Charles III, in Spain it is the King's Cup which is the focus this weekend. Join Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) to review Matchday 33 and look ahead to Saturday's showpiece in Seville.

In LaLiga, a few big questions were answered and others moved a long way towards being resolved.

Barça recorded a record-equalling 11th 1-0 victory to put themselves one step away from confirming their title. They will be crowned if they win away at Espanyol next weekend. We also discussed some significant off-field developments at Camp Nou.

Real Madrid's abdication from the throne is confirmed as they slipped to third after a defeat at Real Sociedad. Imanol’s side are getting closer and closer to securing Champions League football.

Atleti are now a free-scoring Antoine Griezmann machine and they scored five for the second successive match.

At the bottom, Elche's relegation was confirmed as Almería beat them 2-1. Elsewhere, José Bordalás was back at the Coliseum and it was as if he had never left. 

The battle to avoid joining Elche is hotter than ever, with five points separating six clubs.

There's praise for Girona too, as they are 7th and now best-placed to grab a potential European spot. 

In Part Two, we preview the highly-anticipated Copa del Rey final on Saturday night. We deliberate on how the teams arrive, what it would mean to win it, and how the game might pan out.

Before we finish, Paco gives us his take on the outcome of the final, with both his head and his heart competing. Whatever the end result, we hope it provides a spectacle fit for a King.

As always, keep across everything @LaLigaLowdown and subscribe to our Substack at lllonline.substack.com.

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We start at the bottom, with Espanyol gaining a much-needed victory over Getafe, who have just reappointed José Bordalás. There was no immediate effect for returnee, instead it was his counterpart Luis García who registered a first win of his own. Espanyol had been the team with the longest winless run in the division, but that baton now passes to Getafe themselves.

Down in Andalucía, Cádiz also needed to react after three games without a goal, taking on a resurgent Valencia who had won their last two games. Once again it went the way of the hosts, a valuable three points for Sergio's side. Valencia's momentum is stalled.

Elsewhere Elche stunned everyone by pulling a 4-0 win out of the bag. Every game is now a must-win or they will be officially relegated.

Real Valladolid went punch for punch with Atleti, but came out on the wrong end of a seven-goal thriller.

In Part Two, we discuss the big two who scored four goals each, but it was Karim Benzema who closed the gap on Robert Lewandowski in the Pichichi race. For the title, Barça require just three wins to seal it.

Lastly we look at the race for 4th, as La Real continue to hold firm, while Villarreal are trying their best to pressure them all the way.

Matchday 32 concludes on Monday and Matchday 33 begins on Tuesday. Subscribe to our Substack at lllonline.substack.com and follow us on Twitter @LaLigaLowdown for all the latest at this crucial stage of the campaign.

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Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) reflect on a midweek which saw both giants lose in the same jornada for the first time in 18 months, history made at Montilivi, and a rocket-launching 19-year-old changing the mood of 40,000 inside Mestalla.

Of course we begin with the Poker in Girona as Taty Castellanos and Co caused Carlo Ancelotti to raise his eyebrow ever further. Real Madrid picked a bad time to produce that performance and Éder Militão will have to improve when he faces Erling Haaland...

We continue the theme of underdogs earning deserved victories over at Vallecas. Andoni Iraola has the midas touch over Xavi's Barça without a doubt, as the Catalans missed the chance to go 14 points clear and lost the option of hitting 100 points.

Then it's all about Valencia and their triumphant win courtesy of their latest youngster. Los Che move out of the relegation zone at the expense of Getafe, who sacked Quique Sánchez Flores after they lost at home to Almería. Yes, Almería won a game on the road. It really was a wild week.

In Part Two we talk Atleti, Villarreal and the battle for Europe. At the other end it is looking bleak for Elche and Espanyol – the former could be officially relegated as soon as this upcoming weekend.

We end by looking at the scrap at the bottom and running through the fixtures for MD32. Time is running out and the tension is rising.

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A delighted Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) joins Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) to review all ten matches of the round.

The European race took more twists as Betis lost in Pamplona, La Real produced a remontada and Sevilla knocked the stuffing out of Villarreal. Don't sleep on Athletic Club either.

In Part Two we look at some more familiar things. Barça winning 1-0, Real Madrid winning 2-0 and Quique Sánchez Flores with a verbal zinger in the press. 

Following Barça's win over Atleti, no hay Liga. Valencia had a good weekend and so too did their former-academy players Ferran Torres and Kang-In Lee, who both scored for their respective sides on Sant Jordi.

We wrap up the show by assessing the relegation picture, which still involves around a third of the league, and briefly look ahead to the midweek round.

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We then pan across to Madrid, where Jorge López-Torrecilla (@Jorge_ltg_) jumps on to discuss Real Madrid’s routine 2-0 brushing off of another Premier League side, Chelsea, on route to a semi-final rematch against Manchester City.

Finally, we also turn our attention to the upcoming domestic action where Atlético Madrid travel to Camp Nou to take on Barcelona on Sunday, alongside some relegation six-pointers as we near the business end of the season. Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) joins us for that. 

Stay tuned to La Liga Lowdown on Substack at lllonline.substack.com and on Twitter at @LaLigaLowdown throughout this weekend and in the build-up to next week’s midweek matchday.

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We begin at Mestalla where Valencia needed a result to keep the belief but faced a Sevilla side who salvaged a draw impressively at Old Trafford on Thursday. A game full of controversy and drama ended up going the way of the visitors as José Luis Mendilibar continues his unbeaten start. We ask how Valencia were undone yet again, how precarious their position is, and whether Sevilla are now safe. 

We then turn our attention to the Basque Country and the European race. Athletic dealt their rival's Champions League hopes a significant blow as they enhanced their own prospects. We discuss the form of Iñaki Williams in particular. 

Villarreal did a Villarreal and Betis were able to cash in with a convincing win over freefalling Espanyol. 

In Part Two we focus on the big three, as Barça were held to another stalemate at Getafe. Real Madrid won at Cádiz to cut the gap to 11 points. With Barça's profligacy in front of goal, is there a hint of a title race once again? 

One team in full force is Atlético Madrid and Antoine Griezmann was differential once again. They are hunting down the top two and face Barça at Camp Nou next weekend. Game on. 

Follow us @LaLigaLowdown on Twitter and subscribe to our Substack for plenty of content at lllonline.substack.com.

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We start off with a recap from the capital on Real Madrid's convincing win over Frank Lampard's Chelsea before moving on to discuss another recent coaching appointment as José Luis Mendilibar secured a dramatic draw with Sevilla against Manchester United.

In part two, we take a look at another huge game for Mendilibar's men, a tricky away trip for Barcelona and a big Basque derby.

Stay tuned to lllonline.substack.com and @LaLigaLowdown on Twitter for all the latest coverage of everything going on in Spain.

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There is no other place to begin though than perhaps the most entertaining tie of the weekend, as Villarreal and Samu Chukwueze put Real Madrid to the sword at the Santiago Bernabéu. We talk through his strides forward and the impact it's having on the top four race. It was Semana Santa in Spain, but in Seville the only thing rising this weekend was an unholy wave of frustration as both Real Betis and Sevilla saw red again, costing them points in the process.

Sevilla do at least have some breathing room between themselves and the relegation zone, unlike Valencia and Espanyol. We start part two with a focus on the relegation zone, and a crucial victory for Almería over Los Che. Then we analyse our first impressions of the new managers at Espanyol and Real Valladolid. Atletico Madrid march onwards, they now have Real Madrid in their sights.

Follow us on Twitter @LaLigaLowdown, and find our written content on lllonline.substack.com.

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Part one kicks off with El Clásico, as we come fresh off a 4-0 win at Camp Nou for Real Madrid, a thrashing not seen since the 1960s. We start off with where the match was won and lost, Real Madrid's most underrated but rated player, and how Carlo Ancelotti vindicated his position. Then we have a go at both fanbases, all is fair in love and war. Finally, we work out how this result influences what remains of both of their seasons.

The second half sees us work our way through an historic achievement for Osasuna - but also a bitter defeat for Athletic Club. Within that we look at the protagonists for Osasuna and the lack of them for Athletic Club. Our extra time is devoted to Espanyol and Real Valladolid who both appointed new managers this week.

Follow us on Twitter for more coverage of all things Spanish football (@LaLigaLowdown).

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Part one begins with Real Madrid and Barcelona, who combined for ten unanswered goals against Real Valladolid and Elche respectively. Ahead of their Copa del Rey crunch match both had confidence building victories, but Román is grilled on a number of questions hanging over Carlo Ancelotti and Xavi Hernández. We also touch on the Ansu Fati drama, as well as a first win for José Luis Mendilibar as Sevilla manager.

The second half of the show kicks off with an enthused Sam Leveridge (@samleveridge), fresh off the back of Atlético Madrid's sixth victory in their last seven matches. What might have been? Then we dig into Athletic Club and Osasuna, with the onus on Los Leones to turn around their 1-0 deficit. Finally we may be on the verge of a sacking (this might have happened by the time you're listening), find out why Espanyol and Diego Martínez has not worked out.

Make sure to follow us on Twitter @LaLigaLowdown and keep across all of our written content on lllonline.substack.com.

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By delving into the squad choice, captain selection and possible line-up to take on Norway for De la Fuente’s first match in charge in Málaga on Saturday evening, we look at how the new coach can put his stamp on the squad. 

We also look at Spain’s opponents, with Ruairidh Barlow (@RuriBarlow) joining us to share his insights on his home nation, Scotland, while we discuss some familiar faces to LaLiga fans that feature in the Norway squad. 

Finally, we wrap up by looking at the managerial merrygoround in LaLiga with an old friend returning as José Luis Mendilibar took charge of Sevilla and a complete novice starting out with Sebastián Beccacece appointed Elche coach.

Stay tuned for more across our Substack in the coming days and on Twitter at @LaLigaLowdown. 

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Part 1 begins and stays with the big one for the most part as we break down the anatomy of the match itself, the consequences for the two teams going forward, and the Copa del Rey semi-final coming up between the two. We round off the first section with the other two teams charging onwards currently; Atlético de Madrid and Celta de Vigo.

Part 2 sees us plunge into the hot mess that is the relegation battle. With a single win Getafe can breathe and sleep a lot easier outside the relegation zone. They were the only side to win in the bottom nine, and it the pressure is starting mount on the men in charge. In more temperate climes, the European race is threatening to get a little messy too. Finally, we end on one of the most bizarre penalties seen for many years on Spain.

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Hosts Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) begin by reflecting on a disappointing night in Europe for the Spanish sides.

After three defeats and not a single goal scored across Thursday's Europa and Conference League matches, only Sevilla progressed, suffering and holding on in Istanbul.

It opens up questions about the state of LaLiga and we ask to what extent these negative results serve as a diagnosis on the health of Spanish football?

At least Real Madrid made it through in the Champions League, with an air of serenity not seen in their momentous campaign last season. Their comfortable and controlled performance against Liverpool is also touched upon.

Surely the Clásico on Sunday will be more taxing for them, as they seek to cut the gap to Barça at the top.

In the second half of the show we preview that game in full, including the importance of Pedri's potential return, what Real Madrid should do with Eduardo Camavinga and more.

Then there is a segment on questions from listeners and followers. Paco does his best to dive into the Clásico culture and whet your appetites for the big game.

Stay across our coverage on Twitter @LaLigaLowdown and subscribe to our Substack for fresh daily content at lllonline.substack.com.

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As it went, Barça maintained their nine-point advantage at the summit ahead of El Clásico next weekend, but they had to dig in deep in Bilbao. Another 1-0 win to add to the catalogue, this new-look resilience reminds Román of a different club and manager of recent LaLiga times. 

Elsewhere there were humongous victories for two of the giants struggling at the bottom as Sevilla and Valencia both put themselves above the water line for another week at least. 

In the race for Europe, it was a lap of consolation for the pretenders, as Real Sociedad, Villarreal and Betis all drew, keeping the contest intriguing. 

The big weekend winners were Celta, and we salute them, Iago Aspas and Carlos Carvalhal, who has quietly transformed their outlook this season. 

Ahead of another important week of European action, follow us @LaLigaLowdown on Twitter and subscribe to our Substack for more analysis: lllonline.substack.com.

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In part one, Matt Clark (MattClark_08) calls in from the snowy, blustery and generally torrid weather outside Old Trafford - he wasn't much more of a fan of Real Betis' second half in their defeat to Manchester United. Manuel Pellegrini has an uphill task in the second leg of their Europa League tie, as is true for Real Sociedad. Villarreal got a better result in the Europa Conference League, but here's the fun part - they are all battling it out for the top four at the same time. We break down the key weaknesses that might hamper both European and domestic aspirations.

In the second half of the show, we turn to Sevilla. Imagine a world where Sevilla win the Europa League but get relegated? One seems more likely than the other, but will Jorge Sampaoli even see the season through? More questions than answers in Seville - a problem that is very much the case in Barcelona too. Román gives his view from Catalonia on El Caso Negreira.

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First we head to the red and white part of Madrid, where a special celebration for Diego Simeone was marked in style as he took charge of his 613th game with the club in a seven-goal thriller. We then move on to Camp Nou, where Barcelona won with very little style, and the Benito Villamarín, where Real Madrid had just as little style but lacked Barça’s cutting edge, as Hasan Karim (@TheHasanKarim) tells us.

In part two, we look at the relegation battle, where Getafe secured a crucial and nail-biting win over Girona, while Elche clung onto a faint tinge of hope until the very end against Mallorca in two of the weekend’s most eye-catching results. 

Stay tuned across lllonline.substack.com and @LaLigaLowdown on Twitter for all the latest in another action-packed week of Spanish football.

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It's likely to be a game defined by injuries with both sides missing players, although the Barcelona limp is a little more obvious at this point. We discuss how both sides might line up, where the weaknesses lie, and how it could leave the La Liga race after the first leg at the Santiago Bernabéu.

The second half of the show sees us travel around Spain to discuss some of the most interesting statistics and stories from around Spain. Once again Román demands more time for Quique Setién at Villarreal, we break down one of the most exciting and talented youngsters cutting his teeth at Celta Vigo, and make the case for the two best value signings of the season.

Follow us @LaLigaLowdown on Twitter, and tune into our Substack too - lllonline@substack.com - where we have daily content and will work our way through the El Clásico reaction.

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We begin with probably the surprise of the season so far. Following their defensive horror show last weekend, Almería went into their game against the league leaders with little more than blind faith. However, they caught a Barcelona still in hangover mode from their latest European exit, and the Andaluz side took full advantage, scoring early and defending well. As a result, Xavi's side missed a golden opportunity to open up a double-digit gap on Real Madrid.

The defending champions could not win either, even against the ten men of Atlético Madrid in El Derbi de Madrid. Teenger Álvaro Rodríguez saved a point for Los Blancos with his first senior goal but most observers felt it was an insufficient point. Little did we all know that Madrid would actually cut the gap at the top this weekend.

Elsewhere, Rubén Baraja got his first win as Valencia suffered and earned a much-needed three points while Espanyol and Cádiz registered important home wins too.

In the European race it was a fantastic weekend for Real Betis, who battled back from 2-0 down at Elche to get a crucial victory.

At the end of the show we take stock of the tightening races for Europe and to avoid relegation, as well as looking ahead to the first legs of the Copa del Rey semi-finals.

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Join your hosts Ruairidh Barlow (@RuriBarlow) and Thom Harris (@ThomHarris_) as they discuss the best of the action, including an eight-goal thriller at Montilivi, a last-minute screamer in Elche, and a wonder-assist at Camp Nou. 

Our experts also dive into a tense top-four, as Villarreal slump to a fourth defeat in a row for the first time in 24 years, before looking ahead to some tasty mid-week European ties, as Real Madrid travel to Anfield, and Barcelona gear up for round two with the Red Devils.   

Wild celebrations, uncontrollable tears, and fists literally being swung, you don’t want to miss this.

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Fresh from attending Rubén Baraja's presentation on location, we start there as Valencia's third coach of the season begins an unenviable task. A cheap option on a short-term contract, is this simply a move by Meriton to pacify an angry fanbase?

Paco assesses the move to bring a club legend into the fray, as well as analysing Baraja's first statements as coach. His first match will be a relegation six-pointer away at Getafe, the importance of which cannot be overstated. 

In Part Two we discuss the other big news from Wednesday; the bombshell involving Barcelona and alleged payments to a company linked to a former senior referee in the CTA. We discuss the reports and where it might leave the Catalans. 

Then we turn our attention to this weekend's fixtures in LaLiga, featuring some attractive match-ups and a European showdown in Madrid. 

Last but by no means least, we salute Jakub Jankto, who this week made the brave public announcement of his true identity. 

Remember to follow us @LaLigaLowdown on Twitter and subscribe to our daily content at lllonline.substack.com.

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We start at the top as Barcelona suffer against Villarreal but ultimately get the job done. Another rearguard action, another Pedri goal. Ronald Araújo was the star of the show but how concerned should Barcelona be about the form of Robert Lewandowski, with Manchester United on the horizon? Elsewhere Atlético Madrid mugged Celta Vigo at Balaídos, and Quique Sánchez Flores teeters on the brink.

In part two, there's only one place to start - Mestalla. Valencia are deep in crisis mode, and right now it feels like quicksand. Román has his doubts about even Pep Guardiola's ability to turn things around. Sevilla are only four points above them, but are feeling terrific that they are no longer the giants in crisis. It was a happy Saturday on the whole in Seville, with one player in particular coming in for praise in the Andalusian capital. With matters so tight at the bottom, every result continues to grow in size.

Follow us on Twitter @LaLigaLowdown, and join us at lllonline.substack.com for our latest written content.

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In the first half of the show, we break down Real Madrid's win over Al Ahly which sealed progression to the final of the Club World Cup. It was a scoreline which ended up flattering Carlo Ancelotti's side, but that's not to say it was a performance without positives.

Andoni Iraola and Rayo Vallecano are also high up on the agenda after the Vallecas side moved up to fifth in LaLiga. Iraola attracted the advances of Leeds United but has reportedly turned down a move to the Premier League in order to continue his fine work with Rayo. Rejoice.

In Part Two we look ahead to the nine matches in LaLiga this weekend, which sees coaches have reunions with their old clubs and giants in need of home wins to boost morale as much as their respective points tallies.

Remember to follow us @LaLigaLowdown and subscribe to our Substack (lllonline.substack.com), where you can read articles on everything from Celta's new goalkeeper to the lost edition of the Club World Cup.

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To discuss the action, Sam Leveridge (@samleveridge) is joined by Paco Polit (@PacoPolitENG) who brings his insight from Valencia with updates on fan protests and the club's search for a new manager as they fight off relegation.

Elsewhere, Elche stunned Villarreal to record their first win of the season, but was it too little too late for Pablo Machín's team? Stay tuned to @LaLigaLowdown on Twitter and LLLonline.substack.com for all the latest.

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Part one opens with the people that can be feeling pleased with themselves after rushing to hand in their assignments, before coming onto remarkable second transfer window in a row where one president has been in physical danger after his decision-making. Gavi wore number six on Wednesday night, he is registered as a first-team player, but it isn't over until Javier Tebas sings.

In part two, we pick through more of the debris of Gennaro Gattuso's Valencia departure, where he surrendered before he was cast off, and the return for what we feel we can now call an icon of Spanish football in Voro. Plus signs of encouragement for Real Madrid, Rayo Vallecano (on the pitch) and Quique Setién.

Enjoy our written content at lllonline.substack.com and keep up-to-date @laligalowdown on Twitter.

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Join your hosts Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Thom Harris (@ThomHarris_) as they dissect the weekend’s results, starting at the Santiago Bernabéu, where not even Vinícius Júnior’s 20 dribbles were enough to break down a sensationally structured Real Sociedad side, who remain just three points off Los Blancos in third. 

Part One also sees our experts analyse big wins for Barcelona and Atlético Madrid, who continued the theme of 1-0 wins across the weekend. Pedri and Saúl the midfield match-winners in those.  

Not all the games this weekend were low scorers though, as Sevilla thumped Elche by three goals to nil on Saturday, to extend the visitor’s winless streak to nineteen games. The guys also have high praise indeed for Cádiz and Almería, who continued their fine form in front of their own fans. 

Make sure to follow us @LaLigaLowdown on Twitter for all the latest news and reaction, and don’t forget to subscribe to our Substack for free, daily LaLiga content emailed straight to your inbox! That's lllonline.substack.com.

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Join your hosts Thom Harris (@ThomHarris_) and Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) as they dissect two pairs of thrilling clashes between Spain's greatest teams, as Barcelona, Real Madrid, Athletic Club and Osasuna all took one more huge step to cup glory.

In Part one, don't miss Paco's in-depth analysis of the situation in Valencia, speaking to us just moments after witnessing the incredible events that  unfolded outside Mestalla. We also have plenty of praise for the Basque visitors, who make their fourth Copa semi-final in succession.

After the break, our experts get stuck into Osasuna vs Sevilla, paying particular attention to their sensational coach, before looking ahead to some of the weekend's big games.

Make sure to follow us on Twitter, @LaLigaLowdown, for all the breaking news, reaction and analysis from our team of journalists, and subscribe to our substance below, for daily content emailed straight to your inbox, free of charge!

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Join hosts Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Román De Arquer (@Aeroslavee) to reflect on the talking points and the implications of all the results.

We start at the top, and it's as you were as both Barça and Real Madrid record victories, both having to endure some suffering. Winning championships isn't supposed to be easy, after all.

The most impressive team is in third, however, so we laud Real Sociedad once again as they set a new club record for consecutive victories in impressive fashion at Vallecas.

Atleti were also impressive, led by their pink prince Antoine Griezmann. They round off the top four and the first half of the show.

Into Part Two, we analyse two late victories of significance in Seville and Vila-Real, both courtesy of late pressure penalties. There was emotion and relief in equal measure.

Elsewhere there is more pain for Betis, a small glimmer of hope for Elche and a golazo from Segunda.

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Join your hosts Thom Harris (@ThomHarris_) and Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) as they discuss the week's news, starting with their analysis of the title race ahead of a gruelling period for Real Madrid. Before part one is out, Paco reflects on Valencia's current situation, before some exciting transfer business for Girona is assessed.

After the break, the guys look ahead to the weekend's action, with a relegation six-pointer between Sevilla and Cádiz at the top of the bill.

Make sure to follow us @LaLigaLowdown on Twitter for all the latest news, analysis and insight, and subscribe to our substack below, absolute free of charge, for quality LaLiga content emailed to your inbox every single day!

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Then, we turn our attentions back to the Iberian Peninsula, where there was a thrilling Basque derby on Saturday night. Athletic Club fan Beñat Gutiérrez (@beinatguti) joins us to share his thoughts on the game, a controversial refereeing decision, and what it means for both teams.

Sam and Román also run through all the rest of the action, including a game of golazos in Getafe, Girona's late win to send Sevilla into the drop zone, and more dropped points for Atletico Madrid and Villarreal. Stay tuned for more coverage at lllonline.substack.com and twitter.com/laligalowdown.

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In the first half of the show, the hosts dissect and chew over the semis which saw both giants start well, fade and then rely on their superb goalkeepers to secure passage to the final on penalties. There is praise for the conquered Valencia and Betis and questions about the performances of the big two: is it tiredness or something more fundamental? Both were more Casio than Rolex.

Before the break we discuss the dramatic debut of João Félix at Chelsea which went from red hot to red card. Diego Simeone was unavailable for comment.

In Part Two we turn our attention to the LaLiga weekend, featuring the Basque Derby as its designated partidazo. Two sides looking to make strides up the table, this should be a fascinating encounter. There are some huge games at the bottom too, which could give hope to some or reinforce the despair of others.

You won't want to miss it. Claramente.

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Then, Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) joins the action from Valencia to break down Villarreal’s win over Real Madrid, Real Sociedad’s surge on the top four, Joselu’s incredible goalscoring record and Valencia’s struggles after a home defeat to Cádiz.

With the January transfer window open and the Spanish Supercopa coming up this week, stay tuned for more at lllonline.substack.com and twitter.com/LaLigaLowdown for all the latest insights and action.

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On the agenda today is Copa del Rey, LaLiga and the new Kings League. We review the shocks and surprises from the first day of Last 32 matches in the Copa, starting in north Africa, where Elche's nightmare season got even more horrible, if that was even possible. Their agony is ecstasy for AD Cueta, who themselves are bottom of their league.

Elsewhere, three other LaLiga sides fell on Tuesday night, including last season's semi-finalists Rayo Vallecano. We discuss all the action and talking points.

Román then gives us a fascinating insight into Gerard Piqué's new project: the Kings League. Find out what it is, how it works, and the multitude of big names already involved.

In Part Two, we look ahead to the weekend in LaLiga, which features tough away games for the title challengers and plenty of other intriguing games besides.

Keep up to date by following @LaLigaLowdown on Twitter and subscribe to our Substack at lllonline.substack.com.

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Spanish football returned with a bang this weekend, as Jornada 15 squeezed itself into the calendar before 2022 was out. Join your hosts Thom Harris (@ThomHarris_) and Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee) as they pick apart the big results from the top and the bottom of a tasty looking table heading into the new year.

In part one, the guys dissect a bizarre game at Camp Nou, a professional performance at the José Zorrilla, and the return of some of the World Cup's shining stars, before they move on to discuss a tantalising race for European qualification after the break, as Real Sociedad and Villarreal both picked up statement wins in the fight for a precious top-four spot.

Make sure to follow us on Twitter @LaLigaLowdown, and to follow our blog at https://lllonline.substack.com for completely free, fresh content sent to your inbox every day!

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The league leaders/failed European side Barcelona begin with a tricky proposition early on, without their leading scorer. Yet Real Madrid's proposition has all the ingredients of a bumpy landing too. Outside of those two, Athletic Club take on Real Betis in a match that could see either side go third or slip to 9th. Also included are Diego Simeone's shopping trolley, an over-extended metaphor and will the real David Beckham please stand up?

In the second half of the show, Celta Vigo-Sevilla sees two sides trying to keep their head above water. We discuss which manager will go into 2023 with the most pressure and find out how you could spend Nochevieja with Paco Polit.

Follow us on @LaLigaLowdown on Twitter and make sure you catch all of our written content on lllonline.substack.com.

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