La Liga Lowdown

In the middle of the international break, there is no LaLiga but plenty of stories to dig into. Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) do just that, including Spain's historic win in Tbilisi.

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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When it rains it pours. LaLiga continued its exciting start with several games seeing goal-fests, while others were slightly drier affairs. Join hosts Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Ruairidh Barlow (@RuriBarlow) as they pick through the wreckage.

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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Join Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Román De Arquer (@Aeroslavee) to review a thrilling third round in LaLiga.

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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Join hosts Ruairidh Barlow (@RuriBarlow) and Paco Polit (@PacoPolitENG) for a celebratory podcast, as they look back on a momentous day for Spain, Spanish football, and women's football.

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.

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Welcome to a new season of LaLiga and the return of the La Liga Lowdown podcast. Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) is joined by Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) for a review of the opening weekend which saw plenty of drama, dream debuts and dubious decisions. Plus, not a single home team won!

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.

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Join us for the last podcast of the season to review the 2022/23 LaLiga season. Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) is joined by Román De Arquer (@Aeroslavee) and Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) for the storylines, the good and the bad.

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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LaLiga came to a sudden end as all 20 teams signed off for the summer in heart-stopping fashion. Join hosts Ruairidh Barlow (@RuriBarlow) and a relieved Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) for the aftermath of a thrilling final day which saw us bid farewell to La Pucela and welcome Osasuna to Thursday night football.

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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Sevilla have done it again! 

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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We have just one matchday left in LaLiga after another thrilling round of games - nine all at the same time, with so much on the line, was nearly too much for us. Join hosts Ruairidh Barlow (@RuriBarlow) and Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee) as they piece back together the penultimate round of La Liga action and all the consequences.

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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The relegation battle continues to be the best white-knuckle thrill in Spain, so make sure you don't miss it. Join hosts Ruairidh Barlow (@RuriBarlow) and Román de Arquer (@aeroslavee) as they look at some major results, and analyse more fall out from the racial abuse received by Vinícius Júnior.

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.

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