La Liga Lowdown

Join Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Thom Harris (@ThomHarris_) to review a pulsating weekend in LaLiga which had local derbies, intense relegation six-pointers and some surprises thrown in too. 

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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In this podcast, we recap on the latest from Spanish football with both action in midweek in Europe and an exciting matchday round coming up. Sam Leveridge (@samleveridge) and Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee) break down the action.

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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La Liga took centre stage again after the Copa del Rey, and it did not disappoint. Averaging over three goals per game this weekend, it was the Matchday of the entertainers, as hosts Ruairidh Barlow (@RuriBarlow) and Thom Harris (@ThomHarris_) discuss.

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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The Copa del Rey semi-finals were all set up for stories in midweek, and they did not disappoint. Real Madrid humble Barcelona, Osasuna make their second ever Copa del Rey final, Ruairidh Barlow (@RuriBarlow) is joined by Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee) and Jorge López-Torrecilla (@Jorge_ltg_) to break down all the goings on.

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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La Liga was back after the international break - one perhaps best forgotten in Spain - but there were plenty of memorable matches across Jornada 27 for a number of reasons. Join hosts Ruairidh Barlow (@RuriBarlow) and Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee) as they navigate their way through the narratives.

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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To preview Luis de la Fuente’s first international break as Spain coach, Sam Leveridge (@samleveridge) is joined by Paco Polit (@PacoPolitENG) to break down all to expect from this new-look Spain squad. 

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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Hay poca liga. Barcelona win El Clásico and move themselves 12 points clear, as the relegation battle gets increasingly hot and sticky. Join hosts Ruairidh Barlow (@RuriBarlow) and Thom Harris (@ThomHarris_) as they break down a crucial Jornada ahead of the international break.

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.

Follow us on Twitter @LaLigaLowdown to keep across our Spanish football coverage, and subscribe to lllonline.substack.com for all of our written content.

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La Liga Lowdown is back with another podcast with plenty on the agenda.

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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On Oscars weekend there was no shortage of drama in LaLiga. From blockbuster encounters to thrilling epics, heroes and villains, Matchday 25 wouldn't look out of place on the red carpet. Hosts Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Román De Arquer (@Aeroslavee) pore over the action and leave their reviews. 

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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It was a topsy, but mostly turvy week for Spanish sides in Europe, but no less interesting to unpack. Hosts Ruairidh Barlow (@RuriBarlow) and Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee) do so in your midweek podcast, before turning their attention to some of the other major storylines.

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.

Follow us on Twitter @LaLigaLowdown, and subscribe to our substack at lllonline.substack.com for all of our written content.

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