La Liga Lowdown

187 down, 193 to go. We’re just a few games from the half-way point of the 2022-2023 LaLiga season, and what a primera vuelta it’s been.

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.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The business end of the Copa del Rey is fast approaching, as this week's crunch-match quarter-finals have whittled the remaining candidates down to the final four.

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!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As we approach the halfway stage of the season, LaLiga Matchday 18 was a weekend low on goals but not short of drama.

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.

Follow us @LaLigaLowdown for all the latest transfers and news from Spanish football, and go deeper by subscribing to our Substack at lllonline.substack.com.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's not often a football team plays on three different continents in a week, but that's exactly the challenge that Xavi's Barcelona will face over the next few days, as they return from Saudi Arabia with the Spanish Supercopa tucked under their arms.

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!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It was a dramatic weekend of football in Spain, and Saudi Arabia, this weekend, as Barcelona were crowned champions of the Spanish Super Cup with Xavi getting his hands on silverware for the first time as Barcelona coach. To break down the Clásico final, Sam Leveridge (@samleveridge) is joined by Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee).

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.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A packed midweek podcast this week as Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Thom Harris (@ThomHarris_) discuss the marathon pair of Supercopa semi-finals before looking ahead to a slightly-reduced schedule of LaLiga matches at the weekend.

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.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week’s podcast, the La Liga Lowdown squad review the Matchday 16 action. Host Ruairidh Barlow (@RuriBarlow) starts with the Sunday night partidazo and talks to Sam Leveridge (@SamLeveridge) in Madrid about the atmosphere at the Estadio Cívitas Metropolitano and what the Barcelona win means for both Barça and Atlético Madrid.

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.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Join Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Román De Arquer (@Aeroslavee) for a midweek dip into the deep pool of Spanish football.

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.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

10 games, 21 goals, and a 16-card special from Mateu Lahoz. LaLiga is officially back.

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!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

LaLiga is back and after six weeks off, we are being plunged back into the middle of a season. Join hosts Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Ruairidh Barlow (@RuriBarlow) as they try to ease you in slowly to the first Jornada back.

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.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.