La Liga Lowdown

The La Liga Lowdown squad are back after the summer break, fit and firing after pre-season training. Join Matt Clark (MattClark_08), Sam Leveridge (@samleveridge) and Thom Harris (@ThomHarris_) for a comprehensive preview of the upcoming season, which promises to be another fascinating one.

From Laporta's levers to Sevilla's sales, Madrid minus Mbappé to Atleti's quiet revolution, the top end of the table is the starting point. The pod asks whether there will be a closer title race this time around, and who could mount a realistic challenge for the top four (don't miss Sam's explosive pre-season prediction)!

In part two, there is discussion of the remaining European hopefuls, from clubs we expect more from to those who might surprise a few. Lastly, attention turns to the battle at the bottom, with a look at the positive signs for the promoted sides, and the reasons for concern elsewhere.

With the 22/23 season less than a week away, LLL are back!

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

Join us for the final time this season to reflect on a season packed with storylines, sentiment and special scenes.

Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Ruairidh Barlow (@RuriBarlow) are on hand to reflect on the 21/22 season.

We start by congratulating the European champions and saluting their successful season. 

We evaluate the season for all the clubs, from the top to the bottom, and offer up our opinions on overachievers, underachievers and everything else in between.

Sam Leveridge (@samleveridge) is also present to reflect on the season for Atleti and sends us his winners and losers from the campaign.

Complete with memorable montages, this is the ideal way to see out the season.

Thanks to everyone for tuning in throughout this season.

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

They think it's all over... It is now! LaLiga came to a dramatic conclusion as the relegation battle took centre stage on Matchday 38. Join hosts Matt Clark (@MattClark08) and Ruairidh Barlow (@RuriBarlow) as they pick through the debris.

There's no other place to start than the shock relegation of Granada. Just a season after making it to the Europa League quarter-finals against Manchester United, Granada finish 18th and descend to Segunda. That contrasts to the firefighting job done at Cádiz by Sergio González and Javier Aguirre in Mallorca. We get the thoughts of Alex Fitzpatrick (@MallorcaAlex100) on Mallorca's survival.

In the second half of the show we hear the gritty detail from Beñat Gutiérrez (@beinatguti) on the goings on at Athletic Club, including the possible departure of Marcelino. There are also closing notes on Unai Emery and Xavi Hernández as we wrap up the any other business section of the Matchday.

Finally, we dig into the MVP section for the last time in the 2021/22 season and pick our moments of the week.

Follow @LaLigaLowdown on Twitter for all the Spanish football coverage you need and want - also keep an eye out for our end of season review podcast in the coming days.

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

The penultimate round meant concurrent matches and multigoal madness. 

Join hosts Ruairidh Barlow (@RuriBarlow) and Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) to make sense of the chaos.

Alavés had relegation confirmed after losing to fellow descenders Levante. Cádiz got a point against the champions but it felt pyrrhic. Mallorca were the big winners of the round, grabbing all three points in stoppage time.

At the top end, more European places were settled too. Sevilla left it late to get the point they needed. Alan Feehely (@azulfeehely) of Football España discusses the work of the two Seville clubs and what the future holds.

After the break, we turn to Louis Scattergood (@BroLeao) for a review of Villarreal's direct duel with Real Sociedad for a Europa League spot. The Basque side were triumphant, meaning Villarreal can only reach the Conference League at best.

We evaluate what's left to play for before picking our MVPs and moments of the week (or day in this case).

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

Another midweek Matchday is in the books and for Levante, the final game of the round did spell the end for them, as their relegation was confirmed in a 6-0 thrashing at Real Madrid. Vini Jr scored his first hat-trick, Luka Modrić had a treble of his own, and Karim Benzema equaled Raúl as the club's second-highest goalscorer of all time. That is where hosts Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Sam Leveridge (@samleveridge) begin, and they ponder which clubs will join Los Granotas in Segunda next season.

Part one is rounded off with a look at 'Efecto Karanka' as Granada won again to ease their relegation fears. Heath Chesters (@HeathGCF) gives us the lowdown on the Andalusian side's ascent out of danger.

In the second half we salute Atleti's qualification for the Champions League and assess their season as a whole with Jeremy Beren (@JBBeren) from Into the Calderón. We then shift our focus to the remaining runners and riders in the European race. Sevilla are close to sealing 4th, but Betis are on their tails. As for the Europa League, Real Sociedad and Villarreal both enjoyed convincing wins ahead of their direct duel at the weekend.

We end with our MVP nominees and our moments of the week, and with so much on the line at this stage of the season, the pickings are plentiful.

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

Matchday 35 in LaLiga came hot on the heels of European drama but it was the relegation skirmish which caught the eye this weekend. Join hosts Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Ruairidh Barlow (@RuriBarlow) for the comical, the classy and everything in between.

Atlético Madrid won their first Madrid derby in LaLiga since 2016 and that's the jumping off point for the pod, as we assess a fairly straight-forward European race in part one. Villarreal somehow avoided victory against Sevilla and Athletic did similar at San Mamés. Part one rounds off in conversation with Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee), as Xavi achieved his target via a dramatic win against Real Betis.

Part two kicks off with the most shocking result of the weekend: a 6-2 thrashing for Mallorca. Paul McGarraghy (@PaulMcGarraghy) was kind enough to pick up the pieces from their point of view and give a verdict on their survival chances. Rayo Vallecano secured safety and Cádiz took a big step towards it too.

The show wraps up with the MVP nominations and moments of the week, both with an abundance of options. Follow @LaLigaLowdown on Twitter for original content and all of the latest on Spanish football.

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

Join our hosts Ruairidh Barlow (@RuriBarlow) and Sam Leveridge (@samleveridge) as they (kind of) celebrate Real Madrid being crowned champions of LaLiga for a 35th time.

Providing a jubilant view of Los Blancos’ triumph, Hasan Karim (@TheHasKarim) took a break from Los Cibeles to tell us how it feels to be champions again.

The team discuss the race for the top four spots that nobody wants, and the relegation battle as Sergio Vargas (@CadizAnalytics) talks about his trip to see Cádiz draw at Sevilla.

The hosts then discuss their MVP picks and joyous moments of the week.

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

The Copa del Rey final was a thriller at La Cartuja as Real Betis emerged as champions with a victory over Valencia in a penalty shoot-out. To dissect the action, Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Sam Leveridge (@samleveridge) are joined by fans on the ground.

First up, Real Betis TV's David Whitworth (@DCWh1tw0rth) joins us to tell us about his experience watching the game and joining the late night parties on the streets of Seville.

Then, we're joined by a slightly despondent Paco Polit (@PacoPolitENG) as he breaks down where it went wrong for Valencia and what lies ahead.

Stay tuned to @LaLigaLowdown on Twitter for all the reaction and analysis of the historic victory for Betis.

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

It's the time of the season where every goal and every result seems to matter more. Join Sam Leveridge (@samleveridge) and Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) as they breakdown a frantic and fantastic midweek round of LaLiga.

With plenty still to play for, we start at the top and ask when, not if, Real Madrid will be crowned champions. Then it's the race to join them in the top four, with a tense tussle between Real Sociedad and Barcelona capping off a round which saw a record-equalling number of away wins.

Just days before the Copa final, Betis missed the chance to apply pressure on the top four and lost at home to Elche. We catch up with Keith Farnham (@Keith_678) to discuss Elche's almost-certain survival.

After the break, we turn our attention to the bottom of the league, with six-pointers, fiver-goal thrillers and surprises aplenty. Granada have had another turbulent week and Heath Chesters (@HeathGCF) is on hand to explain how they went from conceding four against Levante to keeping a clean sheet at the Metropolitano. 

Then we discuss our MVP nominees, which you can vote for on Friday, as well as our closing reflections on a marvellous midweek.

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

The latest edition of the La Liga Lowdown Matchday Recap is a mixed bag: the title race got a lot less intriguing but everything else did. Join hosts Sam Leveridge (@samleveridge) and Ruairidh Barlow (@RuriBarlow) as they deal with the good, the bad and the ugly this week in Spain.

Real Madrid got a crucial win as they close in on the La Liga title, so LLL called up Hasan Karim (@TheHasKarim) to endure/enjoy his revelry. There was also analysis on their comeback culture and Carlo Ancelotti included.

Meanwhile the chase for European football is more of a maze at the moment with all the turns involved. Amongst the top half we touch on a missed chances, spiritual justice and a loose giraffe.

In part two, the relegation battle takes precedence. Elche tread on Mallorca on their way to safety and Alaves get a big win without much of the feel-good factor. Then we speak to Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) about Levante's Netflix-worthy revival - they somehow have a chance after a big win over Granada.

To wrap up, the MVP discussion is not short of heroes and the moments of the week have a fair few villains, taking a trip down to Segunda for a change.

Follow @LaLigaLowdown for the latest news, views and most importantly of all, vote for your MVP there.

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