La Liga Lowdown

Another emphatic weekend of LaLiga action was full of late goals and comeback wins. Join Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Sam Leveridge (@samleveridge) delve into the drama.

We start in Valencia and a five-goal thriller between Levante and Barcelona. Despite three penalties, Levante still ended on the losing side late on. They stay seven points from safety with seven games to go.

After checking in with the rest of the teams scrapping for their lives, we chat to Jeremy Beren (@JBBeren) about Mallorca’s surprise win over Atleti, and look ahead to the fascinating Champions League final second leg against Manchester City.

After the break we focus on those hoping to be in Europe next season. Real Madrid edge closer to the title, and those close behind are still fighting, with Sevilla, Barça, Betis and La Real all coming from behind. 

Just behind them, Villarreal and Athletic faced off in what appears to be a shootout for 7th. Jamie Kemble (@JamieKemble) joins us to discuss that clash and the mammoth midweek match in Munich.

Then there is time for the usual MVP nominations and our moments of the week.

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LaLiga returned after the international break primed for the final stretch of the season and we are here to bring you the best of the action from Matchday 30. Join hosts Ruairidh Barlow (@RuriBarlow) and Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) as they discuss some big games at both the top and the bottom.

We start with a controversial match at Balaídos as Real Madrid needed penalties to return to winning ways and extend their lead at the top. The red-and-white half of Madrid also won and while the scoreline looked emphatic, it was anything but on an emotional night for Diego Simeone. Then the Sunday night partidazo saw Barcelona go second for the first time this season at the expense of Sevilla, who fell to 4th. 

We stay at Camp Nou to end Part 1 with a special focus on the historic Women’s Champions League match. Diana Kristinne (@DianaKristinne) was there to witness the spectacle live and reflects on her experience.

Into the second half and we focus on the bottom of the table. Mallorca changed coaches since their last match, so we dialled up Paul McGarraghy (@PaulMcGarraghy) to give us the lowdown on Javier Aguirre’s return to the Spanish top-flight. Elsewhere, there was another huge win for Levante as they refuse to give up on survival, while Granada showed similar fighting spirit to comeback against Rayo. 

After rounding off the matches, we select our MVP candidates in a jazzy and jovial jaunt. All the Js. You can vote for the winner as always via Twitter on Monday. Ruairidh closes the show with his moment of the weekend, brought to you by Onda Cero.

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The matchday recap is never to be missed and the recap of one particular match is essential this week. There's no other place to start than Barcelona's 4-0 victory over Real Madrid, so join hosts Sam Leveridge (@samleveridge) and Ruairidh Barlow (@RuriBarlow) as they try to work out what happened and how.

The first half of the show is dedicated mostly to what Sam witnessed at the Santiago Bernabéu, before moving onto the rest of the European race. That includes a chat with resident culé Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee) and resident Madridista Hasan Karim (@TheHasKarim) breaking down el clásico.

The second half of the show starts with Jeremy Beren (@JBBeren) discussing how Atlético Madrid are looking strangely like a settled team after five straight wins. There were big wins for Granada and Cádiz in the relegation battle, before MVP picks are cast and the momentazos are selected.

Follow @LaLigaLowdown on Twitter to vote for your favourite and enjoy plenty more quality content.

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Only 15 goals in this weekend’s LaLiga action, but there was no shortage of drama and there is no lack of analysis from La Liga Lowdown as Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Sam Leveridge (@samleveridge) discuss the table from top to bottom.

Sam was at all three fixtures in Madrid, including Atlético Madrid’s win over Cádiz and José Bordalás’ return to Getafe with Valencia. Principally though, we speak to Robbie Dunne (@robbiejdunne) on Rayo Vallecano as they threw a spanner into the works of Sevilla’s title challenge, much to the delight of Barcelona.

Later on, Matt and Sam are joined by LLL’s very own Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) as he spills the beans on Levante’s survival hopes following a draw with Espanyol, while Granada had no new manager bounce against Elche.

Finally, the team discuss their choices of MVP and a touching moment of the weekend with a story that goes beyond football from Valencia.

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Another matchday moves past us and into the annals of history, as does Robert Moreno's spell as manager of Granada. Your hosts Matt Clark (@MattClark08) and Ruairidh Barlow (@RuriBarlow) try to work out exactly how we got to a point where last season's top seven are exactly in the same place again.

Fresh from the Sunday night partidazo between Real Betis and Atlético Madrid, the analysis begins with the large implications - Diego Simeone's tunnel run was especially chipper.

The rest of part one is dedicated to a deep dive from Heath Chesters (@HeathGFC) on Moreno's sacking, but also the inside information on some shifting power dynamics behind the scenes at Granada. Following that, we come onto their nearest challengers at the bottom as Cádiz get a first home win.

Part two kicks off with an emphatic win at the Santiago Bernabéu, which Jorge López-Torrecilla (@jorge_ltg_) breaks down with an eye on Real Madrid's date with PSG. The rest of the European race starts to take shape with a win for Barcelona and a shock defeat for Villarreal.

As ever, MVP and moments of the week close out the show. Matt gets into hot water for being balanced and fair on Twitter - sounds about right.

Follow @LaLigaLowdown for news, articles, match coverage and more.

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Arriving at the business end of the season, every point counts and we saw that on display in Matchday 26 as hosts Ruairidh Barlow (@RuriBarlow) and Sam Leveridge (@samleveridge) analyse all the action.

Sam's refereeing rant leads us into conversation with Football España editor Alan Feehely (@azulfeehely) fresh from his visit to the Estadio Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán for a historic Gran Derbi as Sevilla upped the ante in the title race. We also discuss big results for Barcelona, Atlético and Yeremy Pino.

In part two, Owen Mawer (@OwenJamesMawer) of MARCA and La Liga Lowdown spoke to Sam in Getafe about their relegation six-pointer against Alavés, while we also evaluate whether Levante really can achieve the impossible...

To finish up, MVP is full of goalscorers, including one controversial pick, and Ruairidh and Sam share their moments of the weekend.

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Matchday 25 saw 30 goals, hat-tricks and a derby rout. Join hosts Sam Leveridge (@samleveridge) and Matt Clark (MattClark_08) to break it all down. 

We start in Bilbao as Athletic Club inflicted an historic result over their Basque neighbours. An ecstatic Beñat Gutiérrez (@beinatguti) salutes that second-half powerhouse performance from Los Leones. We conclude the first half by looking at how the other European contenders got on and a quick look at the bottom after a weekend which didn't change too much.

In part two, we focus on Mestalla and another impressive performance from Xavi's side. Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) shook off the disappointment to tell us all about it. We then dip our toes into the title race where the gap at the top changed yet again. 

Finally, a blockbuster MVP and our moments of the weekend rounds off this recap.

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In this bonus mini-pod, Matt Clark (MattClark_08) is joined by European football expert Richard David Pike (@RichDPike89) to preview the Europa League tie between Real Betis and Zenit St Petersburg.

The Russian side are analysed in depth in terms of their strengths, weaknesses and key players, including some familiar names to LaLiga lovers. Richard then offers up a prediction for the outcome of the tie, including his view on the effect of the absence of away goals.

Remember to follow @LaLigaLowdown for coverage of all the action in the European competitions.

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On Superbowl weekend, LaLiga treated us to plenty of chaos of its own. Matt Clark (MattClark_08) and Ruairidh Barlow (@ruribarlow) are back from Barcelona, so join them as they review a weekend with significant results across the league. 

Atleti's matches resemble basketball games of late, and things were no different on Saturday night at the Wanda Metropolitano. Jeremy Beren (@JBBeren) is on hand to unpack the latest shootout. Meanwhile, Espanyol and Barça thrilled us on Sunday night in a game featuring everything you could want in a derby. The other European movers and shakers are also rounded up in Part 1.

In the second half of the show, we turn our attention to the extremes of the table. At the top, the gap narrowed as Sevilla won but Real Madrid could not. Hasan Karim (@TheHasKarim) is back to reflect on another draw in Vila-Real and to look ahead to the upcoming showdown in Paris. At the bottom, all hope is lost for Levante, but the rest are still fighting hard. 

Finally we debate our MVP picks for the Twitter vote, and we select our moments of the weekend.

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LaLiga threw up some classic fixtures at both ends of the table this weekend as we edge closer and closer to the business end of the season. Sam Leveridge (@samleveridge) is joined by Thom Harris (@ThomHarris_) to analyse all of the action.

Thom has stepped in as regular hosts Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Ruairidh Barlow (@RuriBarlow) send us their thoughts direct from Barcelona, where they discuss what they witnessed at Camp Nou with Football España editor Alan Feehely (@azulfeehely).

Sam and Thom discuss the race for Europe and the relegation battle, where the bottom six all played each other, and we're also joined by Keith Farnan (@Keith_678) to discuss the recent upturn in Elche's fortunes.

Finally, our co-hosts pick their four nominees for MVP, which will be available to vote for at @LaLigaLowdown on Twitter, and choose their moment of the week.

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