La Liga Lowdown

Just when you thought LaLiga couldn't get any more dramatic, Matchday 22 rocked up with a point to prove. Here to discuss all the action are Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Sam Leveridge (@samleveridge) as they cover a weekend which produced only two home wins.

One of those was Atlético Madrid's injury time heroics to beat Valencia, as Carla Fernández (@carlafdez) joins our hosts from Madrid to explain. Real Madrid and Barcelona also got late goals, while Sevilla produced a stunning comeback.

In part two, we're also joined by Alex Brotherton (@alex_brotherton) to reflect on Real Sociedad's draw with Getafe as the relegation dog fight becomes increasingly tight as Cádiz beat Levante in another of this weekend's headline fixtures.

Matt and Sam also pick out their four candidates for MVP, as well as their moments of the week. Stay tuned to @LaLigaLowdown on Twitter to have your say and vote for MVP on Monday!

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The schedule-makers had little regard for the usual decorum this week and LaLiga took that vibe and ran with it at speed. Join hosts Ruairidh Barlow (@RuriBarlow) and Sam Leveridge (@samleveridge) as they try to make sense of a LaLiga/Copa del Rey pick and mix.

Part one begins with a round-up of the league fixtures; the champagne football is popped open at the Coliseum Alfonso Pérez. None of the giants were in town, it was Getafe celebrating. At the bottom, Cádiz almost had something to celebrate after Álvaro Cervera's departure. Almost. We spoke to Sergio Vargas (@CadizAnalytics) about a dramatic week. It took some going from Sevilla to top that drama - naturally we had to have the thoughts of Alan Feehely (@azulfeehely) on how they managed it.

In part two, we shifted focus to the Copa del Rey, which was wild for all the right reasons. Athletic Club vs Barcelona (football's answer to Mentos vs Coke) was another thriller. Atleti was more of a horror, as they limped away from a clash with Real Sociedad much the worse. Real Madrid did make their way to the quarter-finals in bizarre fashion. Somehow, all of this was squeezed into one half of pod.

As always, we round off the show with the MVP competition and our moments of the week - some of the best of the season. Follow @laligalowdown on Twitter to vote for your MVP and lots more content you didn't know you needed.

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Dust off those January blues and tune in to our recap of Matchday 20 in LaLiga. Hosts Ruairidh Barlow (@RuriBarlow) and Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) take you through a controversial weekend which saw Twitter posts, the leaders keeping up the pace and Levante finally winning a game.

The Ciutat de València is where we begin as Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) shares his thoughts on the Granotas coming together after a tense week to get a massive three points. We ask whether this can be the turning point in their season and assess the context of the other results at the bottom.

In part two we start on Sunday night as Villarreal and Atleti served up another entertaining 2-2 draw. Louis Scattergood (@BroLeao) gives us the Yellow Submarine perspective on another breathless game which ended even. The top half remains as tight as Barça’s budget, and we evaluate a week of mixed fortunes for the European contenders.

We then turn our attention to the controversies of the weekend and the problematic way in which the official club accounts have reacted online.

As usual we wrap up with our MVP picks and moments of the weekend. You can vote for your winner on Monday.

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The new year began and the first half of the season ended with fireworks as Matchday 19 bore witness to one of the shocks of the season. Hosts Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Ruairidh Barlow (@RuriBarlow) delve through a gruelling jornada as Covid hit hard across LaLiga.

On hand to join in the celebrations however was Dom Tancock (@dorsetDom1905). He revelled as Getafe took out league leaders Real Madrid in the heat of the Coliseum. Hay Liga? Perhaps we do have a title race after all, as Sevilla notched another narrow victory. The first half of the show ends with a re-assessment of the relegation marathon.

The second half, like 2022, kicks off with cautious optimism from Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee). He analyses a gritty affair on the island as Barcelona survive Mallorca. All of which makes the top half of the table ever tighter and the European chase ever more enticing.

We wrap up with MVP picks, 50% of which were the usual suspects. The other half were far fresher faces. Not to get emotional so early in the year but plenty of feeling was present in the moments of the week. Vote for your MVP by heading to @LaLigaLowdown on Twitter.

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As the festive season gets underway, join us for all the fun and frolics of Matchday 18 in LaLiga where home wins were plentiful and goals almost guaranteed. Hosts Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Ruairidh Barlow (@RuriBarlow) unwrap all the early Christmas presents.

In part one, Chris Lail (@ChrisLail) from the Monchi’s Men (@MonchisMen) pod joins us to evaluate Sevilla’s massive win against Atleti to keep Real Madrid honest in the title race. Ruairidh and Matt then cover the rest of the runners and riders in the top half, including impressive Cádiz resistance, more home heroics from Rayo and five-goal thrillers at San Mamés and Camp Nou.

In the second half, we get the lowdown from Thom Harris (@ThomHarris_) on Villarreal’s important victory at Real Sociedad as both teams begin to head in different directions approaching the halfway stage. At the bottom there were significant wins for Celta, Getafe and Granada, and we take stock of how that particular fight is shaping up.

Plus, in the week he said a sad goodbye to the game, Sam Leveridge (@samleveridge) comes on to evaluate Sergio Agüero’s time in LaLiga from an Atleti perspective.

There’s also time to salute the history-making god in Granada, as well as our usual MVP and moments of the weekend.  

Merry Christmas everyone.

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Matchday 17 in LaLiga featured an electric Sunday line-up and it didn't disappoint - unless you're from the Colchonero persuasion. Join hosts Ruairidh Barlow (@RuriBarlow) and Sam Leveridge (@samleveridge) as they wade through another chapter in Spain's best drama.

In the first half of the show, there's a deep dive on the Madrid derby with Scott Martin (@CoachScottCopy) - in which we conclude that there is not a lot of league left. Fortunately, it's still complete mayhem below los blancos. We hear from Paco Polit (@PacoPolitENG) as Valencia try to oust their owner before David Whitworth (@DCWh1tw0rth) tells us of a great party he went to at the Benito Villamarín on Sunday evening. Real Betis-Real Sociedad had a very European feel to it.

The second half of the show sees the hosts deal with goal-shy Athletic, win-averse Levante and a tantalising match at El Sadar. Our MVP picks follow, with a controversial inclusion - opinions welcome via our Twitter page (@LaLigaLowdown). Finally, the show is closed out with our moments of the week featuring a sound not to be missed.

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Another LaLiga Matchday draws to a close and this one came with consequences. Join hosts Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Ruairidh Barlow (@RuriBarlow) as they untangle all of the stories and delve into some unwanted numbers.

The first half of the show features a first defeat for Barcelona manager Xavi - but not before giving Real Betis credit for beating them. Then Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee) breaks down the Xavi effect after four games - with perennial nightmare Bayern Munich on the horizon. A very big week for giants Real Madrid sees them establish a lead, before we consider a European crossroads for Sevilla and Villarreal.

In the second half of the show, Owen Mawer (@OwenJamesMawer) tells us of his trip to the Wanda Metropolitano to see the shock of the week; Atleti go down to Mallorca ahead of their own decisive Champions League tie. Moving onto managers new, old and infuriated, the bottom half of the table struggled against each other.

Finally, the MVP candidates are nominated and the moments of the week chosen, including a sensational piece of commentary. Vote for your MVP by going to @LaLigaLowdown on Twitter.

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As the winter chill begins to take hold, the action and drama in LaLiga continues to keep us all warm. Join Sam Leveridge (@samleveridge) and Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) as they recap Matchday 15 in all its glory.

Real Madrid left it late but beat title rivals Sevilla in the Sunday night partidazo to move four points clear at the top. We ask: can anyone catch them? We then turn our attention to the action in Villarreal's game with Barcelona, hearing from pod debutant Louis Scattergood (@BroLeao) about an all-too familiar story for the Yellow Submarine. Also making her podcast bow is Carla Fernández (@carlafdez), who breaks down Atleti's much-needed away win.

After the break Granada expert Heath Chesters (@HeathGCF) discusses the entertaining Friday night at San Mamés as well as Robert Moreno's tough start in charge. The rest of the action is wrapped up with a discussion of the relegation battle and LaLiga's newest coach. There is also time for a competitive MVP vote and Sam and Matt's moments of the weekend.

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Never a quiet weekend in LaLiga and Matchday 14 was no different. As we welcomed a new manager into the fray, another one departs us and hosts Sam Leveridge (@samleveridge) and Ruairidh Barlow (@RuriBarlow) were on hand to break it all down.

Beginning with the debut, the pod went straight to Camp Nou to get the thoughts of Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee) on Xavi Hernández's Barcelona. Above them are Real Madrid, Sevilla and Atlético Madrid - all of which go under the microscope with a view to the title race.

In the second half of the show, Fran Escribá's exit takes headline billing with Keith Farnham (@Keith_678) providing the close insight. Relegation rivals Getafe got a crucial win over Cádiz and Billy Munday was at the Coliseum Alfonso Pérez to witness the demolition.

Finally, it's an MVP competition dominated by midfielders, although not altogether typically Spanish ones. Moments of the week brought to you by the narrative gods. Follow @LaLigaLowdown to vote for your MVP, news, views and more.

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LaLiga once again lived up to its new-found reputation of late goals, with the Matchday 13 drama unfolding in cinematic fashion. Hosts Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Ruairidh Barlow (@RuriBarlow) are back again to make sense of the breathless action.

After a quick recap of the results, Ian Morris (@CeltaUSA) joins to share his joy after another Balaídos classic between Celta Vigo and Barcelona. Matt and Ruairidh then dig into Atleti's trip to Valencia - where they looked eerily similar to Barcelona.

In the second half of the show, Gregor Chappelle (@gregorchappelle) breaks down the sevillano derby, which was surprisingly straight forward. The hosts then run over the rest of the talking points across the league before choosing from a multitude of MVP candidates.

After some brilliant clips from Cadena COPE and LaLigaTV, the podcast ends with the moment of the week and a work of art from Manolo Montalt at 99.9 Plaza Radio.

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