La Liga Lowdown

The curtain falls on the 2017-18 LaLiga season, and also on some big names at their current clubs - Andrés Iniesta at Barcelona, Fernando Torres at Atlético Madrid and Xabi Prieto at Real Sociedad. We focus on those farewells and take a broader look at how various clubs have fared this campaign after Matchday 38, plus there's a sneaky snippet of our exclusive interview with Alavés and Sweden striker John Guidetti which you can see on our YouTube channel on Wednesday and Thursday this week.

• Diego looks at Barcelona and why some fans have doubted Ernesto Valverde despite Barça doing the domestic double.
• Euan assesses Atlético Madrid's campaign in which they finished 2nd in LaLiga and also won the Europa League, while rivals Real Madrid let a 2-goal lead slip at Villarreal and had to settle for 3rd...and Zinedine Zidane's team selection was interesting ahead of their Champions League final against Liverpool next Saturday - could Gareth Bale start in Kiev after 4 goals in his last 3 games?
• Paco focuses on all 3 teams in the Valencian Community and gives them his marks out of 10 (check out how he did Levante), while Alex is backing LaLiga's littl'uns...and tells us why she thinks the smaller teams in Spain's top division prospered this season.

There's also your 3-word verdicts, and while you're at it, why not check out the rest of our content across all of our platforms?

Find us, follow us and chat to us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/LaLigaLowdown

Watch our videos on our YouTube channel and subscribe: www.youtube.com/c/LaLigaLowdown

Visit our website:  www.laligalowdown.com And enjoy! #LLL

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After getting through El Clásico the weekend before, Barcelona fell at the penultimate hurdle in their quest for LaLiga invincibility this season - it was a thrilling game at Levante's Estadio Ciudad de Valencia, where the home side just about held on to win 5-4 after surviving a second-half comeback from Barça, who finally lose their unbeaten league record.  It had been 36 games this campaign, and in fact 43 in total.

Real Madrid intensified their preparations for the Champions League final by putting 6 goals past Celta Vigo...but a double from Gareth Bale and a superb strike from Isco has caused a headache for Zinedine Zidane who will soon have to decide on his starting XI versus Liverpool.

Elsewhere, a pulsating Gran Derbi finished honours even, as Sevilla went behind, then in front and Betis finally equalised in a 2-2 draw - Joaquín Caparrós' side clinch a place in the Europa League qualifiers with a game to spare, as Getafe lost at home to Atlético Madrid.

There was also Xabi Prieto's victorious farewell to the Estadio Anoeta as his Real Sociedad team-mates wore a shirt with his face as the badge, while Alavés, Eibar, Espanyol, Villarreal & Valencia also won.

Plus we have your 3-word verdicts from Matchday 37 in LaLiga, and we reveal who is our next EXCLUSIVE interview on our YouTube channel.

Why not check out the rest of our content on all our platforms?

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Watch and subscribe to our YouTube channel:  www.youtube.com/c/LaLigaLowdown

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And enjoy!

#LLL

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El Clásico was another enthralling affair and we take a look back at it in depth and detail as 10-man Barcelona drew 2-2 with Real Madrid to keep alive their hopes of completing an unbeaten LaLiga season.  Plenty to discuss here, including the refereeing decisions of Alejandro Hernández Hernández - cards and fouls given and not given...

Elsewhere, Atlético Madrid conceded and lost at home to Espanyol but then they did field a severely weakened side as they turn their full attentions to the Europa League final next Wednesday, while Valencia were also defeated at Villarreal, but they can at least celebrate a return to the Champions League - having been away from Europe for 2 years.

The race for 7th place is still going strong with all of Sevilla (under a new boss), Getafe and even Eibar winning - and you can't discount Girona just yet.  And speaking of Betis, we've also got a snippet of our extensive, EXCLUSIVE interview with defender Jordi Amat which we'll be releasing in 2 parts on our YouTube channel later this week.

Plus there's a look-back at the Galician derby and your 3-word verdicts.

Why not check out our other content on our other platforms?

Find us, follow us and chat to us on Twitter:  twitter.com/LaLigaLowdown

Check out our videos and subscribe to our YouTube channel:  youtube.com/c/LaLigaLowdown

Visit our website:  www.laligalowdown.com

And enjoy!

#LLL

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In this extended edition of the La Liga Lowdown minipod, Diego Lorijn steps into the hosting hotseat...as it's a Barcelona Special!

Our resident cule is joined by fellow LLL-ers Alex Jonson and Euan McTear, as they take us through Barca clinching the title with a 4-2 victory at El Riazor, with Lionel Messi fittingly scoring a hat-trick.

It means that Ernesto Valverde's side have won the league with three games to spare, and add that title to their Copa del Rey success in a domestic double - we discuss how they did it, what the key factors were in a season which had started with the departure of Neymar and a real humbling at the hands of Real Madrid in the Supercopa.

Before the game, Andres Iniesta confirmed he is leaving Barcelona at the end of the season, so Diego, Alex and Euan thrash out whether it's the right decision, and what legacy "El Don" leaves.

The 4-2 victory relegated Deportivo La Coruna, who will therefore be playing in Segunda Division next season along with Las Palmas and Malaga...and the rest of Matchday 35 featured wins for Atletico and a much-rotated Real Madrid who have European commitments coming up this week, Vincenzo Montella departing Sevilla as they lost at Levante who stay up in Primera, while fellow promoted sides Getafe and Girona drew as they fight for Europa League football.

Why not check out the rest of our content?

Find us, follow us and chat to us on Twitter:  twitter.com/LaLigaLowdown

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Enjoy!

#LLL

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"Don Andrés Iniesta" - that was one of your "3-Word Verdicts" in honour of the Barcelona captain after he scored in the Copa del Rey final to lift the trophy at the Wanda Metropolitano on Saturday night. We discuss the start of his farewell from Spanish football, but also what the 5-0 defeat means for Sevilla head coach Vincenzo Montella.

In LaLiga, we wave goodbye to Las Palmas whose relegation was confirmed in disastrous fashion - losing 4-0 at home to Alavés. Deportivo are almost down too after only drawing at Leganés.

While Atlético Madrid looked like they were saving themselves for Arsenal in a goalless draw with Real Betis, the real momentum in the race for the Europa League lies with Getafe, who are now 8th after three straight wins, and it'll be a proper bunfight from here on in.

Espanyol won their first game under interim head coach David Gallego who has replaced Quique Sánchez Flores, so we tell you about the new man and round up the rest of the talking points from Matchday 34.

Why not check out our other content on our other platforms:

Find us, follow us and chat with us on Twitter: twitter.com/LaLigaLowdown

Watch our videos on YouTube: youtube.com/c/LaLigaLowdown

Have a look at our website: www.laligalowdown.com

And enjoy!

#LLL

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What a weekend it was in LaLiga on Matchday 32, and congratulations to FC Barcelona who set a new record of 39 matches unbeaten in Spain's top division - some achievement from Ernesto Valverde's side.

That's after a 2-1 victory over Valencia - Diego casts his expert eye over both teams' performances, while the Madrid sides also won.

There were some entertaining games as the fight for Europa League football next season goes on - Real Betis' winning streak continues, while Sevilla and Villarreal shared the points (and the red cards) in a crazy game at the Sánchez Pizjuán.  A brilliant goal there from Steven N'Zonzi, likewise from Damián Suárez for Getafe - real golazos, both.

At the bottom, there is life in the relegation battle as Deportivo La Coruña won again while Levante lost - Málaga's position is so dire that they could get relegated on Thursday.  We'll also have your 3-Word Verdicts on the weekend just gone - there are some crackers in there.

Find us, follow us and chat with us on Twitter:  twitter.com/LaLigaLowdown

Check out our videos on our YouTube channel:  youtube.com/c/LaLigaLowdown

And our website is now live:  www.laligalowdown.com

Enjoy!

#LLL

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Two pivotal results could have settled two outstanding issues in LaLiga - at opposite ends of the LaLiga table.  Barcelona are now totally champions in waiting after nearest challengers Atlético Madrid drew a pulsating derby 1-1 away to Real Madrid, who could and should have won.  Barça's 3-1 victory over Leganés means they edge yet closer to an invincible league season, but could they slip up somewhere?

Diego looks at that, Euan gives both Madrid teams his report card, while they're split by Valencia who made it 25 points out of 27 with another win - Paco is delving deep into their head coach Marcelino.

The other significant outcome came at Valencia's neighbours, Levante, who beat Las Palmas 2-1 to go eight points clear of the relegation zone and almost certainly consign the Canary Islanders and Málaga to life in the Segunda División next season, while Deportivo finally won a game!

There's also the latest on the fight for Europa League football, with Real Betis looking very attractive indeed and Celta Vigo making their case for a place in the continent's second-tier competition in 2018-19.

Plus, we've got your 3-word verdicts, and you complete our Animal XI in LaLiga...some excellent suggestions, so thanks so much for those.

Find us, follow us and chat with us on Twitter:  twitter.com/LaLigaLowdown

Watch and subscribe to our YouTube channel:  youtube.com/c/LaLigaLowdown

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Have a good week and enjoy!

#LLL

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Breathless. Pulsating. Frenetic. Dramatic. Unbelievable.

Although could could believe it - Barcelona scoring twice in the last 3 minutes to get a point at Sevilla, Lionel Messi with the equaliser.

That was the headline game on Matchday 30 in LaLiga, as Barça kept their unbeaten run alive, while the 3 teams immediately below them all won and kept a clean sheet too. But it'll take many more slip-ups for Ernesto Valverde's men to give up the title they have in their grasp…

Málaga won for the first time in 15 games and 112 days as they defeated a poor Villarreal at La Rosaleda, while Girona surrendered a lead but picked up a point, as they kept pushing for Europa League.

We hear from Girona's head coach Pablo Machín in a snippet of our exclusive interview, which you can watch on our YouTube channel: youtube.com/c/LaLigaLowdown

Find us, follow us and chat to us on Twitter: twitter.com/LaLigaLowdown

Check out our new website: www.laligalowdown.com

Enjoy!

#LLL

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LLL goes on the road as David visits Diego in Barcelona to discuss the Spain national team’s performance in Düsseldorf, as they drew 1-1 with world champions Germany.  This is a feature-length episode of just over half an hour, and among the main talking points are:

• Iniesta:  his passing, his career, his future, his winery!

• Isco shines, and the midfield make-up overall

• is Rodrigo now Spain’s first-choice “striker”?

• having two world-class keepers on show

• what is it like having two teams to support at a major tournament?!  David and Diego share their stories...

We feature YOUR comments throughout as well, so thank you for sending those through to us on Twitter:  twitter.com/LaLigaLowdown

Subscribe to our YouTube channel here:  youtube.com/c/LaLigaLowdown

And our website is now LIVE:  laligalowdown.com

Enjoy!

#LLL

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The action's been relentless as we head into the international break, with some pivotal results at the top and bottom of the LaLiga table.

Real Madrid 6-3 Girona was the crazy game of Matchday 29, and now the champions have Atlético in their sights as they dropped 3 points away to Villarreal, and Barcelona have one hand on the trophy after beating Athletic Bilbao to go all of ELEVEN points clear at the top.

Crucial games at the bottom too, with Deportivo and Las Palmas still in the relegation zone after they drew at Riazor, but Levante won again under new boss Paco Lopez - La Liga Lowdown was at the Estadio Ciudad de Valencia to hear from some ecstatic fans, PLUS there's a couple of snippets from our chat with Levante full-back Shaq Moore.

If that wasn'tenough, we assess the Champions League and Europa League quarter-final draws and we've got your 3-word verdicts!

If you like this minipod, rate us 5 stars and subscribe now, plus...

Find us, follow us and chat to us on Twitter:  twitter.com/LaLigaLowdown

Subscribe to our YouTube channel:  youtube.com/c/LaLigaLowdown

Enjoy!

#LLL

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