La Liga Lowdown

Matchday 32 was all about the importance of late winners for the two title protagonists in LaLiga. Join Ben Sully (@SullyBen) and Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) as they recap all the latest action from the Spanish top flight.

A Borja Iglesias hat-trick proved to be in vain, as Barcelona staged a dramatic fightback to overturn a 3-1 deficit in Saturday’s LaLiga clash with Celta Vigo. Raphinha netted a brace, including a 98th-minute penalty, to seal a 4-3 victory to boost Barça’s title aspirations. Real Madrid moved back to within three points of the leaders after Fede Valverde produced one of his trademark stunners to snatch all three points against Athletic Club.

We also discuss a surprise victory for relegation-threatened Las Palmas in their home encounter against Atlético Madrid, ending any lingering hopes of a title bid for Diego Simeone’s side. Meanwhile, there was plenty of controversy in Villarreal’s draw against Real Sociedad, as the Yellow Submarine saw three potential winners disallowed. 

In part two, we focus on Ante Budimir’s match-winning brace, a hard-fought point for Valencia and Sevilla’s first game since García Pimienta’s dismissal. There was also another successful outing for in-form Espanyol and a forgettable encounter at Son Moix.

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Another weekend is ticked off in LaLiga and, as a rarity, nothing changed at the top.

Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) review Matchday 31 which saw Barça maintain their four point lead over Real Madrid with a narrow win over Leganés. Real Madrid also had a tight game, made more difficult by Kylian Mbappé's awful challenge leading to his expulsion: will he miss the Copa del Rey final?

In the race for Europe, Villarreal pulled off a seismic win at the Benito Villamarín to put themselves in charge of 5th spot, with Athletic also getting the job done to stay 4th.

At the bottom, there were huge wins for Valencia, Espanyol and surprisingly Las Palmas, adding extra spice to the relegation battle.

Sevilla bit the bullet and sacked García Pimienta just months after extending his contract, looking set to replace him with good old Joaquín Caparrós. How not to run a football club exhibit A...

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The race to the end of the season is hotting up, and each match feels that little bit more charged.

Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) & Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) review the weekend which was characterised by the rarity of not one single home team winning.

At the top, Real Madrid were stunned by Valencia for a famous Los Che win, but Barça could only partially take advantage, being held by Betis. Atleti left it late but got back to winning ways, courtesy of a Pablo Barrios stunner at the death.

It was a colossal weekend at the bottom too, maybe even a turning point? There were huge wins for Espanyol and Alavés to go along with Valencia. It leaves Real Valladolid in tatters and looking even more disparate, while Las Palmas are going to have to pull a rabbit out of the hat themselves, as their winless streak in 2025 goes on.

Subscribe for all our content at lllonline.substack.com ahead of a big week with four LaLiga sides in European quarter-final action.

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LaLiga returned after the international break and wasn't short of big storylines.

Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) review another tremendous Matchday, which saw Betis win a league derbi for the first time in almost seven years, Real Madrid edge a five-goal thriller against Leganés, and Atleti saying goodbye to any realistic title hopes in Cornellà.

Elsewhere, Valencia moved a step closer to safety, Villarreal got back to winning ways after a long wait, but the poor run of form goes on for Vicente Moreno and Chacho Coudet.

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Spain are back in the third Nations League Final Four, where they'll face France for a spot in the final. But to get there, they had to overcome a tough Dutch team that took them all the way to a penalty shootout. 

Ben Sully (@SullyBen) and Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee) review all the action and key talking points of this entertaining tie, as well as taking a closer look at their upcoming opponents and their World Cup qualifying group for 2026.

They also discuss the controversy in the Barça - Madrid women's match and reflect on the RFEF's decision to make Barça and Osasuna face off next Thursday, giving players little time to recover from the international break.

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How much heartbreak can one team take? Just a matter of days after their cruel Champions League exit, Atlético Madrid gave up a two-goal lead to lose 4-2 to Barcelona at the Metropolitano, dealing a major blow to their LaLiga title hopes.

Join Ben Sully (@SullyBen) and Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) as they dissect the six-goal thriller in the Matchday 28 recap and ask whether Atleti can still win the title this season.

Kylian Mbappé’s brace against Villarreal kept Real Madrid’s title bid on track, as we discuss Carlo Ancelotti’s threat to boycott games over scheduling concerns. Elsewhere in the top six, there was a stunning comeback win for Real Betis and a late winner for Athletic Club.

In part two, there were a couple of 2-2 draws to discuss, featuring a first LaLiga goal for a Real Sociedad youngster and a dramatic fightback from Las Palmas. There was penalty controversy in Mallorca’s home clash against Espanyol - a game that provided a rollercoaster of emotions for Vedat Muriqi. We then reflect upon Getafe's away day success, as well as Celta’s narrow win over doomed Real Valladolid.

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Our Matchday 27 Recap begins on a sombre note this week, following the tragic passing of Barça's club Doctor, Carles Miñarro. Their game with Osasuna was postponed.

Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) review the remaining eight games, with the title focus turning to Madrid.

Atleti suffered a late remontada at Getafe, while Real Madrid were uninspiring, but did get all three points ahead of the massive second leg showdown at the Metropolitano.

Athletic Club had another Europa hangover, while Villarreal "choked" against Alavés, who managed to win despite having inferiority on the pitch.

In Part Two, we applaud in-form Betis and Sevilla's García Pimienta, lament Las Palmas and salute Valencia finally climbing out of the danger zone.

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Matchday 26 served up plenty of dramatic twists and turns up and down the table.

Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) are here to review the pulsating weekend.

Real Madrid lost in the Benito Villamarín as former player Isco haunted them in their title quest. Atleti had to suffer but managed to overcome Athletic, and Barça made things look much easier by thrashing Real Sociedad at home. Their reward was being able to be líderes en solitario, one point clear of Atleti and three ahead of Carlo Ancelotti's side.

The was a six-goal thrilling game at El Sadar, a humongous late goal in the South Madrid Derby in another weekend with draws as a feature.

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Perfection for LaLiga’s top five! Join Ben Sully (@SullyBen) and Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) as they round up all the action from Matchday 25.

Barcelona required some magic from half-time substitute Dani Olmo to set them on their way to all three points against struggling Las Palmas. Real Madrid’s magician, Luka Modrić, then proved that age is just a number, conjuring up a stunning strike to help Los Blancos dispatch Girona. 

As for Atleti, they spent a brief period at the top of the table after sweeping past Valencia on Saturday. However, Atlético Madrid’s three-goal return looked pretty average compared to Athletic Club's seven-goal tally in a thumping victory over doomed Real Valladolid.

Elsewhere, we discuss Villarreal's successful trip to Vallecas, ensuring all of the top five emerged victorious from Matchday 25. Meanwhile, there was a mixed day for Antony at the Coliseum and a routine win for Real Sociedad in the race to secure European football. We are again left questioning Alavés' decision to sack Luis García Plaza following a costly defeat against a relegation rival. And of course, we cannot finish the pod without talking about a winner from Celta’s talisman Iago Aspas.

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You could be forgiven for thinking that nobody wants to win the LaLiga title this season.

Barça started so strongly and then gifted points away like Valentine's Day promotions. Then Real Madrid hit the summit before hitting the buffers amid cries of injustice and refereeing conspiracies. Even Atleti couldn't get the job done at home.

Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) are here to discuss everything from the weekend, a Matchday which saw 28 goals, six red cards and five draws.

Wins were at a premium, especially for those in the top half of the table.

Real Madrid were held in Pamplona, Jude Bellingham's frustration finally getting punished, but what exactly did he say?

Atleti were down to ten even earlier, but managed to grab a point late on against Celta.

Getafe turned Girona over on their own patch, Valencia snatched a point in their community derby, while Athletic had to also settle for a point at the RCDE.

Betis smashed a sorry Real Sociedad, whose domestic issues continue to plague them.

At the bottom, there was a pulsating draw between Lega and Alavés, while Real Valladolid are now well and truly adrift after being hammered at home by Sevilla.

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