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Now, as the final round of La Liga fixtures before the break play out, let’s focus on the biggest shows in town. Barcelona continue to find interesting ways to lose. Atleti prove that they have the best pound-for-pound squad in the country. And Real Madrid? They’ve stopped training and started banging them in from everywhere.

What do you make of the title contenders? I’d love to know. Comments are open.

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An in-form Atletico Madrid face Barcelona at the Olympic Stadium. Atleti are emerging as one of the stories of the season - and their charismatic manager is at the heart of it all. He has full buy-in from his players, but does he scent blood against a bruised Barcelona?

Let me know what you think.

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I’m on my way home after Barcelona beat Man City 3-0 to win their group in the Champions League, thanks to goals from both of their Ballons d’Or. I caught up with one of them, afterwards - and either side of that, put together this for you. Let me know what you think.

Before we begin, please grant me one Christmas wish. If you are enjoying these posts, please share them with one football fan in your life who might also enjoy them. I thank you. At this time of the season, the Champions League group stages were done and dusted and we went into the break with the Round of 16 locked down. Not any more.

In today’s post, Pete Jenson and I tell you what we think about the new-look tournament structure as some big clubs face peril and some smaller participants are shell-shocked after a run of fixtures they would have NEVER have faced in the old format.

Now it’s over to you. Please let me know in the comments what YOU think of the changes.

Happy Monday to you. I do hope you’re enjoying these video reports as much I as I am enjoying making them for you. If you are, please tell one football fan about them.

I WANTED to talk to you about nothing other than Jesús Navas as Spain’s most trophied international footballer said goodbye to his beloved Sevilla. But oh, no. So before I get to him, let’s discuss the peaks and valleys of what’s turning into a wildly unpredictable Barcelona team. When they’re good, they’re very, very good. But when they’re bad, Robert Lewandowski is a passenger and they invent new ways to miss good chances. play the video.

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I was at the Montilivi for a wonderful evening and a game that was on edge right up until the end. I namecheck Salah, Andy Robertson and Arne Slot, but it was a big evening for Girona’s “little genius” manager Míchel.

And who predicted Madrid would lose in Bergamo?!

Do yourself a favour… check out the highlights of Atleti 4 Sevilla 3, as an accompaniment to this video. That one got my blood pumping - and I’ve got plenty to say on Barca’s 2-2 draw with Real Betis and the Jude Bellingham Show in Real Madrid’s 3-0 defeat of Girona.

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Here’s my dispatch from the Barcelona training ground, shortly after interviewing Dani Olmo and Raphinha. I touch on that - and on the most emotional football story you’ll hear this week.

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This was an epic night at the San Mamés. A ferocious performance from the home side and more searching questions for Madrid, who have now lost five times in all competitions this season (compared with twice in the whole of last season).

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Barcelona blew Mallorca away =with four second-half goals in a 5-1 away win. It marked Lamine Yamal's return to the starting line-up for the first time in five games. There were other changes too, with Hansi Flick dropping Robert Lewandowski and Ferran Torres coming into the front three and scoring.

From the LaLiga TV studios, me and Pete Jenson dissect a whirlwind performance from Barcelona.