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The Messi-Cast Episode 1: Why Messi wants to leave Barcelona

The Athletic's flagship football podcast, hosted by Ayo Akinwolere and featuring the likes of David Ornstein, Adam Crafton and Matt Slater will take you inside the biggest stories from the world of football, told by the best journalists in the business. Cutting through the noise to tell you what’s really happening and why it matters.

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On Sunday, Bayer Leverkusen won the first league title in their 120-year history, and the celebrations were wild.

Still to play for this season; a potential treble and the chance to go the entire season unbeaten.

But is Xabi Alonso staying enough to keep his squad together next season? 

Is it still even possible for this team to go to the next level and break into Europe's elite?

Or, is this as good as it gets for Leverkusen? 

Host: Ayo Akinwolere
With: Raphael Honigstein, Seb Stafford-Bloor
Producer: Mike Stavrou
Executive Producer: Adey Moorhead
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Why Leverkusen's title is just the beginning

At Anfield on Sunday, Liverpool’s terrible week got a whole lot worse.
A shock 1-0 defeat to Crystal Palace has dealt a blow to Jurgen Klopp’s hopes of a second Premier League title and they have a mountain to climb in the Europa League, trailing Atalanta 3-0.
So why are Liverpool faltering at the business end of the season? 
And can they still turn it round?
Ayo Akinwolere is joined by The Athletic's Oli Kay and James Pearce to assess and analyse where things have gone wrong for Jurgen Klopp's side having gone from potential quadruple winners to seeing his reign possibly end with a whimper.
Host: Ayo Akinwolere
With: James Pearce and Oli Kay
Producer: Guy Clarke
Executive Producer: Adey Moorhead
Related articles:
The 10 misses that might have ended Liverpool’s Premier League title bid - The Athletic
Liverpool’s failure to keep clean sheets is proving deeply damaging - The Athletic
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Why is Klopp's Liverpool farewell faltering?

It’s matchday 33 in the Premier League and Arsenal host Aston Villa as they look to hold on to top spot in the league table.

Elsewhere, Spurs go to Newcastle and Chelsea play Everton.

Host: Adam Leventhal
With: Jon Mackenzie, Art de Roché & Tim Spiers
Producer: Mike Stavrou and Jay Beale
Executive Producer: Adam Jones
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Can Villa rattle Arsenal again?

After overseeing a 27-game unbeaten run, Luis Enrique’s PSG fell to defeat at home to Barcelona on Wednesday night, losing 3-2 in their Champions League quarter final first leg.
So why did Kylian Mbappe struggle to impact the kind of game he’s been renowned for owning in previous years and is he at risk of seeing his PSG career end with a whimper?
As for Enrique, is he the man to finally push the Parisians over the line to become a serious contender in years to come?
Ayo Akinwolere is joined by The Athletic's Peter Rutzler as well as Pierre-Etienne Minonzio of L'Equipe.
Host: Ayo Akinwolere
With: Peter Rutzler and Pierre-Etienne Minonzio
Producer: Guy Clarke
Executive Producer: Adam Jones
Related articles:
Mbappe surely cannot bow out so quietly in Barcelona - The Athletic
How Paris Saint-Germain made Ousmane Dembele ‘extraordinary’ again - The Athletic
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Is PSG’s Galacticos era over?

Diego Simeone and Atletico Madrid have enjoyed and endured a 12-year love affair and it is hard to imagine one without the other. He has overseen both unbelievable highs and crushing lows.

This season - Atletico are on course for their worst finish in La Liga since Simeone’s first year in charge, but could another Champions League run galvanize his team once again?

And with plenty of big clubs looking for ,managers this summer, why isn’t his name mentioned in the conversations anymore?

Ayo Akinwolere is joined by The Athletic's Dermot Corrigan & Tomás Hill López-Menchero.

HOST: Ayo Akinwolere
WITH: Dermot Corrigan & Tomás Hill López-Menchero
PRODUCER: Mike Stavrou
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Adam Jones
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The Messi-Cast Episode 1: Why Messi wants to leave Barcelona

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