The Road to Nowhere European Football Podcast

Alasdair, Barlow and Michael are joined by Football Italia producer Jonathan Grade for a nostalgic look back at Italian football in the 1990s. The boys discuss Napoli's fortunes post-Maradona, the iconic and the oft-overlooked Serie A sides of that era, the key players behind Real Sociedad’s impressive start to the La Liga season, Sporting Lisbon’s Ruben Amorim-inspired revival and more. 6:01 - Why was Serie A the best league in the world in the 1990s? / 7:27 - What sort of impact did hosting the 1990 World Cup have on Italy and Italian football generally in the years that would follow? / 9:36 - Iconic and overlooked Serie A sides of the 1990s / 11:12 - What did the post-Maradona years look like for Napoli? / 15:53 - Was Alessandro Del Piero as important to 1990s Juventus as Cristiano Ronaldo is to 2020 Juventus? / 18:16 - Roberto Mancini the player versus Roberto Mancini the manager / 23:21 - Gazza and James Richardson memories / 33:12 - Who are the star men behind Real Sociedad's impressive start to the La Liga season? / 38:56 - Has Sporting Lisbon's expensive decision to bring in Ruben Amorim, one of Europe's brightest young managers, paid off?

Alasdair, Barlow and Michael discuss and analyse the latest European football news. The boys look at Atlético's mouthwatering Saturday night tie with Barcelona, Union Berlin’s Max Kruse-inspired second-season evolution, Newcastle United target Boulaye Dia's playing style and career trajectory, the significance of Cesare Prandelli’s appointment at Fiorentina, AC Milan’s title credentials (or lack thereof) and more. 2:02 - Why might AC Milan's impressive start be a red herring and what will Cesare Prandelli's appointment mean for Fiorentina's talent-packed side? / 16:05 - Is Stade de Reims' Senegalese striker Boulaye Dia ready for a move to the Premier League and how has Everton's Moise Kean hit the ground running in Paris? / 31:37 - What impact has Max Kruse had on Union Berlin and could the likeable side from the capital qualify for Europe? / 45:10 - What did we learn from Spain's 6-0 win over Germany and does the arrival of Eduardo Coudet represent the light at the end of the tunnel for underachieving Celta Vigo?

Alasdair, Barlow and Michael discuss and analyse the latest European football news. The boys look at Sassuolo’s ceiling, Real Sociedad’s excellent start, Ronald Koeman’s de Jong/ Busquets dilemma, Lille’s memorable night in Milan, the secrets to Gladbach’s success, Benfica’s youthful front two and more. 1:46 - Are Real Sociedad playing the best football in Spain right now? / 13:50 - Why are Borussia Mönchengladbach one of the most likeable teams in Europe? 27:32 - Could Sassuolo out-Atalanta Atalanta? 37:44 - Has Benfica's lavish summer spending paid off? / 44:44 - Is Lille's Renato Sanches now ready to become one of the best midfielders in the world?

Alasdair, Barlow and Michael discuss and analyse the latest European football news. 1:49 - How had Barcelona and Real Madrid been faring prior to El Clásico and who are the early-season candidates for relegation in La Liga? / 13:50 - Why are Racing Strasbourg struggling in Ligue 1 this season and is there cause for cautious optimism at the Meinau? / 25:16 - What tactical tweaks has Julian Nagelsmann made as RB Leipzig adapt to life post-Timo Werner? / 36:01 - Are Napoli genuine Serie A title contenders?

Alasdair, Barlow and Michael discuss and analyse the latest European football news. The boys discuss Dortmund's sustainability in the short and long term, the highly coveted Udinese playmaker Rodrigo de Paul, Javi Gracia's desire to leave Valencia after just three months in charge and more. 1:48 - Granada's European odyssey and Atlético Madrid's troubles in front of goal / 14:04 - Can Dortmund replace Bayern as the leading force in German football? / 29:50 - How good is Udinese's highly coveted Rodrigo de Paul? / 42:02 - Are Lyon set for another season of domestic misery and will Michaël Cuisance seize his chance at Marseille?  55:02 - Games of the week. 

Alasdair, Barlow and Michael are joined by revered Italian football journalist Carlo Gargenese for an insightful look at the latest developments in Serie A and further afield. The boys discuss Andrea Pirlo's impressive start to life as head coach of Juventus, Schalke's woeful 2020, the mass exodus at struggling Valencia, the latest wonderkid to burst onto the scene at Stade Rennais and much more. 2:55 - What can we expect from Andrea Pirlo's Juventus? / 10:04 - Inter's summer recruitment policy / 20:47 - Italy's golden generation of midfielders and Euro 2021 hopes / 24:36 - Why does Pep Guardiola love watching Sassuolo? / 30:22 - Are Schalke in danger of  'doing a Hamburg'? / 37:06 - Chaos reigning at Barcelona and Valencia / 45:46 - Rennes' youth academy produces another gem in Adrien Truffert.

Alasdair, Barlow and Michael preview the imminent return of the Champions League. The boys look at David Silva's potentially last dance, Leo Messi's channelled frustration ahead of Barca's tie with Rino Gattuso's Napoli, PSG sans Kylian Mbappé, Atletico Madrid's hopes of going all the way and more. 1:28 - Can Juventus and Real Madrid overturn first-leg deficits? / 20:45 - Jerome Boateng's revenge and RB Leipzig's prospects post-Timo Werner / 39:40 - Manchester City, Bayern Munich or Atletico Madrid to be crowned champions come August 23rd?

Alasdair, Barlow and Michael discuss the latest European football news. The boys look at Niko Kovac's appointment as the new manager of Monaco, the reasons behind Real Madrid's La Liga success, Lecce's Serie A survival hopes and much more. 1:58 - Will Nico Kovac rediscover success at Monaco? / 14:52 - Milan's managerial change of heart / 24:28 - Final day heartbreak for Leganes and the end of multiple eras at Villareal.

Alasdair, Barlow and Michael discuss the latest European football news. The boys look at the La Liga relegation battle, Bayern Munich's Champions League aspirations, Ralf Rangnick's imminent appointment at AC Milan, Sporting Lisbon's wonderkids and more.  3:04 - Who will avoid the drop in Spain and what should we expect from Manuel Pellegrini at Real Betis? / 18:28 - Bayern on the hunt for the treble and Werder survive in emphatic style / 32:46 - Ralf Rangnick's coaching style and Bologna's brilliant Gambian duo / 46:56 - Can Sporting Lisbon's youngsters challenge for the Liga Nos title next year?

Alasdair, Barlow and Michael discuss the latest European football news from across the continent. In just over an hour's worth of action, the boys analyse Lazio's title credentials following their thrilling midweek loss to Atalanta, the sacking of Rubi at Real Betis after just 33 games in charge, the relegation battle in German's Bundesliga and much more. 2:07 - Do Lazio have it in them to bounce back after their setback in Bergamo? / 21:27 - Celta Vigo's transfer controversy and cheeky Piqué takes to Twitter / 38:56 - Can Werder Bremen avoid only a second relegation in their history? / 56:26 - FC Sochi hit FC Rostov's teenagers for 10.