Bombazo: The Scandinavian LaLiga Podcast

Bombazo: The Scandinavian LaLiga Podcast is back for season two, and this season we're switching things up! From now on, we'll be doing a deep dive every month on a Scandinavian-LaLiga theme, and first up is one of the biggest of all, Henrik Larsson.Whether you know him as Larsson, Henke, or the King of Kings, there's no doubt that the Swede is one of the greatest Scandinavians to grace LaLiga, but with his time as a Barça player just pre-dating the explosion of Youtube, social media and minute-by-minute LaLiga coverage, plenty of details have been forgotten from his two years in Catalonia.With that in mind, we look back on our memories of Larsson's time at the Camp Nou, and enlist the help of three top quality experts who were there to watch it in the flesh. Graham Hunter (LaLiga TV/ The Big Interview), Johanna Garå (TV4) and Toni Padilla (DiariAra) share their thoughts and first hand accounts from Henrik's days with the Blaugrana. Finally, with Henrik's surprise return to the Camp Nou this summer as an assistant coach to Ronald Koeman, we try to answer the big question: just what the hell is his job? And will even someone as loved as the former Barça striker survive the cloudy atmosphere at the club these days?Remember to leave a rating/like and a comment at your podcast provider of choice if you enjoyed this episode. And feel free to tweet us with suggestions for what you want to hear in future episodes.  You can follow Lee here and Alex here. Thanks as always for listening!

Bombazo: The Scandinavian LaLiga Podcast is back for our penultimate episode of the season and it's a busy one...– We look at Julen Lopetegui finally finding the right home at Sevilla who sealed Champions League football.– We take our best shot at guessing who is going to be relegated and who will survive, though we can't quite agree...– As for the European spots, Villarreal are the best bet but who follows is still wide open, and Real Sociedad's Ødegaard and Isak fitness problems don't help.– Yet again Valencia have managed to raise the craziness level a further notch. The target this time? Most of their best players, including Dani Parejo.– And we answer listener questions on Real Zaragoza and the latest side to join LaLiga. Remember to leave a rating and comment, and follow the pod here, Lee here, and Alex here.Thanks for listening!

Bombazo: The Scandinavian LaLiga podcast returns and there's plenty Nordic news to get stuck into amongst other things...– We look at Alexander Isak's goal scoring form and how he has already bettered both John Carew and Henrik Larsson's Spanish football stats, with Zlatan Ibrahimovic now in sight. – And we have the run-down on new Atlético Madrid signing, Swedish goalkeeper Hedvig Lindahl.– With Espanyol's demise to second division oblivion imminent, we discuss the sad downward turn of a team that was once firmly rooted in a Barcelona neighbourhood, but now struggles to pull future core fans from the behemoth towering down the road.– Plus we look at the return of a familiar old face to LaLiga via Real Betis, and reflect on Spain's 2010 World Cup win, a decade later.Remember to leave a rating and comment, and follow the pod here, Lee here, and Alex here.Thanks for listening!

LaLiga has barely been back and yet there's not much left to go, so this week's Bombazo has a lot of ground to cover:– Alex has a rant at the standard of refs in LaLiga who are getting it particularly wrong even by their usual level...– We both get excited about Villarreal's return to form as a team competing for the top four.– And get upset for the way Valencia's fans are being treated by an owner who clearly couldn't care less.– Plus Barça's highly predictable coaching dilemma, their complete negligence with Marc Cucurella, John Guidetti's LaLiga future, Martin Ødegaard's issues and more.Remember to leave a rating and comment, and follow the pod here, Lee here, and Alex here.Thanks for listening!

Bombazo: The Scandinavian LaLiga podcast is back again and after doing our best to keep on top of the endless stream of Spanish football action we have plenty to discuss, including...– Is Real Sociedad's downward slide away from European football something that could have been predicted? Or is it just good old fashioned low confidence?– Celta's remarkable revival under Oscar Garcia and why Alex is the most optimistic about them she has been for years. And why the Nolito signing shows the Braithwaite rule really is a joke.– Bruno Soriano's beautiful comeback and our hopes for someone who was one of the best in his position before injury took its toll.– Diego Simeone's stroke of genius with Marcos Llorente– And why don't we care about the LaLiga title race? We should! But we won't...Remember to leave a rating and comment, and follow the pod here, Lee here, and Alex here. Have a dig through our back catalogue too and you'll find plenty of timeless episodes to keep you busy: last week's Sid Lowe special is a good start, as is our Michael Laudrup special, guide to women's football in Spain, and the overlooked story of the last time two Swedes made it big in LaLiga.Thanks for listening – and stay safe!

Episode 31 of Bombazo is a special one as we talk to one of our favourite football journalists and a man you should all be familiar with, Sid Lowe. Not only has Sid been the guy bringing Spanish football to an English speaking audience via The Guardian for as long as we can remember, he's also one of the hosts and people behind The Spanish Football Podcast – in our humble opinion the best pod on Spanish football out there. That's thanks in no small part to their dedication to attending games and getting to know the human beings behind the clubs.Sid knows more about Spanish football than most, so it was only right for us to grill him on the Scandinavians in Spain, including...– Why Martin Braithwaite is such a convincing player to speak to, and how that has won over Barça's coaching staff as well as a certain number 10.– His high hopes for Martin Ødegaard, in Sid's view probably the best player in LaLiga this season behind the aforementioned Lionel Messi. But there are some concerns about him continuing to play in the right environment for his development.– How Alexander Isak's endless confidence impressed him when the Swede put Real Madrid to the sword at the Santiago Bernabéu after a less than perfect first half.– Plus praise for Daniel Wass, intrigue on Pione Sisto, a bit of Zlatan, a bit of Henke, and how he ended up with Thomas Gravesen's shorts.You can hear Sid and the TSFP guys here, and they also have loads of additional content for subscribers. Thanks again for listening and, yes, you know what's coming: LEAVE A RATING for Bombazo at your podcast provider of choice, please. Drop us a comment or even an email while you're at it. Follow the pod here, Alex here, and Lee here. Enjoy the episode, it's a good one! 

LaLiga 2019-20 is finally back, and Bombazo: The Scandinavian LaLiga Podcast is back with it! We sit down for the first time in over two months to unpack the long-awaited restart to Spanish football, including...– What we think about the league returning without fans.– The winners and losers of the unexpected break, including why Lee expects Martin Braithwaite to make a big impact for Barcelona, and Alex has worries about Alavés surviving.– How having no supporters could impact teams who rely on strong home form, and whether it will even out and make away trips easier.– The tactical changes coaches like Diego Simeone have been working on during the break, like Atleti's new Raúl García.– And we preview a game we both attended last season, the Seville derby at the Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán. The game where fans matter most, that has to be played without them.As always, remember to leave a rating and comment at your podcast provider of choice which really helps us to climb the rankings and get more listeners (super important now more than ever after a long break). You can follow the pod here, Lee here, and Alex here.Hay liga!

The last time you heard from Bombazo: The Scandinavian LaLiga Podcast we had just taken in Barcelona v Real Sociedad from the Camp Nou. Little did we know it was the last football we'd be watching live for a long time.In this special update we check in with a report on the differences in life in Spain and Sweden under Corona, reflect on the season that stopped, and also what kind of LaLiga season we may see in the future.Remember to leave a rating and comment, and follow the pod here, Lee here, and Alex here. Have a dig through our back catalogue too and you'll find plenty of timeless episodes to keep you busy – like our Michael Laudrup special, guide to women's football in Spain, and the overlooked story of the last time two Swedes made it big in LaLiga.Thanks for listening – and stay safe!

Episode 28 of Bombazo LaLiga Podcast marks a first in the series as both Lee and Alex are finally in the same location! We report live from the Camp Nou at Barcelona v Real Sociedad, hear from one of the stars (spoiler: he's Swedish), then break down all the fallout. On today's show...– Alex kicks us off by sharing her experience at one of Spanish professional football's smallest stadiums as Mirandés capped their historic Copa del Rey run with an admirable semifinal performance.– We explain why Real Sociedad's return to a final for the first time in three decades is a huge deal for a club that once regularly competed for cups and league titles.– We look at Athletic Club's part in the mouth-watering all Basque final.– Then, we unpack Barcelona's narrow 1-0 win over Real Sociedad where the most dangerous player in Blaugrana happened to be a Dane. And the Camp Nou rewarded Martin Braithwaite with huge applause for his efforts. – There's more to dissect from the match including Real Sociedad bettering Barça at what was once the Catalans' own signature style of play, plus why we feel Alguacil got it wrong with his late change. – And finally, we hear from Alexander Isak on his performance, the team going toe-to-toe with Barça, and the future.Thanks to everyone who listens each week. If you enjoy it, leave us a rating, review and comment at the podcast provider of their choice (or even if you don't – let us know why). Please take a few minutes to do so – it's very helpful!

It's the big one – or is it? Bombazo goes forensic on Real Madrid's 2-0 win over FC Barcelona in El Clásico. Talking points include...– Now it's clear the big game has lost a bit of its sheen, we get a nostalgic for the mighty Clásicos of old and ask whether LaLiga missed the opportunity to promote it properly internationally in those heady days.– Both coaches made big calls, but while Zinedine Zidane picking Marcelo paid off, did Quique Setién get it wrong with his conservative approach? – Tactical battles aside, if not for Thibaut Courtois making some big saves it's a different game. We have some praise for the Belgian who is still excellent when he's switched on.– We look at Martin Braithwaite's performance which included an instant impact with one of the best chances of the game. – And Alex rounds up the Scandis who have made previous appearances in this historic fixture. Spoiler: the Danes win.Next week we will bring the pod to you from FC Barcelona v Real Sociedad where LaLiga's three biggest Scandinavians could all appear, but until then for more quality content you can follow the pod here, plus Lee and Alex at their personal accounts.Thanks to everyone who listens, and if you like what you hear, leave us a rating, review and comment at the podcast provider of their choice. Please take a few minutes to do so – it's super helpful!

You had to wait, but Bombazo: The Scandinavian LaLiga Podcast is back and it's definitely great as MARTIN BRAITHWAITE SIGNED FOR BARÇA. THIS IS NOT A DRILL.– We look at how the Dane's signing for the Blaugrana played out, and Lee has a few words for some of the doubters who were quick to write him off as a failure before he kicked a ball.– And as it turns out Braithwaite knows how to play football, after playing well with only one training session, is there potential for even more?– Alexander Isak and Martin Ødegaard's Real Sociedad smelled blood and smashed Valencia in the latest evidence that they're going to produce something special this season. But just how special? Alex looks at how they compare to some of their best teams.– After rocking Real Madrid, Celta took points yet again as Óscar García continues to get them back on course and away from relegation. We have some special words for their key man of the moment, Rafinha.PSA: For more quality content you can follow the pod here, plus Lee and Alex at their personal accounts.Thanks to the increasing number of listeners. Stick with us, and if you like what you hear, leave us a rating, review and comment at the podcast provider of their choice. Please take a few minutes to do so – it's super helpful!

Episode 25 of Bombazo: The Scandinavian LaLiga podcast is here, and on a week where everyone in Spain was talking about a certain Swedish striker, we're on the ground in the thick of the action.– Alex reports back from seeing Alexander Isak eliminate Real Madrid from the Copa del Rey... then travelling north to watch him win a Basque derby with a stunning individual display.– We hear from both Real Sociedad and Athletic fans in San Sebastian on the potential for the two teams to play the Copa del Rey final, and what they think of both Isak and Martin Ødegaard.– With Celta finally getting a win thanks to Dane Pione Sisto's excellent goal, could the turnaround be about to kick off?– And with Raúl de Tomás scoring five goals in five games for Espanyol and helping them to pick up their first home win of the season, is their own great escape just around the corner?– Plus we look at other possible relegation candidates we think could get sucked in now the other teams are getting their acts together.PSA: For more quality content you can follow the pod here, plus Lee and Alex at their personal accounts.And as much as we love you, we know many have yet to leave us a rating, review and comment at the podcast provider of their choice. Please take a few minutes to do so – it's the only meaningful feedback we get for this labour of love we both do for free.Thanks!

Bonus Bombazo! Real Sociedad have just eliminated Real Madrid from the Copa del Rey, and it was Alexander Isak who conquered the Santiago Bernabéu with two goals, an assist, and yet another man of the match performance. So it was pretty handy that our very own Alex was at the stadium for the historic occasion. Alexandra sent us a special report from the game, as well as an interview with the hero of the day Alexander Isak after the game. Enjoy!PS: For more quality content you can follow the pod here, plus Lee and Alex at their personal accounts.And now feels like as good a time as any to ask you to leave us a rating, review and comment at the podcast provider of your choice. We do this all for free (including Alex's trip to Madrid to speak to Isak!) for your amusement, so it would be great to know your thoughts.Cheers!

We're in the second month of 2020 and incredibly, Bombazo: The Scandinavian LaLiga Podcast continues to be made despite popular demands. This episode is a good 'un:– We rate the winter transfer window action in LaLiga. How Barcelona managed to sign nobody despite being willing to sign anybody. How Atlético messed up with Cavani, ended up with Carrasco, but may end up better than a lot of people think. And how Sevilla's signings leave us... dubious.– Plus it's the small teams who make the most exciting moves. Paco Alcácer hits the ground running at Villarreal, and Espanyol defy expectations by spending a small fortunes. But will it be too late?– There's the usual Scandi roundup, including Alexander Isak further establishing himself as Real Sociedad's idol. – And we reluctantly admit that we're now pledging our allegiance to Getafe. You can follow the pod here, plus Lee and Alex at their personal accounts.And make sure to leave us a rating, review and comment at the podcast provider of your choice. We do this all for free for your amusement, so it would be great to know your thoughts.Cheers! (Vamos Geta)

Episode 23 of Bombazo: The Scandinavian LaLiga Podcast comes with news of the biggest weekend for a Swede in LaLiga since Zlatan was at Barça, as Alexander Isak becomes Spain's top scoring player under the age of 21. – We look in detail at the striker situation at Anoeta where Willian José could be on the way out, but either way looks to have lost his starting place to new fan favourite Isak.– Alex explains how Pione Sisto still manages to piss his manager off when he's producing one of his best games in a long time.– With Atlético Madrid falling out of the top four, goals impossible to come by, and turning the season around apparently relying on Edinson Cavani being a superhero, has Diego Simeone's magic finally worn off?– We give Valencia some much overdue praise as they rock Barça with a big win at Mestalla, and explain why they may just be the club with the most pressure and expectation relative to their level.– We ponder why LaLiga produced such a low-scoring weekend.– And look at the sad scenes in Barcelona when Iñaki Williams was racially abused, though there has been some encouraging reaction.Remember you can follow the pod here, plus Lee and Alex at their personal accounts.And make sure to leave us a rating, review and comment at the podcast provider of your choice. We do this all for free for your amusement, so it would be great to know your thoughts.Cheers!

Episode 22 of Bombazo: The Scandinavian LaLiga Podcast is fresh out the oven with plenty to unpack now that league football is back in Spain.– We look at Casemiro's outstanding attacking display in Real Madrid's win over Sevilla, and ponder whether the offensive side of his game is overlooked. Could he be unleashed in a new look Madrid midfield some time soon?– We round up what is comfortably the worst week for the Scandis in Spain since the season started, where even the guy who picked up an assist had a bad game.– There's analysis of Quique Setién's Barcelona, what looks good and what may be a point of concern.– With Joao Felix showing a bad attitude as Atlético stumble, is he starting to believe the hype too soon? And could Edinson Cavani be just the medicine they need?– It's a great weekend for Espanyol thanks in no small part to RDT, the kind of signing that could yet save them from relegation. And former Pericos boss Rubi looks to have Real Betis firing on all cylinders. Hurrah all round!– Plus we say goodbye to John Guidetti after almost five years in Spanish football, looking back at his highlights, as well as the 'what if' moments.Remember you can follow the pod here, plus Lee and Alex at their personal accounts. And make sure to leave us a rating, review and comment at the podcast provider of your choice. We do this all for free for your amusement, so it would be great to know your thoughts.Thanks!

This week on Bombazo Lee and Alex are joined by special guest Morten Glinvad – Danish expert on all things LaLiga – for a bumper episode. We discuss...– The revamped Supercopa in all of its controversial glory. How Real Madrid came away the big winners in more ways than one, not least for reinforced Zinedine Zidane and once questioned Thibaut Courtois.– The Barcelona coaching situation and our sympathies for Ernesto Valverde who has had a week on the job nobody should want to emulate. Not even Xavi?– Speaking of Barcelona coaching jobs: once rumour mill staple Michael Laudrup is no longer in the mix for the gig at his old club. Morten explains to us why Scandinavia's greatest ever export to LaLiga is no longer interested in full-time coaching despite an impressive CV as a manager.– We pick Morten's brain on red hot Martin Braithwaite, one of the outstanding LaLiga goalscorers of the last few months, who he recently interviewed in Madrid.Did you know that you've probably been pronouncing the striker's name wrong all along? Or that Braithwaite has a special technique to get in the zone before matches? You will after listening to this...– Plus we talk Daniel Wass and his brilliant Valencia form. LaLiga's overlooked Mr Reliable?– Alex has news on John Guidetti and his Alavés situation.– And we close with a look at our surprises and disappointments of LaLiga 2019-20 so far now we have reached the half way stage.Remember you can follow the pod here, plus Lee and Alex at their personal accounts. And please, make sure to follow Morten here. Michael Laudrup aside, no Dane knows LaLiga better!Finally, if you could leave us a rating, review and comment at the podcast provider of your choice it would be much appreciated. It makes a huge difference. Thanks! 

In the first episode of 2020 Alex is joined by two guests. First Semra Hunter who you normally can see over on LaLiga TV. And then by Galician Dani Mendéz who is the pitch side reporter in San Sebastian and Eibar for LaLigaTV/Movistar. With Semra we discuss the following:– Martin Braithwaite only needed 4 min to score in 2020, how important is he for Leganés and can he save them from relegation– Espanyol shocked Barcelona with a 2-2 draw in the first game of Abelardo, is he about to create another "Alavés miracle"? And is Barça too dependent on Lionel Messi?  – Semra saw Ødegaard as a 16 year-old in Madrid and met him again this season in San Sebastian, how much has he changed and just how good is the Norwegian? With Dani Mendéz we discuss the following:– In the early 2000's SuperDepor won LaLiga, Copa del Rey and almost made the Champions League final. Now Deportivo are last in Segunda and in huge debts.. what happened? Can one of Spain's historic clubs disappear or is there a way out? – What do the local fans in San Sebastian think of Martin Ødegaard and Alexander Isak, is the Norwegian the biggest star of the club and will Isak steal the starting spot from Willian José?Don't forget to follow the pod here, plus Lee and Alex at their personal accounts as well as our guests Semra and Dani.We also want to say a huge thanks to Keven Bader for editing this episode, follow him too!And please, please leave a rating, review or comment. It helps a huge amount.Thanks for listening! 

In the final episode of Bombazo for 2019 we look back on the historic 2010-11 LaLiga season, a time when Mourinho's Real Madrid and Guardiola's Barcelona were at their peak, Unai Emery's Valencia and a resurgent Atlético Madrid were raising the standards behind them, and most importantly as far as we are concerned, two Swedes played in the same LaLiga squad for the only time in history. Kennedy Bakircioglu came to Racing Santander an unknown quantity for supporters but would ultimately become a hero thanks to goals and assists that helped the team from northern Spain stay up by a comfortable margin.Markus Rosenberg meanwhile came with bigger expectations, but in hindsight, his respectable goals tally in arguably the toughest Spanish league of all time looks far better than it was recognised for.We detail how both of the attackers ended up in Spain, and how they both had to fight for years to get the money they were owed. Plus we detail the sad demise of Racing since, the fairytale ending the two Swedes' recently had to their careers, and treat you to a bit of Scandi LaLiga trivia. You can follow the pod here where we will post some links to Kennedy and Rosenberg's LaLiga best bits, plus Lee and Alex at their personal accounts. Like every week we encourage you to leave a rating, review or comment at the provider of your choice. It's simple: do that small favour for us, we'll keep putting these out.Last but not least, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you all. We will be back in 2020!

Episode 18 of Bombazo: The Scandinavian LaLiga Podcast is here to round up the best weekend for Scandinavians in Spanish football this season.– We look back on Real Sociedad v FC Barcelona, where Martin Ødegaard stepped up and proved he can tangle with the best, and Alexander Isak got a huge goal to equalize for his team and make a claim to be a more regular starter.– Alex dives deep on Pione Sisto's continued revival at Celta, plus Rafinha's rise.– We round up some of the other standout moments from the Scandis including Daniel Wass providing an assist against Real Madrid to continue his excellent form, and Martin Braithwaite getting a goal. – There's VAR chat because some LaLiga clubs decided to get a bit awkward with social media. – We preview what is shaping up to be the most important El Clásico for some time.– And we have EXCLUSIVE information about the Santi Clause in Cazorla's Christmas contract!*You can follow the pod here, plus Lee and Alex at their personal accounts. Like every week we encourage you to leave a rating, review or comment at the provider of your choice. It's a simple transaction: you do that small favour for us, we'll keep putting these out.Thanks for listening! *Not actually an exclusive or information

Episode 17 of Bombazo: The Scandinavian LaLiga Podcast is holding an intervention to make sure Alex goes home instead of constantly travelling to watch football. Also:– After Joaquín became the oldest player ever to score a LaLiga hat-trick, we ask if he is even better in his late 30s than Ryan Giggs was?– Alex reports from her trip to the Santiago Bernabéu, so we discuss whether Karim Benzema is better than Cristiano Ronaldo these days, and if Vinicius needs to be sent out on loan.– Ivan Rakitic returns and Barça improve significantly. Coincidence? We don't think so.– There's a second LaLiga report, this time from Leganés v Celta, where there was cause for optimism for both sides' hope of avoiding relegation (Espanyol, not so much).– Plus we look at what may prove to be the most decisive game in Atlético Madrid's season as they play for Champions League survival, money to sign a top striker in January, and Diego Simeone's reputation. You can follow the pod here, plus Lee and Alex at their personal accounts. Like every week we encourage you to leave a rating, review or comment at the provider of your choice. It's a simple transaction: you do that small favour for us, we'll keep putting these out.Thanks for listening! 

Episode 16 of Bombazo: The Scandinavian LaLiga Podcast is here, and we kick off with the biggest game of the weekend, Atlético Madrid v FC Barcelona– With Marc-André Ter Stegen keeping Barcelona in the game for 45 minutes yet again, and Jan Oblak having a ropey season, is the German now the best goalkeeper in the world?– We discuss whether Diego Simeone's magic may finally be fading as he struggles to get the best out of new players and has even relinquished defensive solidity.– Lee argues that there's only one man available who could come in and give Atleti the boost needed to win something this season: Zlatan Ibrahimovic. (Alex is less keen).– We praise the two Basque giants and wonder if this is the best Athletic Club and Real Sociedad have been at the same time since the glory days of the 1980s.– And finally, Alex details her footballing adventure in sunny Mallorca that included Son Moix, the lower leagues, and meeting a true Spanish football legend.As always you can follow the pod here, plus Lee and Alex at their personal accounts. Si us plau: leave a rating, review or comment.Thanks for listening! 

Episode 15 of Bombazo: The Scandinavian LaLiga Podcast is fresh out of the oven boy is it a busy day. On the show:– We sign up for the Fede Valverde fanclub after the young Uruguayan stole the show from Martin Ødegaard in Real Madrid v Real Sociedad– Are Barcelona wasting a great generation of talent on a stale project that should have been ended in the summer? It sure looks that way.– Pione Sisto returns from exile and it turns out the man who once tore Manchester United a new one is still a brilliant player when he wants to be.– How do you capitalise by Martin Braithwaite's brilliant goalscoring form during the international break? By playing him on the wing, of course. It doesn't look good for Lega...– And if you can make it to the end, you'll get to hear about the time Lee humiliated himself in Denmark. Probably not the last time, either.If you haven't already, make sure to listen to Episode 14 for our summary of everything LaLiga's Scandinavians got up to during the international break.And as always, follow the pod here, plus Lee and Alex at their personal accounts. Plus please, please (pretty please) leave a rating, review or comment.Thanks for listening! 

Episode 14 of Bombazo is here and we have a huge amount to cover across both the international matches and forthcoming LaLiga games:– Martin Braithwaite bags two goals in two games including the strike that seals Denmark's place at Euro 2020. We reckon he would get 20 a season for a better LaLiga side.– The Robert Moreno-Luis Enrique Spain coaching drama unpacked, and why it reminds us of Pep Guardiola and Tito Vilanova's split from back in the day. Has Pep ever really been as good since?– We look at Alexander Isak's admirably cold-headed reaction to racist abuse in Romania, plus fellow Swede and LaLiga forward John Guidetti getting a great goal that reminds us all of what he's capable of.– The Bombazo team reckons Norway and Martin Ødegaard are heading to Euro 2020 (sorry Scotland and Serbia), but are his Real Sociedad the toughest test Real Madrid have faced all season?– Alex reports from Spain's most underrated, and arguably most heated derby, Real Oviedo v Sporting Gijon. And what an experience it was.– Plus we praise fellow professional troll Gareth Bale, and look ahead to more LaLiga fixtures. Don't forget to follow the pod here, plus Lee and Alex at their personal accounts. And please, please leave a rating, review or comment. It helps a huge amount.Thanks for listening! 

Want to get into Spanish women’s football but don’t know where to start? We have the answer! Today on Bombazo, Alex is joined by special guest Elisa Revuelta, a journalist working with FIFA’s digital platforms focusing on women’s football and the Spanish women’s national team. Elisa gives us a detailed guide on:– The two giants of the Primera División Femenina, Barcelona and Atlético Madrid. Who is likely to win the title? Who is pulling in the right direction? And why Atleti's progress in the Champions League at the expense of Manchester City as a massive deal for the women's game in Spain.– Real Madrid’s struggle to break that duopoly and become a force in the women’s game. Did Sofia Jakobsson and Kosovare Asllani realise what they were getting themselves into at the soon to be former CD Tacón? – Elisa also looks at the Scandi tearing it up in LaLiga Femenina, Caroline Graham Hansen. The Norwegian has been on fire at FC Barcelona and has her eyes on the Champions League crown.  – And we explain why the Basque giants Real Sociedad and Athletic Club are so damn passionate about their womens' teams. But can their quality on the pitch match their diehard enthusiasm?You won’t want to miss this one – it’s an education!Don't forget to follow the pod here, as well as Alex and Elisa at their personal accounts. And I know I say it every week guys and gals, but please, please leave a rating, review or comment! That way we can reach more listeners and continue to produce the pod.Thanks for listening! 

Episode 12 of Bombazo is here and the LaLiga news is coming thick and fast. This week...– Just how crap are Barcelona, Atlético and Real Madrid?– Alexander Isak and Martin Ødegaard's Real Sociedad on the other hand, are very good. How good? Statistically their best team since the title challenge.– Do Barça need to go all out for yet another Dutch coach to change their fortunes?– Is Zinedine Zidane invincible...?– ... and is Santiago Solari underrated?– Óscar García analysed in depth: his history as the heir to the Cruyff disciple crown at Barça, why his track record is promising, and what we should expect.– With six goals in six, Lucas Pérez is back. Alex explains why even has a diehard Depor fan he has a unique history with Alavés.– A moment of recognition for Sandro's first goal in two years.#FreeJohnGuidetti#RestIñakiWilliamsDon't forget to follow the pod here, plus Lee and Alex at their personal accounts. And please, please leave a rating, review or comment. It helps a huge amount.Thanks for listening! 

Episode 11 of Bombazo is here and just because a certain game wasn't played doesn't mean there's any less to talk about ...– Fresh from watching Alexander Isak score the winner for Real Sociedad and interviewing him post-match, Alex explains why he's already a hero in San Sebastián, and brings special audio evidence for the jury!– Dropping Diego Costa pays off for Diego Simeone. Time to back Álvaro Morata properly? And do Atleti have greater potential than Barça or Real Madrid?– The miracle of Granada: everything you need to know about the LaLiga leaders' wonder coach Diego Martínez.– Martin Braithwaite: LaLiga's most underrated striker?– Exploring the continued El Clásico delay, and why it isn't strictly true that it was suspended over safety...#FreeJohnGuidetti#RestIñakiWilliams– And we reveal the best LaLiga stadium to work from as a journalist.Don't forget to follow the pod here, as well as Lee and Alex at their personal accounts. And please, please leave a rating, review or comment. It helps immensely.Thanks for listening! 

Against all odds we've reached Episode 10 of Bombazo and this week there are an endless amount of talking points:– Why El Clásico being moved is good news for Real Madrid, but not great for Barcelona, just as the 'MSG' starts to click– Speaking of Madrid, we told you so. Zidane out?– Lee has a difference of opinion with Iker Casillas, who unknowingly unleashed Granada's internet fanbase on his ass...– Is Martin Ødegaard the best player in LaLiga at present?– Is it time to drop Koke?– Plus we start the campaign to #RestIñakiDon't forget to follow the pod here, as well as Lee and Alex at their personal accounts. And please, please leave a rating, review or comment. It helps immensely.Thanks for listening! 

It's the international break so today marks the debut of our special series Greatest Scandinavians where we look at the best players from the region to feature in Spanish football, and what better way to kick-off than with arguably the greatest Scandinavian footballer of all time, Michael Laudrup.With five LaLiga titles in a row, a key part in Barcelona's first ever European Cup, the unique ability to boast playing in back-to-back 5-0 El Clásico wins on both sides of the divide, and a strong legacy as a coach that includes taking Getafe on a heroic European run, Laudrup's impact on LaLiga has been huge and spans decades.The Blaugrana's false nine before Messi and the man who Andrés Iniesta tried to copy, we look at some of the anecdotes and lesser known details of Laudrup's time playing for both Barcelona and Real Madrid, including how he almost ended up at Barça as a teen.We also analyse his move from from Barça to Madrid, including the forgotten context of why it happened, why Barcelona fans ultimately forgave him, and why he holds the rare honour of being seen as a club legend by both sets of fans. And finally, we reach some conclusions on two big questions: is Laudrup the Scandinavian who had the biggest impact on LaLiga, and above all, is he the greatest Scandinavian footballer of all time?If you're a fan of the Great Dane or simply want to understand a key figure in shaping modern day Spanish football, you won't want to miss this one.Remember to like, comment, subscribe and rate, and as always you can follow Alex here, Lee here, plus the official Bombazo account here.Thanks for listening!

Episode 8 of Bombazo: The Scandinavian LaLiga podcast is here, and with the breaking news that Víctor Valdés has left Barcelona again we look in detail at why it happened, why Barça should have seen it coming, and how being a deep thinker makes the former goalkeeper a complex character. That, and...– Is it time for Diego Simeone to drop Diego Costa, both for the striker and Atlético Madrid's benefit?– Is Santi Cazorla the best Spanish midfielder at preset? (And should that be a concern for Spain?)– Why Real Madrid topping the table could be deceptive...– A difficult week for Martin Ødegaard, but a strong case for Cucurella at Barça– The Antoine Griezmann problem– Valencia's missed opportunity to break into LaLiga's top three– Martin Braithwaite's golazo, Granada's incredible away fans, Celta's issues and more, so much more! Please like, comment, subscribe and rate as always. And remember you can follow Alex here, Lee here, plus the official Bombazo account here.Thanks for listening!

Episode 7 of Bombazo: The Scandinavian LaLiga podcast is here, and this week we have a very special episode with a very special guest.We sat down with RCD Espanyol Academy Stockholm director Sergi Angulo Lerín, a coach who has worked in Spain, France and Sweden, and has had the chance to observe the likes of Pep Guardiola and Mauricio Pochettino behind the scenes. In this bumper, more than one hour-long pod, we touch on a wide range of subjects including:– Is Barcelona's dwindling number of youth players in the first team a change in philosophy, or did Pep Guardiola create unrealistic expectations?– Why the likes of Espanyol, Athletic Club and Real Sociedad are so good at developing youth players for the senior squad, and the influence having first team coaches who came from within the club has on that process.– Do Real Madrid have a plan for their many talented young players? And if so, why return to the Zidane model?– How Diego Simeone's consistency helps Atlético Madrid to manage their regular turnover in players.– What it was like seeing a 16-year-old Alexander Isak make his breakthrough, and why it was always clear he was going to make it as a pro.– What hope does Martin Ødegaard have of making it at Real Madrid?– How Espanyol hope to export their coaching model, and in turn give a chance to young talent in Sweden and elsewhere to one day make it at their first team.Plus much, much, much more. For anyone interested in LaLiga, Spain's youth academies and coaching, this is a feast of football that you're sure to enjoy.Please like, comment, subscribe and rate as always. And remember you can follow Alex here, Lee here, and Sergi here, plus the official Bombazo account here.Thanks for listening!

Episode 6 of Bombazo is here and with both an entire weekend to look back on plus midweek games to preview it's bursting at the seams:– Alexandra Jonson details her interview with two Real Madrid legends at The Best Fifa awards in Milan (including former coach Santiago Solari), and we discuss whether Zinedine Zidane is now in the clear after saving a 'match ball' against Sevilla.– Following another man of the match display for Real Sociedad, Lee argues that Martin Ødegaard may just be the best playmaker in LaLiga this season. And with Alexander Isak scoring his first league goal, things are really looking up for Spain's two brightest Scandi talents. – With Barcelona now fully in crisis mode we consider Ernesto Valverde's future, and whether replacing him makes any sense considering the list of substitutions.– There's praise for high flying Athletic Club who top the table, and concern for Alavés who continue to struggle.– Lee explains why critics of Diego Simeone's use of Joao Felix are missing the past evidence of his success in the area...– We look ahead to the midweek games, including why Barcelona v Villarreal is the one Spanish fixture everyone who loves attacking football should make sure to watch, and how the forthcoming Madrid derby is shaping up to be a decisive date early on in the title race.Remember to follow the pod here, as well as Lee and Alex at their personal accounts. And as always, please leave a rating, review or comment. It's a huge help.Thanks for listening!

Episode 5 of Bombazo is here and this week the pod has been on the road for Matchday 4 in LaLiga:– Alexandra Jonson reports from the first ever game at the newly remodelled Anoeta, a thrilling 2-0 win for Real Sociedad over the only team who previously held a 100% win record, Atlético Madrid.– Alex speaks to Martin Ødegaard after the match, hearing his thoughts on the new stadium, how it feels to score against Atleti as a Real Madrid player, and detailing his relationship with Alexander Isak. – We get on board the Ansu Fati hype train. Or rather, we don't, looking at Bojan Krkic and other Barça players who got too much, too soon.– Alex chats about her final live game of the weekend, Real Betis v Getafe at the Benito Villamarin (plus Lee moans about why he'll never forgive that stadium).– We explain why Valencia have pushed the self-destruct button, and analyse the new developments regarding Real Madrid and their future women's team CD Tacón (who have a growing Swedish idol)– Then finally, we ask the big question on all of our minds: does Sergio Ramos look like a Swedish tourist?Don't forget to follow the pod here, as well as Lee and Alex at their personal accounts. And please, please leave a rating, review or comment. It helps immensely.Thanks for listening! 

Hate the international break? Episode 4 of Bombazo has so much content we're bursting at the seams. This week:– Looking back at FC Barcelona v CD Tacón. Should this really be treated as the women's 'Clásico' from day one just because of the history between the Barça and Real Madrid men's teams? Or does Atlético Madrid v Barça (the two dominant women's teams in Spain) deserve that accolade? – Samuel Eto'o has announced his retirement and we thought it was only fitting to pay a lengthy tribute to his time in LaLiga, including his key role in two of the greatest Barça sides ever, as well as his star role in the greatest Mallorca team full stop. Plus we also reflect on that transfer that may well be the worst deal ever done, and probably cost Pep Guardiola defending the Champions League.– Lee reports live from Sweden v Norway aka Alexander Isak v Martin Ødegaard, where there were positive signs on show for everyone. – We preview the biggest fixtures in LaLiga this weekend, all of which involve Scandinavians. First, Real Sociedad v Atlético Madrid, then Barcelona v Valencia (plus a nod to Real Madrid's injury troubles).– We answer listener questions...– ...and ask for your help with suggestions over our historic podcasts looking back at Larsson, Laudrup and the other great Scandinavians to play in Spain.Follow our individual Twitter accounts here and here, plus the official Bombazo account here, and please leave a rating or review if you enjoyed the show. 

Spain's transfer window is finally shut, and we've timed Episode Three of Bombazo to make sure we know all the details. This week....– Why Real Madrid and Valencia are our big transfer window losers (and just who is more annoyed: Zidane or Marcelino?)– We're cautiously optimistic that Real Sociedad and Atlético Madrid 'won' the transfer battle, on paper at least– Celta and Real Betis may just have pulled off a discretely brilliant summer... or alternatively, it could all be a disaster. We're not sure. – And Athletic Club... well, Athletic Club did nothing. And sometimes that's a good thing.Plus we round up the Scandinavian ins and outs from Spanish football, including a reflection over Sevilla's underrated Simon Kjær, and concerns over how much football John Guidetti and Pione Sisto will play this year.Make sure to follow us on Twitter, or alternatively at our personal accounts here and here. Finally, please, please leave a rating, like, or review. It's a huge help. Thanks for listening!

Every Monday Bombazo takes a look at the Scandinavians making waves in LaLiga, as well as offering our unique take on the biggest stories in Spanish football, and with perfect timing Episode 2 comes around just as a Norwegian stole the show. This week:– How Martin Ødegaard is already winning matches for Real Sociedad, and could Real Madrid already be in need of him?– How Alexander Isak is making Willian José look flat.– Are Atlético Madrid going to win the LaLiga title?– Why Antoine Griezmann's stunning show against Real Betis doesn't necessarily help Barcelona.– We run the rule over Real Madrid's new Swedish 'Galacticas'– And ask if Zinedine Zidane's men already have cause for concern.Plus there's Valencia's imminent implosion, Denis Suarez making Iago Aspas proud, the Basque derby, and an archaic reference that suggests Lee still lives in the 1990s.Follow us @bombazopod and make sure to leave us a positive rating if you enjoyed the show.

The debut episode of Bombazo is here!Every week, journalists Lee Roden and Alexandra Jonson take a Scandinavian perspective on all the LaLiga action, and look in depth at the many Nordic players now playing in Spain.On episode one:– Why we're going to see a lot more of Martin Ødegaard.– Do Barcelona need Neymar (and a brief Antoine Griez-moan)?– Are Real Madrid really back?– All aboard the Joao Felix hype train!– Why Alexander Isak should start for Real Sociedad.Plus awesome Aduriz, same old Valencia, Betis, Sevilla and much, much more.