La Liga Lowdown

The 2024/25 LaLiga season is officially over. It started with Athletic Club's 1-1 draw with Getafe on August 15, and it ended on May 25 with Barcelona's 3-0 victory over Los Leones. Join Ben Sully (@SullyBen) and Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) as they recap the final LaLiga matchday of the season.We kick off with Celta Vigo's narrow 2-1 away win over Getafe, as club legend Iago Aspas netted a late winner to seal Europa League football for Claudio Giráldez's side. Meanwhile, there was a pitch invasion over in Vallecas after Rayo Vallecano booked their place in the Conference League. A goalless draw was enough to clinch eighth spot as Osasuna failed to take three points off Alavés.The focus then turns to Espanyol's successful survival bid. A 2-0 victory over Las Palmas secured their safety and condemned Leganés to the second tier despite their win over basement side Real Valladolid.We then start part two with Kylian Mbappé's goals and Real Madrid's farewells. Carlo Ancelotti and Luka Modrić were among those to say their goodbyes in an emotional day at the Santiago Bernabéu. As for champions Barcelona, they wrapped up their treble-winning campaign with a dominant win over Athletic.Elsewhere, Alexander Sørloth continued his red-hot form with a hat-trick, Villarreal piled the misery on Sevilla, and Real Betis warmed up for the Conference League final with a draw against Valencia.Remember, you can head over to lllonline.substack.com to access all of our written and audio content. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The penultimate Matchday in LaLiga proved to to be dramatic and decisive in a ten-game multi-match thriller!Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) recap it all and decipher what it all means for the table and the ramifications.Villarreal went to the newly-crowned champions and got the win they needed to secure a coveted return to the Champions League. Barça didn't mind losing this one, as they were in full fiesta mode to receive the title trophy and say farewell to Montjuïc.Betis waved goodbye to their chances with a heavy defeat at Atlético, but their final is the Conference League next week. Julián Álvarez shone once again as compatriot Ángel Correa got a heavenly send-off of his own.Kylian Mbappé kept on scoring as Real Madrid beat nine-man Sevilla. All eyes are firmly on the Xabi Alonso reign now, as the signing of Dean Huijsen was also confirmed this weekend.In the European race, Rayo came from behind to win a massive six-pointer at Balaídos. Celta will be kicking themselves because it was all in their hands to qualify here, but they let their first chance slip. Osasuna beat Espanyol to stay in the hunt too: two teams will make Europe, one will miss out next week.At the bottom, Alavés and Getafe secured their respective statuses with narrow wins, but Espanyol must sweat another week after suffering a fifth consecutive defeat. From what looked like safety has become a shoot-out.Leganés maintained their survival hopes with a win at recently doomed Las Palmas. Both Lega and Espanyol face home games against Segunda-bound sides, so the drama is sure to be cranked up next weekend.Lastly, we salute Imanol Alguacil as he waved goodbye to his public with a win, sadly roo rare for Real Sociedad this season. Fittingly, Mikel Oyarzabal was on the scoresheet from the spot, while a youngster scored the winner. Imanol's tenure and legacy in a neat nutshell.With more to play for, keep up to speed by subscribing at lllonline.substack.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Four Clásicos. Four Barcelona victories. Barça took a decisive step towards clinching the title with another super-remontada in this epic season. Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and a jubilant Román De Arquer (@Aeroslavee) review everything from Montjuïc and around the country as we hurtle towards the finishing post.Real Madrid came flying out of the blocks but Hansi Flick's side were not to be beaten, roaring back to lead 4-2 at half time. Kylian Mbappé completed his hat-trick, but just like in the World Cup final, he was on the losing side. Just two points required, Barça could win it at the RCDE like two years ago.We analyse Barça's impressive performances, and ponder where Real Madrid go from here. Xabi Alonso is the short answer.In Part Two we review everything else from the weekend, including Alexander Sørloth's scoring blitz, a huge win for Leganés, worrying times for Sevilla in a relegation battle that continues to heat up, and dropped points for Betis in the race for the Champions League.For all of this and more, join us by subscribing at lllonline.substack.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Narrow wins in the title race and an epic battle in the quest to secure Champions League qualification. Join Ben Sully (@SullyBen) & Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) as they round up all the latest LaLiga action, including hard-fought victories for Barcelona and Real Madrid.A much-changed Barcelona side were forced to come from behind to maintain their unbeaten league record with a win over Real Valladolid. The Blaugrana will take a four-point lead into El Clásico after Real Madrid survived a late Celta Vigo fightback to claim a 3-2 victory at the Santiago Bernabéu.Meanwhile, the battle to secure Champions League qualification is heating up with just four points covering Athletic Club, Villarreal and Real Betis. Ayoze Pérez netted a brace to fire Villarreal to a 4-2 victory over Osasuna, while Athletic dropped two points in an underwhelming Basque derby. We kick off part two by discussing Antony's stunning strike to snatch all three points for Betis against Espanyol. Elsewhere, Valencia continued their fine run of form with a win over Las Palmas, as Sevilla and Leganés played out a draw that extends their respective winless runs. There is also time to quickly reflect upon Atleti's frustrating outing against Alavés and another 1-0 defeat for Getafe.Head over to lllonline.substack.com to access all of our content, including an array of written content and our weekly bonus podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Only two games to reflect on this weekend but one was an enthralling Copa del Rey final five-goal thriller!Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) discuss Barça's triumph and Real Madrid's reaction to yet another Clásico loss.Who were the standouts? Who should have stepped up? How does this affect Carlo Ancelotti's future? All of these questions are discussed and debated.In Part Two, we have a quick review of Villarreal's win over Espanyol to move back into 5th, plus look ahead to the European semi-finals, with Spanish sides alive in all three competitions.We end with a simple but big question: can Barça do the quadruple...?Subscribe for all the content at lllonline.substack.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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.Join us over at lllonline.substack.com, where you can access all of our written content and our weekly bonus podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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...Join us and subscribe at lllonline.substack.com for all our content, including the second legs of the European quarter-finals this week. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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.Subscribe for access to all of our content at lllonline.substack.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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.Make sure to join us over at lllonline.substack.com, and a big thank you for subscribing and supporting our content! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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. Join us over at lllonline.substack.com to access all of our written content and our weekly bonus podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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.Subscribe to our Substack at lllonline.substack.com for all of our content throughout the week. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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.Subscribe to our Substack to ensure you don't miss any of our additional content: lllonline.substack.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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.Remember, you can subscribe at lllonline.substack.com to access our weekly bonus podcast as well as all of our written content. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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.Subscribe to access all our content at lllonline.substack.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Could this be a title race for the ages? Join Ben Sully (@SullyBen) and Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee) as they look back at the action from Matchday 23, including all the drama at the top of the league table.Real Madrid had to settle for a draw in Saturday's derby clash with Atlético Madrid, opening the door for Barcelona in third position. We discuss the controversial moments from the Madrid derby, including THAT first-half penalty decision. Barcelona took full advantage of the draw, sweeping aside Sevilla to move to within two points of leaders Real Madrid. Is Diego Simeone right? Are Hansi Flick's charges the favourites to clinch the title? Meanwhile, we recap Oihan Sancet's memorable outing against Girona and a five-goal thriller at Balaídos.We kick off part two by reflecting upon Villarreal's 2-1 victory over Las Palmas and the show of support for Kirian Rodríguez. Elsewhere, Valencia boosted their survival hopes with a win over Leganés, Real Sociedad saw off Espanyol and Rayo continued their European push against basement side Real Valladolid. There was also joy for Getafe, as they collected three points and another clean sheet.Thank you for listening, and remember you can upgrade over at lllonline.substack.com to access all of our written content as well as our weekly bonus podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A fabulous weekend in LaLiga is recapped by Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG).The league leaders were stunned in Cornellà as Espanyol took advantage of their reprieves to snatch a late winner. Carlo Ancelotti said it was 'inexplicable' that Carlos Romero was still on the field to be able to score the only goal, but Espanyol (and Real's title rivals) were not concerned with that.Atleti celebrated Diego Simeone's 500th LaLiga match with a classic win to put themselves just one point behind their neighbours ahead of next week's tantalising derby. Barça suffered but were just about able to beat Alavés to stay in touch.As well as Espanyol, there was a huge win for Valencia at Mestalla, beating Celta to heat up the relegation battle and drag Celta into it. Anyone from 13th down must be looking worried.Rayo have their goalkeeper to thank for securing the win at local Leganés, who missed two chances to equalise from the spot. Rayo are flying high in 6th and were the only visiting side to win in MD22.Villarreal kept their quest for a top four finish alive with a thumping win over hapless Real Valladolid, who have conceded 47 goals, ten more than the next worst defence in the league.Osasuna showed Real Sociedad what a clinical goalscorer looks like with a deserved 2-1 win on the back of Ante Budimir's brace. Only Robert Lewandowski and Kylian Mbappé have scored more than the Croatian front man. Paco thinks time is soon up for Imanol, and colourfully compares managerial longevity to food going off in your fridge.The two most experienced coaches in LaLiga faced off at the Benito Villamarín as Manuel Pellegrini's Betis twice took the lead against Ernesto Valverde's Athletic, but Los Leones roared back twice to maintain their unbeaten run. Antony looked bright on debut for Los Verdiblancos, but his Manchester United counterpart Marcus Rashford won't be gracing LaLiga, opting instead for Unai Emery's Aston Villa.Ahead of Copa quarter-final week, subscribe with us at lllonline.substack.com for plenty more content. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matchday 21 saw a lot of equality in many of the results, but with a dollop of some heavy victories.Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) are here to review it all, commencing at Montjuïc, where Valencia suffered a chastening, historic defeat by seven goals to one.We discuss whether they have hit rock bottom, or whether this is the clearest sign yet that they won't be able to escape from relegation and their worst possible fears? The only bright spot was the return of Mouctar Diakhaby from injury.Barça were relieved to get three points in the league, but it only keeps them third, as Real Madrid continued to motor on at the top of the table. Kylian Mbappé's first hat-trick in the famous white was the headline in Valladolid, extending their lead to four points at the summit.Atleti dropped more points in their home game with Villarreal, but in truth, it could have been worse. Athletic Club failed to capitalise following a stalemate at San Mamés, as Leganés achieved another impressive defensive performance and result.In Part Two, we pay tribute to José Bordalás (yes, again), as his Getafe side shocked everyone by winning 3-0 away against La Real, rounding off a torrid week for Imanol Alguacil. Are his days at the helm numbered? 17% of Getafe's LaLiga goals this season came in the final 20 minutes of this game.If that was not enough, we talk Sevilla struggling, Jagoba Arrasate raging, and why Míchel wasn't happy with Rayo's President.Subscribe with us at lllonline.substack.com for all our content. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A weekend for the relegation candidates. Join Ben Sully (@SullyBen) & Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) as they recap up an eventful round of LaLiga action.Leganés proved to be LaLiga's giant killers once again, claiming a surprise win over Atlético Madrid to go with December's stunning victory over Barcelona. Meanwhile, Hansi Flick discovered how tricky a trip to the Coliseum can be, as Getafe held Barça to a draw in Saturday's encounter.Real Madrid ultimately took full advantage of Atleti and Barça's slip-ups, with Kylian Mbappé starring in a dominant performance against Las Palmas. There was also a win for Athletic Club, who moved level on points with Barcelona thanks to a successful trip to Balaídos.In part two, we discuss Kike García's perfect hat-trick at the Benito Villamarín as well as a crucial victory for Espanyol in their relegation six-pointer with Real Valladolid. Carlos Corberán celebrated his first league win as Valencia boss, while Dodi Lukebakio proved to be the hero for Sevilla. We then conclude our recap with a quick review of Rayo Vallecano's hard-fought point against Osasuna.Thanks for listening and remember you can access all of our audio and written content at lllonline.substack.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We have another stacked podcast to bring you at the start of another week

La Liga Lowdown is celebrating King's Night with another podcast. Join Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) to review the dramatic and eventful LaLiga match at Mestalla on Friday night before looking back on the weekend's Copa del Rey round, which included a few shocks.We begin at Mestalla for Carlos Corberán's debut, and things started well for Valencia, with Hugo Duro's goal giving them a deserved lead.Then there was the flash point moment when Vini Jr was sent off for raising his hands to goalkeeper Stole Dimitrievski.Luka Modrić came on for the ten men and grabbed a vital equaliser before Jude Bellingham (who else) took centre stage to snatch all three points for Carlo Ancelotti's side. Los Blancos move top of the table ahead of their congested week of fixtures.In Part Two, we review the Copa and salute Pontevedra, Almería, Elche and Ourense, who all knocked out LaLiga sides and will eagerly await the draw in anticipation.We end by looking forward to the Supercopa de España in Riyadh, although Paco probably won't be watching too closely.Subscribe for more content at lllonline.substack.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It was billed as the headline act and it certainly delivered. A monumental match at Montjuïc is our top story on this weekend's recap, featuring Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG).Did Atleti execute the perfect gameplan? Or were Barça unfortunate not to win given the chances they created? Either way, Diego Simeone is on top of the tree this Christmas, with LaLiga fans excited at the prospect of a three-horse race!Real Madrid also piled on the pressure, as they swept Sevilla aside in Jesús Navas' final game as a player. The emotional scenes overshadowed what ended up being a routine win for Carlo Ancelotti, but they looked somewhat closer to their best version.Athletic continued their fine form with a comeback win in Pamplona, leaving some to whisper that they might even be in the title conversation.Villarreal were involved in a 7-goal-thriller at Butarque, while Mallorca are quietly keeping pace with Marcelino's men.Diego Martínez continues to amaze with his saviour operation at Las Palmas, and there was an 80s pop theme in Vigo.At the bottom, Valencia just can't buy a win. Neither can Espanyol. They will be hoping the turn of the year brings a reversal in their fortunes.We want to wish all of our subscribers a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. ¡Feliz Navidad y Próspero Ano Nuevo! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Drama in the title race! Just one point separates the top three following a dramatic weekend in LaLiga. Join Ben Sully (@SullyBen) and Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) as they discuss all the action from matchday 17.Real Madrid had to settle for a point after they trailed by two and then led by one in Saturday's thrilling clash against Rayo Vallecano. As it proved, Los Blancos gained a point on leaders Barcelona, who suffered a shock defeat in their home game against relegation-threatened Leganés.Meanwhile, Atleti were made to work for three points by a dogged Getafe side, collecting a narrow win to move above Real Madrid and level on points with Barcelona. There was also plenty of drama in Sunday's clash at the Estadio de la Cerámica as 10-man Betis squeezed past Villarreal.Elsewhere, Jesús Navas said an emotional farewell to the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán, while Valencia's woes continued against Valladolid. There was also a precious point for Coudet's Alavés, a hard-fought win for 10-man Mallorca and a couple of goalless draws.Remember, you can subscribe to our Substack (lllonline.substack.com) to access all of our content, including our bonus podcast which will be out later this week. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Join (@SullyBen) and Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) as they recap an exciting weekend of LaLiga action, including big results in the race for the league title.Assane Diao's deft touch denied Barcelona maximum points in Saturday's gripping contest, allowing Real Madrid to close the gap to two points with a Jude Bellingham-inspired victory over Girona.This isn't a two-horse race, though, as Atlético Madrid showcased their title credentials in Sunday's comeback win against Sevilla. Away from the title race, Athletic Club made full use of the San Mamés factor to clinch a crucial win in the battle for Champions League qualification.In part two, we discuss Kike García's goalscoring return to El Sadar. We also reflect on Valencia's disappointing result against Rayo, Sandro's match-winning display against Valladolid and another win for rejuvenated Real Sociedad. Meanwhile, the evergreen Iago Aspas got on the scoresheet as Celta moved into the top half with a victory over Mallorca.Thanks for listening, and remember you can access all our content, including a weekly bonus podcast by subscribing at lllonline.substack.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matchday 15 provided more dramatic twists and turns in the title race, as well as plenty of action throughout the league table. It all began on Friday night, when Mallorca extended their fantastic start to the season by coming from behind to beat Valencia.A potentially pivotal Saturday in the race? Barcelona were celebrating their 125th birthday, but there was nothing left to enjoy on the pitch, as they lost 2-1 at home to Las Palmas. That's three without a win for Hansi Flick's men, with just one point from a possible nine, allowing the chasing Madrid pack back in the fight. Atleti took full advantage with a crushing 5-0 win in Valladolid, a result which saw them strike 11 goals on the road in the space of four days, and one which spelt the end of the road for Paulo Pezzolano, who was finally relieved of his duties at the Pucela helm. Real Madrid also put Anfield behind them with a comfortable enough 2-0 win over Getafe, with Jude Bellingham promoted to penalty taker. It was also a great weekend for Espanyol, and Athletic, the latter capping a superb week with a come-from-behind win at Rayo. Wth Villarreal involved in yet another 2-2 draw with late action, Los Leones took advantage to move up to 4th.Catch up on everything Spanish football by subscribing to our Substack at lllonline.substack.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matchday 14 was full of emotion and goals, topped on both counts at Mestalla.Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) unpick all the action from Matchday 14.Paco was at Mestalla for Valencia's first game since the devastating floods, and there was poignancy in large supply. The game was superb, too, with Los Che earning a much-needed win in a six-goal thriller.The headline partidazo of the weekend ended in favour of Athletic Club, as the Basque Derby points stayed with the hosts yet again.Barça stumbled in a chaotic last ten minutes at Balaídos, dropping two important points in the title race. Real Madrid took full advantage on Sunday to cut the gap to just four points – and Los Blancos have that game in hand.In Part Two, we salute Diego Simeone on reaching 700 games at the helm of Atleti, who celebrated in pure style with a healthy dollop of suffering.Elsewhere, there was a bizarre end to a five-goal show in Gran Canaria, five goals at Montilivi to leave Manolo González on the precipice, and four shared at El Sadar.Last but by no means least, there were also crucial home wins for Getafe and Sevilla. Paco might just be a fan of Allan Nyom's performance on Friday night.Subscribe to our Substack for plenty more Spanish football content as we head into another European midweek!Check us out at lllonline.substack.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ben Sully (@SullyBen) and Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee) recap Spain's triumphal international break with two more wins to seal the top spot in their Nations League group.As well as analysing the matches and those players that have stood out, they also look into some of Spain's future talents such as Marc Casadó and Samu A., who finally made their official debuts and have promising international careers ahead of them.Remember to subscribe to our Substack (lllonline.substack.com) to enjoy our daily output and to keep updated on all things related to LaLiga and the Spanish national team. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matchday 13 proved to be an unlucky one for Hansi Flick as his Barça side lost for just the second time in LaLiga this season. Join Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Román De Arquer (@Aeroslavee) as they reflect on Real Sociedad's surprise but well-deserved victory, preventing the Catalans from having a single shot on target.Elsewhere, Vini scored three goals, Real Madrid won three points, but also lost three players to injury, on a freak Saturday that saw players suffer ACL injuries in all three matches.Villarreal are looking good for a top four challenge, as their rivals Betis and Athletic both stumbled but rallied to get late draws.Atleti got another suffering single-goal victory in Mallorca, while Leganés put more pressure on Sevilla. Diego Martínez is enjoying life in the Canaries, successfully turning around Las Palmas with three wins in four.There is concern for Getafe, Alavés and Real Valladolid ahead of the final international break of 2024.Join us for more content at lllonline.substack.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Join Ben Sully (@SullyBen) and Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) to review a matchday that should have never happened.First and foremost, our thoughts are with everyone affected by the recent flash floods that have devastated the Valencian community. At the time of recording, the confirmed death toll sadly stands at over 200 while many more are missing. People have also seen homes, properties and land destroyed by the horrific natural disaster.If you want to help those affected, you can donate to the Red Cross via: https://cercadeti.cruzroja.es/ayudaafectadosinundacionesdanaPaco begins the podcast by describing the extent of the devastation. We also discuss the response of the authorities and the recent visit of the King, Queen and Prime Minister to the region. Our focus then turns to LaLiga and the decision to push ahead with the majority of the scheduled fixtures on matchday 12. In part two, we review the action that took place over the weekend. Barcelona claimed derby bragging rights to extend their lead at the top of the table. The Simeone family enjoyed a successful outing against Las Palmas, while Girona and Leganés put on a seven-goal thriller at Montilivi. Betis fought hard for a point at San Mamés, as Real Sociedad took maximum points from their trip to the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán. Meanwhile, Osasuna and Alavés both collected narrow wins in their respective fixtures.Remember, you can access all of our content by subscribing at https://lllonline.substack.com/. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Join Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee) to review 'El Clásico' and all the games that took place during Matchday 11.This weekend, LaLiga delivered some serious twists, with unexpected upsets, including a shocking 0-4 result at the Bernabéu. For any doubters, now we can confirm that Barça and their youngsters are the real deal, with a promising season ahead. In contrast, Carlo Ancelotti has a lot of work ahead of him to get Real Madrid to react and find a better way to integrate Kylian Mbappé.Down in the relegation zone, Las Palmas managed their second win in a row since Diego Martínez landed in the island, while Valencia held on to keep a point at Getafe and Real Valladolid suffered a late defeat at the hands of Ayoze Pérez and Villarreal. Leganés were the biggest winners of the weekend, handing a surprise 3-0 defeat to Celta and clambering out of the drop zone. All of this and other hard fought battles in our recap pod!Remember you can subscribe to our Substack for plenty more daily LaLiga content: https://lllonline.substack.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

LaLiga returned from the international break with another pulsating round of fixtures.Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) are here to reflect on it all as the top three all won in different ways, and a couple of surprises were found in unexpected places.Barça continue where they left off before the break: scoring lots of goals and winning matches comfortably. They swatted Sevilla aside with another brace from Robert Lewandowski, but surely the best part was Gavi's return after almost a year out injured. With Bayern and El Clásico next up for Hansi Flick, this was the perfect start to a testing week.Real Madrid also won, but struggled to take all three points from Balaídos. In the end, experience and individual quality came through, but Carlo Ancelotti may be concerned with the lack of rhythm in their playing style.Atleti also resemble something which has lots of shiny parts but no clear instructions on how to piece them together. Leganés gave them a scare in the partially-closed Metropolitano, but Alexander Sørloth's brace turned the game around.Athletic found home comforts easier to come by as they dispatched Espanyol, but Villarreal were made to pay the penalty against Getafe. Marcelino was raging post-game, and Paco sympathises, but only so far...There were also significant away wins for the Reals Valladolid, Betis and Sociedad, all of which leaves the middle of the table looking intriguing and tightly compacted. Perhaps the under-rated story of the season, however, is Mallorca, who are just one point off a Champions League spot as we approach November. Bravo Jagoba Arrasate.Subscribe to get all the reaction to the matches this week, which includes a battle at the bottom in LaLiga (Paco's beloved Valencia), plus a full round of European action. Join the fun at lllonline.substack.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Spain got the better of Denmark on Saturday night, courtesy of Martín Zubimendi's first international goal.Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) are back to review this game and look ahead to the clash with Serbia, in which Spain can qualify for the final stages of this edition of the Nations League. Which players caught the eye in the absence of so many starters from the Euros? Who will replace Lamine Yamal in the Serbia match? All of these questions are answered.There is also a quick round-up of Segunda's action, which as always featured plenty of goals and drama.Subscribe and upgrade to access all our content at lllonline.substack.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matchday nine produced several talking points ahead of the international window, including an express hat-trick and a stubborn nine-man resistance. Join Ben Sully (@SullyBen) and Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) as they look back at all the action that took place over the weekend.Robert Lewandowski continued his red-hot form with a rapid hat-trick in Barcelona's commanding victory over Alavés. Real Madrid also claimed maximum points, but their win over Villarreal was overshadowed by Dani Carvajal's serious knee injury. As for Atleti, they lost ground to the top two after Luka Sučić produced a sensational strike to rescue a point for Real Sociedad. At the Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán, García Pimienta claimed the spoils in his first experience of El Gran Derbi.In the second part, we focus on the penalty chaos at Montilivi and Espanyol's successful home outing. We then discuss Las Palmas' failure to break the resistance of nine-man Celta in what might have been Luis Carrión's final game in charge. Elsewhere, De Frutos starred for Rayo, Getafe played out another draw and Valencia fans expressed their frustration after Friday's forgettable clash with Leganés.Remember, you can subscribe to our Substack (lllonline.substack.com) to keep up with all our content over the international break. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Give our latest pod a listen, and join the conversation between Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee) as they look into all the LaLiga encounters from Matchday 8.El Derbi Madrileño left plenty of talking points, with a game packed with tension, controversy, a temporary suspension, and even a late goal from the home side. Neither of the two sides managed to shine, and are only a single point closer to league leaders, Barça. Osasuna ended Hansi Flick's winning streak with a brave and outstanding performance, proving to be a very tough cookie when playing at home.They also review Getafe's first win, Real Sociedad's slow, yet steady improvement and pose the following question: is Gio Lo Celso be the best signing of the season? So far, he might be... scoring week in, week out for Betis and helping the team grab some essential points. All this and much more in our recap pod! Remember you can subscribe to our Substack for plenty more daily LaLiga content: https://lllonline.substack.com/. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Join Ben Sully (@SullyBen) and Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) as they round up all the action from matchday six of the 2024/25 LaLiga season. Five-star Barcelona continued their perfect start to the league campaign with a sizeable victory over Villarreal. The entertaining affair delivered braces, disallowed goals and a missed penalty as Barça bounced back from the defeat to Monaco.Elsewhere, Real Madrid fought back from a goal down to dispatch Espanyol, while their city rivals Atlético Madrid dropped a couple of points against a determined Rayo Vallecano side. Meanwhile, Athletic Club warmed up for a trip to the Italian capital with a home victory over Aspas & company.Valencia ended their long wait for a win, while Alaves piled the pressure on Sevilla boss García Pimienta. There was also a derby draw, another Las Palmas defeat and a frustrating outing for Real Sociedad.Remember, you can subscribe to our Substack (lllonline.substack.com) to access all our content, including this week's bonus podcast which will cover the midweek action in LaLiga. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Wins galore, penalties, red cards, maiden goals and a hat-trick - LaLiga matchday 5 had it all. Join Ben Sully (@SullyBen) and Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) as they look back at all the action that took place over the weekend.Lamine Yamal starred for flawless Barcelona, while Real Madrid made Real Sociedad pay the penalty for numerous missed chances. Conor Gallagher and Julián Alvarez scored their first LaLiga goals as Atleti piled more misery on Valencia. There was also another late winner for unbeaten Villarreal, who look set to challenge for the top four.Elsewhere, there was a hat-trick of assists for Athletic Club's Iñaki Williams and a perfect hat-trick for Espanyol's Javi Puado. Celta enjoyed another successful home outing, while García Pimienta celebrated a win and Vitor Roque ended his long wait for a LaLiga goal.Remember, you can subscribe to our Substack (lllonline.substack.com) where we will review all the Champions League action in our bonus podcast later this week. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Spain bounced back from their Serbian stalemate in the best possible fashion on Sunday night. Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) unite to discuss the international break at length.Luis de la Fuente's side produced a superb all-round performance to beat Switzerland 4-1 in Geneva, despite playing for over an hour with ten men.Spain raced out of the blocks, with Joselu quickly reminding everyone that he can still provide the answer as Spain's number 9. Lamine Yamal produced yet another goal contribution, leading Paco to make a bold prediction for his season's total output, while comparing him to a certain former Barça player...Fabián continued his fine form with Spain's second inside the first quarter of an hour. Robin Le Normand's dismissal (harsh, but we are biased) changed the picture, and the hosts pulled one back before the break.Spain suffered in the second half, finishing with their lowest possession ever recorded. But they were clinical when they did have the ball: Ferran Torres showed his shark-like killer instincts in the pouring rain as he produced an assist and a goal to seal the victory.We also discuss the Segunda weekend, including Paco's trip to Elda on Sunday night. You won't want to miss out on that!This pod is free, but by subscribing, you can gain access to so much more content throughout the week. Head to lllonline.substack.com to find out more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Review all the fantastic LaLiga action with Ben Sully (@SullyBen) and Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee) in our pod for matchday 4.There's plenty to go through, starting with Mbappé's scoring debut in LaLiga. Two crucial goals ensure three points against Betis and carry 'los blancos' all the way up to second position in the standings. Barça, on the other hand, thrashed Valladolid and are looking stronger than ever despite the (for many) disappointing transfer window.Sevilla are feeling the heat as another home defeat brings back not too distant memories of suffering, after losing to an improving Girona. Meanwhile, the Valencian derby ended 1-1, with Villarreal clinging on to a draw after losing a player in the second half.Find all this and so much more in our pod and remember, you can access all our content throughout the 2024-25 campaign by upgrading at lllonline.substack.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

No Olmo, no problem. Barcelona make it two wins in two despite being without the services of their star signing. Join Ben Sully (@SullyBen) and Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) as they discuss Barcelona's successful outing as well as the other nine matches from matchday two.While Barça maintained their 100% record, city rivals Real Madrid and Atleti celebrated 3-0 victories in their respective home matches. However, there was to be no win in García Pimienta's first home match as ex-Betis forward Ayoze Pérez proved to be Villarreal's hero against Sevilla.In part two, we discuss super Celta, Kubo's statement and Arrasate's unsuccessful return to El Sadar. There was also a win for Leganés and a typical Bordalás performance.Remember, you can access all our articles and bonus podcasts by upgrading your subscription at http://lllonline.substack.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

LaLiga is back! Join Ben Sully (@SullyBen) and Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee) as they round up all the action from matchday one.We discuss Real Madrid's underwhelming start to their title defence and Barcelona's hard-fought victory at Mestalla. Atlético Madrid's Alexander Sørloth celebrated his return to Estadio de la Cerámica with a goal, while a LaLiga debutant stole the show for Getafe and Rayo Vallecano claimed a surprise win over Real Sociedad.In the second part, we focus on Míchel's new-look Girona side and García Pimienta's Sevilla bow against his former employers. There was also plenty of time to laud the evergreen Iago Aspas and focus on the three newly promoted clubs.Remember, you can access all our content throughout the 2024-25 campaign by upgrading at lllonline.substack.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hot on the heels of the Paris Olympics, football returns to Spain as LaLiga is back this week.Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Román De Arquer (@Aeroslavee) preview the campaign with some exciting new faces and uncertainty at many of the clubs.Hansi Flick is in the Barça hotseat. Can he revitalise the Catalans to challenge Real Madrid for the title? What about the impact of Kylian Mbappé? A signing that has been coming for years, Los Blancos finally have him, but how will he perform?Atleti have had a busy summer of departures and potential arrivals? Can they challenge again?How will Girona fare with key players gone and Champions League football to content with?Athletic, La Real, Betis, Villarreal, Sevilla – can any of those push on into the top four?We also discuss the rest of the clubs, including the three promoted sides. It feels hard to predict where things will end up, but we are excited to get back underway!Join us on Substack for even more exclusive content for just €5 per month – lllonline.substack.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We officially put an end to the season with our recap pod of the Euro 2024 final between Spain and England.But such a special game deserved a special pod, which is why we brought together Matt Clark (@MattClark_08), Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG), Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee) and Ben Sully (@SullyBen) to cover all the angles and opinions.In fact, Paco was at the final in Berlin to give us his insight and share his unforgettable experience. All four review the match, the standout players, and provide the keys to Spain's success during the whole tournament. They also relive Spain's post-match celebrations and talk about England and whether it'll ever be coming home...For more Spanish football, subscribe with us at lllonline.substack.com and get ready for what's coming in the 2024/25 season! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Spain march on, all the way to Berlin for the grand final of the Euros, after beating one of the pre-tournament favourites, France.Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee) celebrate Spain's latest triumph and the sensational form of Lamine Yamal, still just 16 years old. A goal for the ages saw Spain draw level, before Dani Olmo – another unexpected standout of the tournament – scored the winner.We praise Luis de la Fuente and his work in winning all six matches so far, before looking ahead to Sunday's final against England.They came from behind in their semi against the Netherlands, as they have had to do in each of their knockout matches. Can they upset the form book and win the entire tournament, or will Spain's class shine through in Berlin?Catch up on all the Euros pods so far, and subscribe with us at lllonline.substack.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Spain triumphed over the hosts to reach the final four of Euro 2024, where they will face France in a heavyweight semi-final.Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Ben Sully (@SullyBen) reflect on the dramatic 120 minutes of action in Stuttgart, before looking ahead to the French clash.Joselu said in the build-up they wanted to retire Toni Kroos, but it was actually Pedri who was forced to leave the field early, courtesy of a bad challenge from Kroos himself. In an ill-tempered first half, Robin Le Normand saw himself suspended for the semis against the country of his birth.Dani Olmo broke the deadlock early in the second half, thanks to yet another assist from the prodigious Lamine Yamal. Luis de la Fuente took both wingers off, a gamble that almost backfired when Florian Wirtz equalised late in the game.Extra time ticked by and it looked like penalties awaited, but up stepped Olmo to cross for fellow sub Mikel Merino to head home, reminiscent of Carles Puyol's momentous testazo in Durban in 2010.Despite the dramatic chaos of the moment, Merino had the presence of mind to replicate a celebration performed by his father in the same stadium 33 years ago. A precious moment for him and all Spanish fans. We include the fabulous commentary from Antonio Muelas Aberasturi from Radio Nacional de España.In Part Two we look ahead to the semis, talking Kylian Mbappé and the other strong LaLiga links in the French team, and Didier Deschamps' blasé attitude to his critics.We applaud the powerful political statements made by many of the French players, in contrast to Unai Simon's recent dead-batting of similar questions.Can't wait for the semis? Check out our other content at lllonline.substack.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.