On The Continent - A European Football Podcast

After some questionable performances in the previous stage of the Champions League, many doubted whether PSG could retain their European crown. But after such a dominant showing in the first leg of their quarter-final tie against Liverpool, what's stopping them from going all the way to Budapest?Dotun & Andy are joined by David Cartlidge to break it down. We also talk about Manuel Neuer's place among Europe's greatest goalkeepers, the possibility of Jadon Sancho returning to Borussia Dortmund, and Italy's next head coach (according to Antonio Conte).Ask us a question on X, Instagram and TikTok, and email us here: otc@footballramble.com.For ad-free shows, head over to our Patreon and subscribe: patreon.com/footballramble.***Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!*** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Atlético Madrid pulled off a shock victory at Camp Nou for the first time since 2006! So, how did they do it and what do they have to do in the second leg to secure their place in the final four?David Cartlidge joins Dotun & Andy to discuss that. Plus, Bayern Munich get a big win at the Bernabéu - all credit to Vincent Kompany and his side, or was the defeat a self-inflicted one for Los Blancos? And finally, a tribute to one of football's greatest men, Mircea Lucescu, who has sadly died at the age of 80.Ask us a question on X, Instagram and TikTok, and email us here: otc@footballramble.com.For ad-free shows, head over to our Patreon and subscribe: patreon.com/footballramble.***Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!*** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We've all heard the term ‘Project Mbappé'. It's used to describe parents pushing their children into football from a young age, inspired by Kylian Mbappé's father, Wilfrid. But beneath it lies a far more deliberate story - one of meticulous planning, hyper-analysis, and a career mapped out long before Mbappé had even played professional football.Andy is joined by Philippe Auclair, author of The Mbappé Project: Making a Superstar, to explore how one of the sport's biggest players was shaped from the age of six. Every decision. Every interview. Every sponsorship. All of it, carefully calculated from the very beginning.Ask us a question on X, Instagram and TikTok, and email us here: otc@footballramble.com.For ad-free shows, head over to our Patreon and subscribe: patreon.com/footballramble.***Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!*** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After failing to return to training, Romelu Lukaku's future at Napoli hangs in the balance. It seems unbelievable given his relationship with Antonio Conte, but is Lukaku's absence reflective of his time in Naples?Nicky Bandini stands first in line to answer that as she joins Dotun and Andy to answer more of your questions! Could Nico Schlotterbeck be on the move? How has Ashley Cole performed at Cesena? And if you had to watch just one country's football forever, which would it be?Ask us a question on X, Instagram and TikTok, and email us here: otc@footballramble.com.For ad-free shows, head over to our Patreon and subscribe: patreon.com/footballramble.***Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!*** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Yet another disastrous qualification campaign has ended with Italy failing to reach the World Cup for the third successive time. First under Gian Piero Ventura in 2017, then in 2022 with Roberto Mancini, and now in 2026 under the management of Gennaro Gattuso.Nicky Bandini joins Dotun and Andy to express her disappointment, but it's not all doom and gloom! There was euphoria for Sweden, Türkiye, and the Czech Republic as they all qualified to play in North America. And finally, back in club football, Bayern Munich's Harry Kane is out with an injury sustained while on international duty. Can they compete without their star man up top?Ask us a question on X, Instagram and TikTok, and email us here: otc@footballramble.com.For ad-free shows, head over to our Patreon and subscribe: patreon.com/footballramble.***Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!*** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The news of Mohamed Salah's Liverpool exit reverberated across the football world. Some have linked him to the Saudi Pro League, others to MLS - but would staying in Europe actually be his best move? And if so, where should he go next?Nicky Bandini joins Andy and Dotun to tackle more of your questions. Were Ligue 1 right to accommodate PSG's Champions League schedule? Could Jürgen Klopp return to coaching? And what are Austria's chances at the World Cup?Ask us a question on X, Instagram and TikTok, and email us here: otc@footballramble.com.For ad-free shows, head over to our Patreon and subscribe: patreon.com/footballramble.***Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!*** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Italy, we send you one simple message ahead of your World Cup play-off semi-final against Northern Ireland tonight. Please, all you have to do is not screw it up. But will it really be as straight forward as it should - emphasis on SHOULD - be for a nation that hasn't been at the world's biggest tournament since 2014?Nicky Bandini joins Dotun and Andy to share her anxiety. Plus, after La Liga's most drawn out transfer story of all time, Antoine Griezmann is finally set to leave Atlético Madrid for Orlando City in the summer! How will he be remembered at the Metropolitano? And Endrick, now at Lyon, is back in the Brazil squad. But please, let's not make the obvious Pelé comparisons... or maybe we just can't help ourselves!Ask us a question on X, Instagram and TikTok, and email us here: otc@footballramble.com.For ad-free shows, head over to our Patreon and subscribe: patreon.com/footballramble.***Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!*** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There was a time when De Klassieker represented the very best that Dutch football had to offer. Long gone are the days of Frenkie de Jong, Wesley Sneijder, Dirk Kuyt and of course the countless Netherlands legends who passed through Feyenoord and Ajax in the 20th century. What we're left with are two sides nowhere near the standard of title contenders.Andy is joined by Dutch journalist Kalum van Oudheusden - who was at the game - to dissect all the biggest talking points. Is time running out for Robin van Persie? What has happened to Ajax's legendary youth academy? And is Raheem Sterling living up to the lofty expectations placed on him?Ask us a question on X, Instagram and TikTok, and email us here: otc@footballramble.com.For ad-free shows, head over to our Patreon and subscribe: patreon.com/footballramble.***Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!*** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dotun, Andy and Miguel Delaney are here to answer more of your questions after another wonderfully chaotic week of European football. They start with another disappointing exit for Galatasaray and ask what can be done to improve their fortunes on future European adventures. Plus: exciting times at Málaga, the transfer futures of Enzo Fernández and Troy Parrott, and Joan Laporta's return to Barcelona!Ask us a question on X, Instagram and TikTok, and email us here: otc@footballramble.com.For ad-free shows, head over to our Patreon and subscribe: patreon.com/footballramble.***Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!*** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The wheat has truly been separated from the chaff in the Champions League. Atlético Madrid face Barcelona in an all-Spanish quarter-final - will Diego Simeone finally break their European duck?Miguel Delaney joins Dotun and Andy for a blockbuster Champions League show. Can Real Madrid find a way past the indomitable Bayern Munich? Plus, why are Sporting flying under everyone's radar?Ask us a question on X, Instagram and TikTok, and email us here: otc@footballramble.com.For ad-free shows, head over to our Patreon and subscribe: patreon.com/footballramble.***Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!*** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Five goals, a Raphinha hat-trick, Gavi returning to action, and still resting some legs: Barcelona couldn't have asked for a better prelude to their Champions League second leg against Newcastle.Andy and David discuss their 5-2 victory over Sevilla in a game that – once more – put the importance of Raphinha to this team in block capitals. More surprising was the return of vintage João Cancelo. Did this game show why Barcelona must try to sign him permanently? We also take a closer look at Sevilla's woes and discuss how Barcelona might try and neutralise – or avoid – Newcastle's physicality on Wednesday night.Ask us a question on X, Instagram and TikTok, and email us here: otc@footballramble.com.For ad-free shows, head over to our Patreon and subscribe: patreon.com/footballramble.***Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!*** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For a long time, Federico Valverde was used in a deep role for Real Madrid. But after scoring a blockbuster hat-trick against Manchester City in the Champions League, has he been playing in the wrong position all along? Could he become a mainstay in Real's attack?Andy and Dotun are joined by Lars Sivertsen to decipher that. Also, what will Julian Brandt's legacy be at Borussia Dortmund? Are OGC Nice Ligue 1's answer to Tottenham Hotspur? And why are Lazio facing an off-field crisis?Ask us a question on X, Instagram and TikTok, and email us here: otc@footballramble.com.For ad-free shows, head over to our Patreon and subscribe: patreon.com/footballramble.***Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!*** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The French media were insistent that Paris Saint-Germain came into their game against Chelsea as underdogs. Well, they certainly proved those critics wrong. A display of incredible resilience has put the Parisians firmly in the driving seat ahead of their return leg at Stamford Bridge. Somehow, are the defending champions the dark horse to win it all?Lars Sivertsen joins Dotun and Andy to heap praise on Luis Enrique's side. Plus, a demolition job from the unstoppable force that is Bayern Munich and Bodø/Glimt shock the world... again.Ask us a question on X, Instagram and TikTok, and email us here: otc@footballramble.com.For ad-free shows, head over to our Patreon and subscribe: patreon.com/footballramble.***Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!*** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We thought the door was shut, but have Milan blown the Serie A title race wide open again? Victory for the red side of Milan against their city rivals has certainly given Inter something to think about. Only seven points are in it with ten games to play. Can Max Allegri's side do the unthinkable and challenge Inter for the Scudetto?Nicky Bandini joins Andy to dissect a game which may well have huge consequences for who is crowned champions of Italy come the end of the season.Ask us a question on X, Instagram and TikTok, and email us here: otc@footballramble.com.For ad-free shows, head over to our Patreon and subscribe: patreon.com/footballramble.***Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!*** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

At Real Madrid, losing isn't acceptable. Drawing isn't acceptable. Conceding can feel like failure. Álvaro Arbeloa has done the unthinkable: two defeats in a row - first to Osasuna, then to Getafe at the Bernabéu. So, how tenuous is the Spaniard's position?Dotun and Andy are joined by David Cartlidge to answer that. Also, could Oliver Glasner replace Jürgen Klopp at Red Bull? Why did Flamengo sack Filipe Luís after he won the double? And we reveal the real reason that so many Scandinavian players are heading to the Primeira Liga.Find us on Bluesky, X, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube, and email us here: show@footballramble.com.Sign up to the Football Ramble Patreon for ad-free shows for just $5 per month: https://www.patreon.com/footballramble.***Please take the time to rate us on your podcast app. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!*** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In typical Atlético Madrid style, Diego Simeone's side have dragged themselves into the Copa del Rey final kicking and screaming. Only this Atleti team could turn a 4-0 lead from the first leg into a nerve-wracking finish. But their fans won't care!David Cartlidge joins Dotun and Andy to discuss what that result means for both Atleti and Barça. Plus, Bayer Leverkusen get a much-needed win to keep them in the fight for the Champions League places, and Marseille have the most Marseille week after two vastly different results at the Vélodrome.Find us on Bluesky, X, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube, and email us here: show@footballramble.com.Sign up to the Football Ramble Patreon for ad-free shows for just $5 per month: https://www.patreon.com/footballramble.***Please take the time to rate us on your podcast app. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!*** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There's no 'good time' to play Bayern Munich, but in the form they've been in this season, any Bundesliga side would rightly head into that game expecting a thrashing. Borussia Dortmund gave them a right good go! Ultimately though, there simply is no stopping the juggernaut that Vincent Kompany has assembled.Archie Rhind-Tutt was at Signal Iduna Park and joined Andy Brassell to dissect a thriller in North Rhine-Westphalia.Ask us a question on X, Instagram and TikTok, and email us here: otc@footballramble.com.For ad-free shows, head over to our Patreon and subscribe: patreon.com/footballramble.***Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!*** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's no exaggeration to say that this season has been calamitous for Italian football. Almost every Serie A team is out of the Champions League, the national team faces a World Cup playoff, and the stadia are decaying. So how did it all go wrong, and more importantly, how can things be put right?David Cartlidge joins Andy and Dotun to answer that. Also, the guys discuss Real Madrid's historic associations with the far-right, Barcelona's presidency, and the chances of Paris FC avoiding a relegation scrap.Ask us a question on Twitter, Instagram and TikTok, and email us here: otc@footballramble.com.For ad-free shows, head over to our Patreon and subscribe: patreon.com/footballramble.***Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!*** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It was a night of comebacks in the Champions League. Atalanta succeeded in knocking Borussia Dortmund off of their perch, and Juventus came oh so close to producing a classic in Turin. After the curtain fell though, just one of Italy's four teams made it through to the next round. Is Italian football in crisis?David Cartlidge joins Dotun and Andy to debate that. Plus, Bodø/Glimt make history after dismantling Serie A's Champions elect. Just how did they do it? And things are heating up in the race for the top four in Germany. Will it be Stuttgart, Leipzig or Leverkusen who snatch the last Champions League position?Ask us a question on Twitter, Instagram and TikTok, and email us here: otc@footballramble.com.For ad-free shows, head over to our Patreon and subscribe: patreon.com/footballramble.***Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!*** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It was advantage PSG after a close first leg, so no wonder they were rattled after Monaco took the lead at the Parc des Princes. Despite a late Parisian comeback, Monaco's promising left us thinking: why did they take their foot off the gas? And, after a nervy start, can PSG retain their European crown?On a wild night in the Champions League, join Andy and Jonathan Johnson live in Paris to dissect a confusing Monaco, a decisive sending-off and a resurgent PSG, who ensured their progression to the round of 16Ask us a question on Twitter, Instagram and TikTok, and email us here: otc@footballramble.com.For ad-free shows, head over to our Patreon and subscribe: patreon.com/footballramble.***Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!*** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

'Idiots' was the term that Karl-Heinz Rummenigge used to describe Newcastle after they paid £69m for German striker Nick Woltemade. Six months into his Newcastle career and he has seven Premier League goals - a mixed return. With reports of unrest and speculation mounting over a possible exit, was Rummenigge right?Dotun, Andy and Nicky Bandini are here to offer their assessment. Also, is the Serie A title race over? Could the European Super League return? And, why did 50,000 people attend FC Köln's under-19 match against Inter?Ask us a question on Twitter, Instagram and TikTok, and email us here: otc@footballramble.com.For ad-free shows, head over to our Patreon and subscribe: patreon.com/footballramble.***Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!*** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Champions League's 'Big Boys' are well used to giving the competition's smaller teams a spanking... but not this week! Up in the Arctic Circle Bodø/Glimt pulled off another shock by beating Inter 3-1, and Atlético Madrid were punished too after drawing 3-3 at Club Brugge on Wednesday. Won't the real big boys please stand up!Nicky Bandini joins Dotun and Andy to discuss a chaotic midweek of action. Are Juventus out of Europe already? Can Galatasaray continue ruffling the proverbial feathers, and - away from the Champions League - why can't Barcelona grind out the results their team is more than capable of?Ask us a question on Twitter, Instagram and TikTok, and email us here: otc@footballramble.com.For ad-free shows, head over to our Patreon and subscribe: patreon.com/footballramble.***Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!*** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Inter 3-2 Juventus sounds like a fascinating game on paper, but my goodness me, that doesn't tell nearly half the story.Nicky Bandini joins Andy to discuss a classic at San Siro. Will Pierre Kalulu's red card be a turning point for modern football? Have Inter wrapped up the title? And are Juventus still top four contenders? We discuss it all.Ask us a question on Twitter, Instagram and TikTok, and email us here: otc@footballramble.com.For ad-free shows, head over to our Patreon and subscribe: patreon.com/footballramble.***Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!*** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After an acrimonious exit from North London, could a future on mainland Europe be the perfect next step for Thomas Frank as he looks to regain his managerial reputation?Lars Sivertsen joins Andy and Dotun to deliver a damning verdict. Also, could Real Madrid secure another Borussia Dortmund alumnus in Nico Schlotterbeck? Will Óscar García lay the foundations for an Ajax rebuild? And, on the eve of Valentines day, what is the most romantic European stadium to visit?Ask us a question on Twitter, Instagram and TikTok, and email us here: otc@footballramble.com.For ad-free shows, head over to our Patreon and subscribe: patreon.com/footballramble.***Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!*** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Who could have known that after all this time, it is us who moves the thumb to signal the demise of managers in Europe. After Jonathan Johnson joined Andy earlier this week to discuss Marseille's mauling at the Parc des Princes, Roberto De Zerbi has left the Stade Vélodrome by mutual consent.Today however, it's Lars Sivertsen who accompanies Dotun and Andy to discuss the news of his departure. Plus, Antonio Conte puts a penny in the swear jar after Napoli's Coppa Italia exit, and the title race heats up in the Primeira Liga.Ask us a question on Twitter, Instagram and TikTok, and email us here: otc@footballramble.com.For ad-free shows, head over to our Patreon and subscribe: patreon.com/footballramble.***Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!*** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Le Classique is rarely a close affair, but 5-0 is a result that nobody could have predicted. Marseille totally outclassed by PSG in a night that could have some serious implications.Jonathan Johnson joins Andy to assess the current state of the Ligue 1 title race, the future of Roberto De Zerbi, Pablo Longoria & Medhi Benatia at Marseille, and whether we still have a title race in France.Ask us a question on Twitter, Instagram and TikTok, and email us here: otc@footballramble.com.For ad-free shows, head over to our Patreon and subscribe: patreon.com/footballramble.***Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!*** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In 2018, FIFA member states voted overwhelmingly to give the USA, Canada and Mexico hosting rights for the 2026 World Cup, a decision hailed as historic for the sport's breakthrough into the US mainstream. Eight years later, there are renewed calls for UEFA to boycott the tournament after Donald Trump made clear his intention to potentially invade Greenland - but how realistic is this prospect?Miguel Delaney joins Dotun and Andy to ruminate on that. Also on the show, will we see the N'Golo Kanté of old at Fenerbahçe? And can Sporting capitalise on a Porto loss as they approach a crucial six-pointer?Find us on Bluesky, X, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube, and email us here: show@footballramble.com.Sign up to the Football Ramble Patreon for ad-free shows for just $5 per month: https://www.patreon.com/footballramble.***Please take the time to rate us on your podcast app. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!*** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

And breathe... the league phase of the Champions League is finally over, which means we can get back to some domestic action! So what is the state of play in the title races of Europe's biggest leagues?Miguel Delaney joins Dotun and Andy to discuss the runners and riders in La Liga, Serie A and the Bundesliga. Could we be in for some shocks as we enter the season's final months?Find us on Bluesky, X, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube, and email us here: show@footballramble.com.Sign up to the Football Ramble Patreon for ad-free shows for just $5 per month: https://www.patreon.com/footballramble.***Please take the time to rate us on your podcast app. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!*** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In perhaps the most important January transfer window of the last few years, with a World Cup on the horizon, there wasn't a huge amount of movement in the market, but why was that?There was some movement in the market though, so Miguel Delaney joins Andy to discuss Ademola Lookman's move to Atletico Madrid, Jean-Philippe Mateta's failed medical at Milan, and a busy day for Roberto De Zerbi at Marseille.Ask us a question on Twitter, Instagram and TikTok, and email us here: otc@footballramble.com.For ad-free shows, head over to our Patreon and subscribe: patreon.com/footballramble.***Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!*** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After a seven-year hiatus, Tammy Abraham is back in the Premier League, at Unai Emery's Aston Villa. His sabbatical wasn't an unpleasant one - stints with Roma, AC Milan and Beşiktaş - but is he coming back to England as a better striker, or will he play second fiddle to Ollie Watkins?Dotun is joined by Andy and Jonathan Johnson to get into the weeds of that. Also, do Atlético Madrid have any chance in the Champions League qualifiers? Is Sevilla the right fit for Neal Maupay? And why is Charlie Cresswell the talk of the town?Ask us a question on Twitter, Instagram and TikTok, and email us here: otc@footballramble.com.For ad-free shows, head over to our Patreon and subscribe: patreon.com/footballramble.***Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!*** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the words of Dotun Adebayo. Wow, wow, wow. We know the Champions League never disappoints, but did anybody expect to see the drama that unfolded last night? Friend of the show Anatoliy Trubin scored a magnificent diving header to keep Benfica in the competition. So how big of a moment is this for Benfica, and could they do something special in the knock-out phases?Jonathan Johnson joins Dotun and Andy to discuss the best of the Champions League action from Wednesday. Plus, Endrick makes a splash in Ligue 1, and Porto are invincible!Ask us a question on Twitter, Instagram and TikTok, and email us here: otc@footballramble.com.For ad-free shows, head over to our Patreon and subscribe: patreon.com/footballramble.***Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!*** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's fair to say that 1-1 doesn't nearly tell the full story of Roma's draw with Milan. A pulsating game between the two sides vying with Inter for the title ended level, but what does it tell us about the state of play in Serie A?Nicky Bandini joins Andy for the debrief. Have Milan shown they're not yet ready for a title challenge? Are Roma on their way to becoming something quite special? And has this opened the door for Inter to run away with it?Ask us a question on Twitter, Instagram and TikTok, and email us here: otc@footballramble.com.For ad-free shows, head over to our Patreon and subscribe: patreon.com/footballramble.***Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!*** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It was around 8:30pm when the referee blew the final whistle in the Aspmyra Stadion, marking the most historic night in Bodø/Glimt's existence: a 3-1 win against Pep Guardiola's Manchester City. The night and the celebrations that followed will live long in the memory, but as Bodø stare down the barrel of certain elimination from the Champions League, could they have done more in the competition? Nicky Bandini joins Andy and Dotun to answer that plus more of your continental queries! The guys ponder Barcelona's potential vulnerability, Ethan Nwaneri's loan to Marseille, and how Jean-Philippe Mateta could potentially fit into Luciano Spalletti's Juventus. Ask us a question on Twitter, Instagram and TikTok, and email us here: otc@footballramble.com.For ad-free shows, head over to our Patreon and subscribe: patreon.com/footballramble.***Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!*** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bayern Munich just will not stop winning! So why isn't anybody talking them up as genuine Champions League challengers? With Vincent Kompany's side second in the league phase, and 11 points top of the Bundesliga, do they have what it takes to bring Europe's top prize back to the Allianz Arena this May?Nicky Bandini joins Dotun and Andy to debate that. Plus, why are Monaco and Marseille letting the side down when it comes to French clubs impressing in Europe, and just how important could Donyell Malen be for Roma after his stellar Serie A debut?Ask us a question on Twitter, Instagram and TikTok, and email us here: otc@footballramble.com.For ad-free shows, head over to our Patreon and subscribe: patreon.com/footballramble.***Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!*** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If you're sitting second in Serie A, January should be about strengthening for a title push - not gambling on an out-of-form, injury-prone striker. Yet, AC Milan have done exactly that with the loan signing of Niclas Füllkrug. Is he worth the risk?Lars Sivertsen joins Dotun and Andy to debate that. Plus, are French clubs at risk from the multi-club model? Will Roma's big bet on Robinio Vaz pay off? Has Roberto De Zerbi's time at Marseille boosted or damaged his job prospects? And why have Ajax signed Zlatan Ibrahimović's son?Ask us a question on Twitter, Instagram and TikTok, and email us here: otc@footballramble.com.For ad-free shows, head over to our Patreon and subscribe: patreon.com/footballramble.***Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!*** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Eight months was all it took for Xabi Alonso to be given the boot by Real Madrid. Was he doomed from the very start? Is Álvaro Arbeloa the man to replace him in the long-term? And have we got the stage where Real Madrid need to address a fundamental identity crisis?Those are the questions Dotun, Andy & Lars Sivertsen are here to mull over. Plus, Bayern Munich continue their dominance in the Bundesliga, so how far can Vincent Kompany's side go this season? And finally, Paris FC get an historic derby victory over city rivals PSG. Are they genuine challengers for the Parisian crown?Ask us a question on Twitter, Instagram and TikTok, and email us here: otc@footballramble.com.For ad-free shows, head over to our Patreon and subscribe: patreon.com/footballramble.***Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!*** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The goals were raining down in Jeddah on Sunday night! Barcelona won an absolute cracker of an El Clásico in the Supercopa. 3-2 it finished to Barça, leaving Xabi Alonso and his Real Madrid side licking their wounds.So how big of a turning point is this in both of their respective seasons? Is time up for Alonso, or did the performance show that there are still some green shoots poking their way through the Bernabéu turf?Ask us a question on Twitter, Instagram and TikTok, and email us here: otc@footballramble.com.For ad-free shows, head over to our Patreon and subscribe: patreon.com/footballramble.***Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!*** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After a dismal spell in the Premier League (not least at Manchester United), questions are beginning to surround Ruben Amorim's future: has he ruined his reputation in the dugout, or is this a mere stumble in what could be an illustrious managerial career?Dotun, Andy and Miguel Delaney table their verdict. Also, should Lennart Karl come under criticism for his Real Madrid comments? How did Tyrhys Dolan go from the English non-league to La Liga? And can Thiago Silva lead Porto to European glory? Ask us a question on Twitter, Instagram and TikTok, and email us here: otc@footballramble.com.For ad-free shows, head over to our Patreon and subscribe: patreon.com/footballramble.***Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!*** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's fair to say the appointment of Liam Rosenior at Chelsea hasn't gone down well with the fans of RC Strasbourg. In fact, their own supporters labelled the move "another humiliating step in Strasbourg's subservience to Chelsea." Oof. Not a great look.Miguel Delaney joins Dotun and Andy to share their thoughts on what the appointment means for the future of BlueCo and Strasbourg. Plus, Gonzalo García stars for Real Madrid and Fabio Paratici gets a new gig at Fiorentina, but can he keep them up?Ask us a question on Twitter, Instagram and TikTok, and email us here: otc@footballramble.com.For ad-free shows, head over to our Patreon and subscribe: patreon.com/footballramble.***Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!*** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, Andy is joined by Thomas Broich - former Borussia Mönchengladbach, FC Köln and German U21 international who, as the Head of Borussia Dortmund's Youth Academy, is now inspiring and nurturing the next generation at one of the most exciting youth academies in world football.With Dortmund in the UK for the Premier League International Cup, Andy sat down for a fascinating conversation about the dedicated, wholistic approach Thomas and his team take in developing future stars of the BVB first team. Thomas gives his unique perspective as a coach who simply intended to pass through youth football on his journey to the top - but ending up choosing to stay for the happiness and fulfilment that comes with such a rewarding role.Ask us a question on Twitter, Instagram and TikTok, and email us here: otc@footballramble.com.For ad-free shows, head over to our Patreon and subscribe: patreon.com/footballramble.***Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!*** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The start of a new year is nearly here, which naturally means new beginnings and new questions. Today, David Cartlidge joins Andy to answer a question that is relevant every single year - but never more so than in a World Cup year. Who will be the breakout stars of 2026?Ask us a question on Twitter, Instagram and TikTok, and email us here: otc@footballramble.com.For ad-free shows, head over to our Patreon and subscribe: patreon.com/footballramble.***Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!*** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Few players have gone on the journey that Benfica and Ukraine goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin has been on. War has affected every part of Ukrainian football. Today, Trubin joins Andy to share his experience of playing for Shakhtar and Ukraine after the Russian invasion in 2022.Plus, he discusses his move to Benfica, the difficulties he had adapting to life in Portugal and playing under “the Special One” José Mourinho.Ask us a question on Twitter, Instagram and TikTok, and email us here: otc@footballramble.com.For ad-free shows, head over to our Patreon and subscribe: patreon.com/footballramble.***Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!*** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Merry Christmas, one and all! As the year draws to a close and 2026 beckons, we're answering some of your questions about this year in European football.Andy is joined by Lars and David to explore why next year's World Cup could be historic, which teams exceeded expectations, what players we would gift to a club, whether England's set-piece fever has made it's way to mainland Europe - and of course - we make our bold predictions for 2026.Ask us a question on Twitter, Instagram and TikTok, and email us here: otc@footballramble.com.For ad-free shows, head over to our Patreon and subscribe: patreon.com/footballramble.***Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!*** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Everyone knows Kylian Mbappé, the historic glamour of Real Madrid and how Pep Guardiola revolutionised football as we know it. But what about those unexplored stories found through La Liga's illustrious history?Andy's joined by Brendan Madden - author of the brilliant new book ‘Once Upon a Time in La Liga' - for a chat about how he's uncovered the league's most incredible hidden stories while watching Spanish football as an analyst for the last two decades. From the amazing life of the man who gave the world ‘Tiki-taka' to the league's most captivating derbies and the amazing debut from a hip-shaking upstart called Ronaldinho, they celebrate the magic of perhaps the iconic European football league of the last two decades.Ask us a question on Twitter, Instagram and TikTok, and email us here: otc@footballramble.com.For ad-free shows, head over to our Patreon and subscribe: patreon.com/footballramble.***Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!*** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As Robert Lewandowski weighs up a possible move to MLS, Andy, Dotun and David Cartlidge reflect on the career of one of Europe's most prolific strikers. Where does the Polish icon rank among the continent's all-time great forwards?Also on the show: could Jobe Bellingham leave Borussia Dortmund after yet another setback? Who can Barcelona bring in to replace Ronald Araújo? And which unsung players from across Europe's leagues will shine at AFCON?Ask us a question on Twitter, Instagram and TikTok, and email us here: otc@footballramble.com.For ad-free shows, head over to our Patreon and subscribe: patreon.com/footballramble.***Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!*** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

PSG were crowned Intercontinental Cup winners last night. The what, sorry? Exactly. But elsewhere, it was another PSG match-up that really made the headlines, this time in the courtroom as Kylian Mbappé was awarded €60m from his former club. What does the ruling mean for PSG's image going forward?David Cartlidge joins Dotun and Andy to debate that before turning to Türkiye where rumours linking Mauro Icardi with a move away from Galatasaray have sparked talk of a potential return to Serie A. And finally, as Real Sociedad's struggles deepen, is this a sign of wider trouble for Basque football?Ask us a question on Twitter, Instagram and TikTok, and email us here: otc@footballramble.com.For ad-free shows, head over to our Patreon and subscribe: patreon.com/footballramble.***Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!*** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Join Dotun, Andy and Nicky Bandini as they coast through more of your continental queries! If you're curious about the latest young English striker making waves in the Bundesliga, wondering whether Antonio Conte is prioritising Napoli's domestic form at the Champions League's expense or struggling to comprehend the scale of the betting scandal engulfing Turkish football - well, we've got you covered! Plus, Levante desperately try to avoid La Liga relegation and Atalanta step up as the latest Champions League surprise package! Ask us a question on Twitter, Instagram and TikTok, and email us here: otc@footballramble.com.For ad-free shows, head over to our Patreon and subscribe: patreon.com/footballramble.***Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!*** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Two losses at the Bernabéu in four days and the Madrid media storm is kicking up around Xabi Alonso. But, is he to blame for Real Madrid's issues? Today, Dotun, Andy and Nicky Bandini try to get to the bottom of what's really going wrong for Los Blancos.Elsewhere, Marseille have hit their straps in the Champions League. Andy outlines why the De Zerbi project has been a success so far. Plus, Nicky tries to explain Fiorentina's woes, but can the club defy the odds and avoid relegation?Ask us a question on Twitter, Instagram and TikTok, and email us here: otc@footballramble.com.For ad-free shows, head over to our Patreon and subscribe: patreon.com/footballramble.***Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!*** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ajax are famed for their electric matchday atmosphere, but when their match against Groningen was abandoned after just six minutes due to a firework display, we have to ask: is this a symptom of Ajax's current situation? And what consequences should follow for those responsible?Dotun, Andy and Jonathan Johnson deliver their verdicts. Also on the agenda, why is Ligue 1 better than ever? Could AC Milan realistically move for Jean-Philippe Mateta? And why have Strasbourg banned one of their standout strikers from playing?Ask us a question on Twitter, Instagram and TikTok, and email us here: otc@footballramble.com.For ad-free shows, head over to our Patreon and subscribe: patreon.com/footballramble.***Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!*** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Barcelona's 3-1 victory against Atletico Madrid kept them at the top of La Liga, but with Atleti missing a huge chance to close the gap on Spain's big boys, can we already write Diego Simeone's team out of the title race?Dotun and Andy are joined by Jonathan Johnson to discuss that. Plus, Kenan Yıldız is the difference-maker for Juve as he's makes the difference in three back-to-back wins for the Old Lady. Is he on his way to becoming the next superstar in Turin? And finally, things aren't so nice in Nice as their players are attacked by their own supporters following a sixth straight defeat. How on earth have things got this bad?Ask us a question on Twitter, Instagram and TikTok, and email us here: otc@footballramble.com.For ad-free shows, head over to our Patreon and subscribe: patreon.com/footballramble.***Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!*** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Remember Jhon Durán, Premier League fans? He might be pulling muscles rather than exactly tearing up trees in Istanbul, but here he added to his big-game highlights reel and delivered in the 95th minute of the biggest game of all: the Intercontinental Derby.Andy and Lars Sivertsen relive an eventful Monday night kick off, one which leaves things very tight at the top of the Süper Lig! They reflect on Galatasaray's transformed midfield, who managed to take the fire out of the game, and discuss how Domenico Tedesco has been getting things so right at Fenerbahçe after an impressive start to the season. He's certainly doing better than his predecessor...To get involved on the Discord and enjoy ad-free episodes of On The Continent and more, head to patreon.com/footballramble and subscribe!Ask us a question on Twitter, Instagram and TikTok, and email us here: otc@footballramble.com.**Please take the time to rate us on your podcast app. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.