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La Liga Lowdown
A weekly mini-podcast bringing you the best in Spanish football, focusing on LaLiga, arguably the best league in the world. We'll tell you not just what happened, but how and why, using our extensive squad of reporters spread throughout Spain. We...
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17. Sevilla is verdiblanca, Barça back on top and Calero gets the boot: LaLiga Matchday 14 recap
36:15||Season 9, Ep. 17To accompany you as you open the first window in the advent calendar, we have a fresh podcast! The temperature may be getting colder, but LaLiga is hotting up, with plenty for Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Román De Arquer (@Aeroslavee) to unpack from Matchday 14.We begin at the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán, where Betis confirmed their superiority in the city of Seville. Victory here made it back-to-back gran derbi wins for the first time in 30 years! What a watch to celebrate the renewal of Manuel Pellegrini's contract.We then turn to the title race, which could barely be much closer. Just three points separate the top four. Real Madrid dropped points for the third consecutive match – this time at Montilivi – to cede leadership of the league and hand it back to Barcelona, just a month after beating them to go five points clear. We ask why it's going wrong lately, and where they go from here (Bilbao, because they have yet another away game).Despite being top anew, Barça have problems of their own, not least Hansi Flick's demeanour on the bench or the club's problems with the digital tickets at the new Camp Nou.In Part Two, we headline with the goal-fest of the weekend, as Villarreal maintained their rhythm, domestically that is. A genuine two-faced team, they fought to the end to ward off the La Real comeback and position themselves nicely in third spot.Atleti won their seventh game in succession, but the big test is Tuesday night in Barcelona.Elsewhere, Espanyol keep up their bright start, Celta still can't win at home, Getafe keep doing their thing, and a referee sent off a former referee.Last, but by no means least, Levante are looking for a new coach after they sacked Julián Calero following their 2-0 defeat at home to Athletic. Winless at home, albeit with a tough run of fixtures, Luis García Plaza is the favourite to replace Calero.Two big LaLiga matches and the next round of the Copa del Rey to look forward to this week, as well as plenty of content at lllonline.substack.com. Subscribe now for all the access.
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16. Home sweet home for Barça as Real stumble again: LaLiga Matchday 13 recap
33:08||Season 9, Ep. 16Barcelona are back home, but Real's travails on the road continue. Join Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee) to review Matchday 13 in LaLiga EA Sports!Is a four-horse race on the cards? In Part One, our two LaLiga experts look into the matches, kicking off with Barça's grand return to the Spotify Camp Nou, with Román actually being there to see it all unfold. He explains the new experiences before analysing the win over Athletic and first clean sheet in two months. Then they review Madrid's second league draw in a row against a brave and bold Elche, followed by Villarreal and Atlético de Madrid achieving narrow wins to keep close track of the top two. Just four points separate the top four now!!In Part Two, Matt and Román talk about the the Valencian derby, and the slow yet steady rise of Real Sociedad and Celta de Vigo in the standings with a win apiece. They also review the other two draws of the weekend, with a goalless Oviedo vs Rayo and a controversial Betis vs Girona, ending with Antony being sent off and missing the derby against Sevilla.Once again, thanks for listening, and remember you can access our bonus podcast and multiple weekly articles over at lllonline.substack.com.
15. Spain punch ticket to party in the USA (Canada & Mexico): International break recap
35:57||Season 9, Ep. 15Spain are going to the World Cup! It has always seemed like a formality, but Luis de la Fuente’s side officially secured their spot with a draw in their final qualifier against Turkey. Before focusing on Tuesday’s game, Ben Sully (@SullyBen) and Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) kick off the podcast by focusing on Spain’s commanding 4-0 away win over Georgia on Saturday. After winning their first five qualifiers by a combined 19-0 scoreline, Spain would have been hoping to secure qualification with a win in their home game against Turkey. We delve into the 2-2 draw before rounding off part one by focusing on Spain’s striker situation and Dani Olmo’s status in the squad.In part two, we reflect on a positive 2025 for La Roja and look ahead to next year’s tournament in the USA, Mexico and Canada, discussing whether Spain have what it takes to add another star to their jersey. Away from international matters, Barcelona are finally set to return to their redeveloped Camp Nou home while Levante and Valencia are preparing to lock horns in a highly anticipated derby fixture.Remember, you can access all of our written and audio content over at lllonline.substack.com.
14. There is still life in the ageing forwards: LaLiga matchday 12 recap
34:30||Season 9, Ep. 14The experienced trio of Robert Lewandowski, Antoine Griezmann and Gerard Moreno all proved age is just a number on Matchday 12 of the 2025/26 LaLiga season. Ben Sully (@SullyBen) and Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee) start by focusing on Lewandowski’s hat-trick in Barcelona’s exciting 4-2 away win over Celta Vigo. We then focus on Atlético Madrid and Griezmann’s role as an impact sub in a successful home outing against Levante. Elsewhere, Gerard helped Villarreal bounce back from a disappointing Champions League result with a 2-0 triumph over Espanyol. Marcelino’s side are now just five points adrift of the summit after Real Madrid failed in their quest to beat Rayo Vallecano in their final outing before the international break.In part two, we discuss Valencia’s improved showing against Real Betis, Mikel Oyarzabal’s late penalty and Nico Williams’s stunning goal in one of four 1-0 wins that took place over the weekend. We then turn our attention to Sevilla’s return to winning ways, as well as three points for Girona and Mallorca.LaLiga now pauses for the international break, but we will continue to produce content over at lllonline.substack.com, where you can access our bonus podcasts and regular articles on a variety of topics.
13. Basque derby drama on a weekend of big scorelines: LaLiga Matchday 11 recap podcast
35:52||Season 9, Ep. 13Recap matchday 11 with Ben Sully (@SullyBen) and Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee) in a weekend with plenty of goals and excitement.Part one kicks off with the passionate Basque derby, which had all the ingredients to become a 'partidazo', and saw Real Sociedad take the win right at the very end. They also review Villarreal's cruising win against Rayo Vallecano and both Barça and Madrid's wins in the title race.In part two, you'll find words of praise for Antony, aka Antonio de Triana, who wowed LaLiga fans with two stunning goals and an assist for a comfortable 3-0 win over Mallorca. Getafe also keeps showing their consistency as they climb up to 7th, while Atleti dispatch Sevilla as Griezmann scored his 200th LaLiga goal.As always, thanks for listening, and remember, you can access our bonus podcast and weekly articles over at lllonline.substack.com.
12. Jude settles another Clásico to send Madrid five clear: LaLiga Matchday 10 recap
39:23||Season 9, Ep. 12Looking for some analysis on 'El Clásico' and all the LaLiga action? Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee) have sorted it out for you!In the first part of the pod they look into what happened between Madrid and Barça. It was billed by some as the English Clásico, and Jude Bellingham was the man who decided it. Neither side seemed to be in their best form of late, but during the game there was definitely a superior side, which ultimately pulled off a big win to widen the gap to five points in the standings. The football, the players, the beefs, the controversy... it's all covered.In Part Two, they go through the rest of the Matchday, with some big results: including Girona's 6-goal home draw vs Real Oviedo in a fight to escape relegation, Celta's first win of the season and Bordalás' masterclass to sink Athletic in their misery, unable to break down Getafe's defensive wall. All this and more in our Monday pod!Thanks for listening, and remember you can access our bonus podcast and multiple weekly articles over at lllonline.substack.com.
11. Miami match cancelled: Emergency bonus podcast
36:47||Season 9, Ep. 11The world of Spanish football was stunned on Tuesday night to hear of the news that the Miami match between Villarreal and Barcelona has been cancelled.Relevant, the sponsoring company organising the match, and LaLiga both released statements expressing their disappointment at the need to cancel, citing the “uncertainty generated in Spain”. It seems apparent that the AFE protests from last weekend certainly had a timely effect.In this additional bonus podcast, we bring you all the news, reaction and fallout. Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) convenes Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG), Ben Sully (@SullyBen), Román De Arquer (@Aeroslavee) and Louis Scattergood (@louiscxtt) to analyse the situation and answer the myriad questions this dramatic day has raised.How embarrassing is this for Javier Tebas? Should he resign? Is the Miami plan now dead in the water?What about Barcelona and Joan Laporta, who was so confident and bullish only hours earlier on Tuesday? Román gives his perspective.As for Villarreal, they are furious about the decision and the way they feel sidelined from the process. The news broke during their Champions League match with Manchester City, leaving CEO Fernando Roig Negueroles to make a hasty exit from the Directors’ box. Louis offers his take on the situation as a whole and the Villarreal angle.For more, read Christian Poulsen's piece below, available to paid subscribers:LaLiga’s Miami dream collapses as Villarreal–Barcelona returns homeRemember, you can subscribe at lllonline.substack.com to get ALL of our content, including comprehensive coverage of El Clásico this weekend!