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On The Continent - A European Football Podcast
PSG win Ligue 1 (again, again, and again)
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We all know that the current state of Ligue 1 doesn't exactly provide the foundations for a title race which goes down to the wire. This year, it very nearly did though. Lens have been excellent, capitalising on the major underperformances we've seen from Marseille and Monaco, but do they stand any chance of challenging the Parisians in the years to come?
Jonathan Johnson joins Dotun and Andy to debate that. Plus, Florentino Pérez goes on a ridiculous rant as he prepares to appoint José Mourinho as his next Head Coach at Real Madrid, and there are some big teams circling the drain in Spain and Germany. Is any club really too big to go down?
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!***
On The Continent is your definitive podcast for European football. Subscribe for new podcasts every single week and throughout the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
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Ask OTC: Xabi Alonso’s future, a dilemma in Strasbourg and Mauro Icardi's Turkish legacy
41:52|Eight turbulent months at Real Madrid arguably told us more about the squad's shortcomings than they did Xabi Alonso's coaching credentials. So why, with Europe's elite circling one of football's most sought-after coaches, are Chelsea leading the race for his signature?Jonathan Johnson joins Andy and Dotun to answer that and more of your burning questions! What’s the fan-player dynamic like at Strasbourg? Can Real Betis properly compete in the Champions League? And what is Mauro Icardi’s legacy in Türkiye?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!***How Barcelona broke Real Madrid to seal La Liga
33:08|El Clásico once again delivered drama, but Barcelona didn't just beat Real Madrid - they dismantled them. In the first Clásico at the renovated Camp Nou, Barça showed exactly why they’ve dominated this season's La Liga by exposing just how broken Real Madrid are.Andy is joined by David Cartlidge to dissect it all: a stunning Marcus Rashford free-kick, the electric Camp Nou, and how Real Madrid's current state can be summed up by an altercation between Federico Valverde and Aurélien Tchouaméni.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!***Ask OTC: What is Kylian Mbappé’s next best move?
38:11|Kylian Mbappé’s situation at Real Madrid is deteriorating: yacht trips during games, growing isolation in the dressing room, and fans launching petitions to force him out. So what’s his next best move?Andy and Dotun are joined by Nicky Bandini for more of your questions! Should Pep Guardiola return to the continent? How high is Como’s ceiling? And is multi-club ownership really that bad?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!***How to build a dynasty
46:02|PSG have qualified for back-to-back Champions League finals for the first time in their history. Luis Enrique is clearly doing something right in Paris, but he in the midst of creating something even more special, a dynasty perhaps?Nicky Bandini joins Dotun and Andy to discuss PSG's brilliance and Bayern Munich's shortcomings. Plus, is it time for Atlético Madrid to finally say goodbye to Diego Simeone? And how much credit does Cristian Chivu deserve for regaining the Scudetto with Inter?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!***Ask OTC: Edin Terzić's integration, promotion in Spain, and our picks for most entertaining games
33:43|Athletic Bilbao is a football club defined by its Basque-only philosophy: the club only uses players developed either in its own academy or elsewhere in the Basque Country. While managers are exempt from this rule, the club has still rarely hired outsiders - so why have they turned to Edin Terzić?David Cartlidge joins Andy and Dotun to answer some of your continental queries! Why did Roma sack Claudio Ranieri? Who will get promoted to La Liga? And after the high-scoring affair we saw on Tuesday night, do any other matches compare?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!***Does football ever get better than that?
49:31|We all expected PSG vs Bayern Munich to be good... but that good? Nobody could've predicted that.David Cartlidge joins Dotun and Andy to dissect what was a Champions League game for the ages... and also Atlético Madrid vs Arsenal. It was never going to live up to the standards set on Tuesday, but it was an intriguing game in its own right. Plus, José Mourinho looks set for a Real Madrid return. On a scale of ten to ten, how disastrous would that appointment be for Los Blancos?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!***Visiting the new Camp Nou: Cultural wonder or tourist trap?
22:41|After two years away, Barcelona have returned to Camp Nou. When finished, it will be the biggest football stadium in Europe and a much-needed financial lifeline for Barcelona.However, what does this mean for local fans? Will inflated ticket prices and the rise of tourism sanitise the experience? Andy visited the new Camp Nou to find out…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!***Where does the balance of power lie in Serie A?
24:18|Lars Sivertsen isn't even on the show today, but after Juventus' 0-0 draw away at Milan on Sunday night, you can hear his cries of 'make Juventus fun again' reverberating across the continent. It wasn't a vintage clash between two of Italy's great heavyweights and it's not the first time we've said that this season – what's happening to the broader entertainment value across Serie A this season?Nicky Bandini joins Andy to discuss what has made Italy's top flight so underwhelming this season, and whether we can expect better in the years to come. Plus, Christian Pulisic's goalless streak, and the race for the remaining Champions League place continues.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!***