La Liga Lowdown

Did you really think we were done for the season? No chance! La Liga Lowdown is also invested in EURO 2024, and we couldn't wait to preview all the excitement with Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee). In the first half of the pod, we go through Luis de la Fuente's squad selection for Spain, picking out some of its strengths and weaknesses, as well as previewing the first g...

Real Madrid are champions of Europe again, for the 15th time.  For the final pod of the season, Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Román De Arquer (@Aeroslavee) review the game and assess the magnitude of this team's achievement. With more than double the number of titles as the next best club – Milan – Los Blancos continue to raise their own ceiling.  This one is even more momentous, being...

The 2023-2024 LaLiga season is over! We have quite a few farewells to speak about in out last LaLiga Matchday recap: tears were shed, managers and players were tossed around by the squads, fans got emotional. Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) bring you the lowdown on the ‘adiós’ by Toni Kroos, Javier Aguirre, Jagoba Arrasate… and, yes, Xavi Hernández, whose additional seaso...

The 2023-2024 LaLiga season is over! We have quite a few farewells to speak about in out last LaLiga Matchday recap: tears were shed, managers and players were tossed around by the squads, fans got emotional. Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) bring you the lowdown on the ‘adiós’ by Toni Kroos, Javier Aguirre, Jagoba Arrasate… and, yes, Xavi Hernández, whose additional seaso...

The penultimate Matchday in this LaLiga season ended up ultimately being the deciding one. Everything that was left to be settled was indeed confirmed on the 37th round. Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Román De Arquer (@Aeroslavee) look back at it all, from Cádiz's familiar faults costing them their top-flight status, to a partidazo at La Cerámica, with Alexander Sørloth firing himself into the Pic...

Another one bites the dust. Matchday 35 saw Granada’s relegation confirmed before they had even kicked a ball in anger. Unfortunately for the Andalusians, Real Madrid were in no mood to show mercy as they handed out a 4-0 drubbing.  Join Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Ben Sully (@SullyBen) as they review that one-sided affair and the rest of the weekend’s action. Cádiz continued their LaLiga...

Matchday 34 proved to be a momentous round of fixtures in LaLiga. Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Ben Sully (@SullyBen) review it all in this episode. Real Madrid's 36th league title was decided in Catalunya, after Girona beat Barça in a pulsating match at Montilivi. The home fans were celebrating too, as they secured Champions League qualification for the first time in their history. We salute the...

Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee) review Matchday 33, starting with the battle for the 4th spot between Atlético de Madrid and Athletic Club, which favoured the home side. Lamentably, there were more incidents of racist abuse from the stands, this time directed at Nico Williams. He promptly scored and celebrated with real bravery and class. Real Madrid got the job done,...

Jude Bellingham did it again. Scoring a stoppage-time winner in El Clásico. A goal which sealed a five-goal thriller and surely another league title for Los Blancos. Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) reflect on this game and the rest of the action in LaLiga this weekend. There was goal-line controversy, golazos and much more to get stuck into. Atleti compounded a bad week b...

Join Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee) as they review Matchday 31 and preview the Champions League quarter-final second-leg fixtures.  As always, we look at all the games, starting with Atleti's massive win against Girona, before keeping an eye on their upcoming return at Signal Iduna Park. Barça & Madrid both obtained routine 0-1 away wins, with João Félix and...

Athletic Club are Copa champions, 40 years later. Join Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) to review a spectacular night in Seville. We congratulate Athletic and Mallorca for a thrilling approach to a final, laud the two coaches, and discuss the key players in the game. Ernesto Valverde has sealed his place in Athletic Club history, as has Iker Muniain and company. After the...

Join Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Ben Sully (@SullyBen) as they hop to it to discuss all the LaLiga action from the Easter weekend.  We delve into an egg-citing game at Montilivi, where Cristhian Stuani delivered a sweet treat for the home faithful in a five-goal thriller. Real Madrid bounced past Athletic Club thanks to a Rodrygo brace, while Álvaro Valles chicks out early in Las Palmas’ d...

As we head into the international break, it was an important Matchday for the sensations, clubs trying to jostle for position ahead of the final straight.  Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Román De Arquer (@Aeroslavee) reflect on another big weekend in LaLiga.  Barça remain unbeaten on the road after taking all three points from the Metropolitano, just as they did 26 games ago back in Janu...

Is this what winning feels like? Join Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Ben Sully (@SullyBen) as they reflect on a weekend where Cádiz ended their long wait for a victory. First up, we discuss a five-goal thriller at the Benito Villamarín and another red card for Chimy Ávila. Attention then turns to Cádiz's surprise win over Atlético Madrid, reigniting the battle for survival and piling the pressure...

This season's "big 3" all dropped points in Matchday 27, and Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee) are here to to tell you all about it.  Starting with the controversy in Valencia, where the referee was the unfortunate protagonist of the night after blowing the final whistle just seconds before Jude Bellingham scored what could've been a match winner. They also cover Gi...

Matchday 26 was a belter, and Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) are here to break it all down. Time waits for no man, and as one Real Madrid legend returned to his former home, another nearing the end of his time stole the show with a typically magical strike. Luka Modrić doesn't score many, but when he does they are spectacular. It needed to be to break down a stubborn Sev...

Just a week after we confidently declared that there is no league, Real Madrid stumble to recover the possibility that there actually might be a little bit of league. Join Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) to review Matchday 25 in LaLiga. Real Madrid did extend their lead to six points, but Girona have the opportunity to cut that in half, should they win at San Mamés on Mon...

No centre-backs, no problem. Join Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Ben Sully (@SullyBen) as they look back on a weekend where Real Madrid overcame a defensive injury crisis to smash Girona’s dreams of achieving their fairytale ending. Vinícius Júnior and Jude Bellingham played starring roles in the demolition job, moving Carlo Ancelotti’s side five points clear at the top. Elsewhere in Part One, we...

¿Hay Liga? To find out, join Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Román de Arquer (@aeroslavee), who analyse all the weekend's fixtures and look back at some of the never-ending VAR controversy that overshadows Spanish football. First off is the Madrid derby, in which Marcos Llorente gave Los Blancos a taste of their own medicine with a very late equaliser. A goal that opens up LaLiga and gives Girona a...

There's never a dull weekend in LaLiga. Especially not in Barcelona. Join Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Román De Arquer (@aeroslavee) on the weekend in which Xavi pressed the quit button. Following weeks of discussion and a calamitous 5-3 defeat at home to Villarreal, there were backroom discussions, a delayed press conference and then the bombshell. Xavi will leave at the end of the season.&nbsp...

Matchday 21 in La Liga was full of goals, controversy, comebacks and a sacking. Hosts Ruairidh Barlow (@RuriBarlow) and Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) are on hand to lament the underdog story that never was for Almería. Real Madrid managed what should have been a heroic comeback, against Almería of all sides, but three highly controversial VAR reviews even had some Madridistas feel raising their eyebr...

Catch up on all the latest in Spanish football with Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee). In Part One we delve into the the Spanish Supercopa final in which Real Madrid pounced first and last to celebrate their first title of 2024, while Xavi keeps digging his grave. Will he make it to the end of the season? How good was Vini Jr? How bad was Barcelona's defending? Can Real...

The Copa del Rey saw the kings of Spanish football mix it with the anymen, but there was to be little in the way of success for the little guys. With 15 of the 16 sides going through decided, 14 of them are from La Liga. Hosts Ruairidh Barlow (@RuriBarlow) and Román de Arquer (@aeroslavee) discuss why. The new format has largely been regarded as a success over recent years, and the pros and cons a...

Join Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Román De Arquer (@Aeroslavee) to review Matchday 17 in LaLiga as the Christmas countdown begins. For those hoping for a four-horse title race, hopes were dashed as both Barça and Atlético Madrid stumbled on the road. Xavi's side are now winless in three following their point at Mestalla, as the doubts and questions continue to mount. For Atleti, they simply coul...

This might not be a vintage Barcelona, but this Girona side are just a little bit special. Join hosts Ruairidh Barlow (@RuriBarlow) and Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) as they break down a brilliant weekend in La Liga. The first half of the show is dedicated to the first time ever that Girona have beaten Barcelona - and what a way to do it. Míchel's side showed Culers the football they've been desperat...