La Liga Lowdown

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...

Join Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) to review a significant weekend with a few surprise results. The weekend culminated with a heavyweight clash at Montjuïc as Barça took on Atleti knowing they could be effectively out of the title race had they lost. João Félix – on loan from Atleti – proved to be the match-winner, and how he enjoyed that. Iñaki Peña was also vital with...

Join Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee) as they review Matchday 14, game by game. They look into the Marcelino - Morales connection that has brought Villarreal back to life, Umar Sadiq's glorious goal that saw Real Sociedad overpower Sevilla, Rodrygo recovering his best version, Rayo becoming Xavi's worst nightmare and Paco López's untimely departure, among all the other...

Spain finish their European qualifying group top, with seven wins from eight, but there was nobody celebrating by the end of it. Join hosts Ruairidh Barlow (@RuriBarlow) and Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) as they reflect on a sombre night for La Roja. Luis de la Fuente called it the most bitter victory he's ever experienced after Spain defeated Georgia 3-1, the only thing anyone was talking about was...

The culmination of Matchday 13 means we are a third of the way through the season, and there are plenty of things to make pre-season predictions look rather silly. Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) review a goal-filled weekend which saw every team score, contributing to 3.66 goals per game, four comebacks from the top five, and familiar heroes coming to the rescue. The Sevi...

Girona es líder and other phrases you might need if you're learning some Spanish football vocabulary. LaLiga delivered in a big way this weekend with all of the big three put through their paces, while La Liga's biggest storyline rolls on. Join Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Ruairidh Barlow (@RuriBarlow) as they gorge on a filling nine-course tasting menu. Part One begins at El Sadar where Míchel'...

El Clásico didn't disappoint, with a late twist as the headline acts delivered and gave us plenty to discuss and debate. Join Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Román De Arquer (@Aeroslavee) as they review the game in depth.  Román was in attendance so shares his matchgoing experience, as well as wondering whether Real Madrid deserved to win, or Barça in fact let it slip. We talk tactics, substit...

It's hard to ask La Liga for much more this season. Despite one or two sour notes, La Liga is full of juice. Join hosts Ruairidh Barlow (@RuriBarlow) and Paco Polit (pacopolitENG) as they react and assess the weekend's action, as La Liga continues it's entertaining start. Part one begins with the Sergio Ramos derby. Ramos had Real Madrid pulling faces, as Carlo Ancelotti turns to irony. Diego Alon...

Guten Tag! Spain have qualified for Euro 2024 following back-to-back wins in this October window. Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) discuss the two close encounters, beginning with Thursday night's win over Scotland in Seville. Ruairidh Barlow (@RuriBarlow) - our Scot living in Spain - was at La Cartuja to witness the match, and shares his thoughts on the match and Luis de...

Some things in life are bad. But not LaLiga.  Matchday 9 brought us a colossal amount of goals, drama and narratives. We've had records broken, comebacks, a new coach, a sacking and more. Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) break it all down in this bumper pod before the international break kicks in again. We start with Zaragoza in Granada, not to confuse the geographers...