On The Continent - A European Football Podcast

After Inter beat Atalanta 2-0 last weekend, are Atalanta out of the title race? Or do they still have a chance of winning the Scudetto? Plus, does Martín Zubimendi regret not joining Liverpool, why are big ticket managers turning to international football, and can Norway finally qualify for the World Cup? Dotun, Andy and Miguel Delaney have the answers. Ask us a question on  Twitter...

Roma's season couldn't have got off to a worse start if they tried. But if in doubt, bring in a Roman to sort things out. Enter Claudio Ranieri. Miguel Delaney joins Dotun and Andy to discuss how Ranieri has turned Roma into the most unlikely Champions League hopefuls and what it means for Emperor Ranieri’s succession. Elsewhere, there's new optimism for Germany under Julian Nagelsmann despite the...

It's hard to believe that Lamine Yamal is still just 17-years-old. After his exceptional display against Benfica, can we call him the greatest La Masia graduate since Lionel Messi? And with his teammate Raphinha grabbing two goals of his own on Tuesday night too, is he an early contender for the Ballon d'Or? Plus, could Mainz go one better than what Jürgen Klopp managed with them and achieve Champ...

It’s that time of the year again! Today, we look at the Champions League's runners and riders and try to work out who will win Europe’s premier club competition. Are Real Madrid inevitable? Is it finally PSG’s year? Could Barcelona or Bayern Munich upset the favourites? And is it foolish to forget about Inter? Dotun, Andy and Nicky Bandini are here to give you all the valuable insight you need ahe...

Actions have consequences—just ask Paulo Fonseca. After squaring up to a referee, the Lyon boss has been hit with a staggering nine-month ban. So, where do Lyon go from here? Meanwhile, Robin van Persie made his managerial debut in the Champions League with a tough loss to Inter. It’s early days, but is he the right man for the job? Plus, PSV suffer humiliation at the hands of Arsenal and Go Ahead...

We have a first on today’s OTC… Lars Sivertsen doesn’t have anything bad to say about PSG! Today, he joins Dotun and Andy to assess what we should make of their 1-0 loss against Liverpool last night. Elsewhere, the Madrid derby and Bayern vs Leverkusen were two fascinating but very different same country ties. Andy explains why Xabi Alonso has to take some blame for Leverkusen losing the latter. P...

With Harry Kane sidelined, Bayern Munich thrashed Eintracht Frankfurt 4-0—could they actually be better off without him? Meanwhile, Marseille president Pablo Longoria has been hit with a 15-match suspension after accusing officials of corruption, but what’s the full story behind the controversy? Plus, Freiburg’s Champions League push is flying under the radar, Frank Schmidt battles to keep Heidenh...

Barcelona and Atlético Madrid have once again proved they are the most exciting teams to watch in Spain. But will that be enough to bring them success in La Liga? Dotun, Andy and David Cartlidge aren’t convinced. Elsewhere, Napoli vs Inter could be a title decider in Serie A this weekend, but why is it more important for Napoli? Plus, we bring you up to date on the latest José Mourinho controversy...

After Atalanta's humiliating Champions League exit to Club Brugge, Gian Piero Gasperini aimed some scathing comments at Ademola Lookman. Could the reigning African Footballer of the Year now be on his way out of Bergamo—or is Gasperini the one under pressure? Meanwhile, PSV delivered a stunning performance to knock Juventus out of Europe, so just how much credit does Peter Bosz deserve for his wor...

We saw the proper Kylian Mbappé return last night. But have Real Madrid started their inevitable march to a 16th Champions League? David Cartlidge joins Dotun and Andy to discuss that before questioning whether AC Milan need more from their star players Theo Hernández and Rafa Leão. Plus, Andy and David disagree on how much of a hard time to give Monaco after they were knocked out of the Cham...

How do you follow on from the greatest season in your club's history? Eight months after their historic double-winning campaign, Bayer Leverkusen welcomed Bayern Munich for a mouth-watering Bundesliga clash, with the home side still in contention to win all three major trophies this season. Andy travelled to the BayArena to speak with the Leverkusen players, coaches and staff about how they’re bui...

After goals from Kylian Mbappé, Brahim Díaz, and Jude Bellingham saw Real Madrid snatch victory from the jaws of defeat against Manchester City, we ask if their star-studded front line is finally proving its worth. Elsewhere, Adana Demirspor abandoned their match against Galatasaray last weekend - what can the Turkish authorities do to restore trust in the system? Plus, Antony thrives at Real Beti...

15 goals in 8 games, Ousmane Dembélé is on the kind of hot streak that prime Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo would be proud of. But how does his upturn in form compare to Kendrick Lamar's Super Bowl halftime show? Dotun, Andy and David Cartlidge are here to tell you. Elsewhere, is this the week that will shape Bayern Munich’s season? And Barcelona are back in the La Lig...

Manchester City spent big this January, but is their deadline day signing Nico González the best of their business? Elsewhere in the window, Juventus looked to England to strengthen their defence, but is Newcastle’s Lloyd Kelly really the man to improve their back line? Plus, Atlético Madrid accuse Real Madrid of trying to put pressure on referees ahead of the Madrid derby (shock), Andrea Belotti...

AC Milan saw off Roma last night with a little help from their Premier League imports, new and old. However, Nicky Bandini explains to Dotun and Andy why she is still not certain that their new look team will be enough to qualify for the Champions League. Elsewhere, Bayer Leverkusen are up to their old tricks again, but will it be enough to stay in the Bundesliga title race? And can Valencia escap...

Juventus' underwhelming unbeaten run in the league is over, and after defeat to Benfica in the Champions League, is Thiago Motta under pressure? Niko Kovač joins Borussia Dortmund, but is he the right man to get BVB back on track? Plus, Kenan Yıldız's struggles continue, the Saudi Pro League changes its approach, and Kyle Walker & Antony move on to new European pastures. Join Dotun, Andy &...

The first ever extended Champions League group stage has finished, but did it provide enough fear, dread and anxiety? Dotun, Andy and Lars Sivertsen are here to debate that. Elsewhere, Sporting are slowly getting over the departure of Ruben Amorim, but how much have Benfica and Porto helped? Plus, Andy accuses John Textor of turning a flamethrower on his own curtains. Listen to find out why. Ask u...

Manchester City may be struggling on the pitch, but in the transfer window they're flying. What can City fans expect from their new defender Abdukodir Khusanov? After an unbelievable night in Lisbon, where does Benfica 4-5 Barcelona rank in the pantheon of European football's greatest games? Plus, Domenico Tedesco gets the boot at Belgium, some of Bayern's key players...

PSG vs Man City, who would have predicted that these two clubs would face off in a fight for survival in this season’s Champions League? Today, Dotun, Andy and Jonathan Johnson assess how this result could be a turning point for PSG. Elsewhere, Atlético Madrid are back and Andy reckons they could go deep in the Champions League this season. And poor old Nuri Şahin has been sacked by Borussia Dortm...

The January Transfer Window's gears are now firmly in motion with clubs starting to make progress on assembling their squads for the rest of the season. So what can Manchester City fans expect from their prospective new signing Omar Marmoush? And is PSG really the right destination for Khvicha Kvaratskhelia when the Parisians look well-stocked in the wide positions? Plus, Naby Keïta's fall from gr...

Andy thinks that Barcelona have, at times, played the best football in Spain this season. So how are they six points off the top of the table? David Cartlidge joins Dotun and Andy to explain just that. Elsewhere, David tells us why Dortmund’s struggles should be blamed on the club, not Nuri Şahin. Plus, Andy gives us the most controversial food pairing of the season so far. Ask us a question on&nb...

The January transfer window has swung open so which players on the continent desperately need a move? Enzo Le Fée has swapped sunny Rome for... less sunny Sunderland, but how on earth did they convince him to come? Plus, what went wrong for João Pereira at Sporting? What's next for Julen Lopetegui after leaving West Ham? And is Carlos Corberán the man to keep Valencia in La Liga? Join Dotun, Andy...

After only two games as Milan manager Sérgio Conceição has won his first trophy. But is it too early to get excited or can Milan still make an impact in the second half of this season? Dotun, Andy and Nicky are tentatively optimistic. However, they're less optimistic about Barcelona. Andy reckons the failure to register Dani Olmo could damage Joan Laporta’s reputation. Plus, what does the future o...

Which European club needs the biggest January trolley dash? Who will be the breakout star of 2025? And is La Liga set to become the dominant league in Europe once more? Dotun, Andy and David are here with some answers and some bold predictions for your first Ask OTC of the new year! Plus, we return to one of the biggest stories of 2024 and answer the question on everybody’s lips in Türkiye: can Ga...

With Gianni Infantino's revised FIFA Club World Cup set to begin this year, are we going to see a fundamental change in how clubs approach a football calendar that is growing busier by the year. Plus, Pep Guardiola's style is under pressure, so are we at the dawn of a new tactical approach across Europe? Join Andy, David Cartlidge and Miguel Delaney as they preview the year 2025 in European footba...