Stadio: A Football Podcast

Musa and Ryan discuss Sunday’s Champions League final, which saw Bayern defeat PSG 1-0 to clinch their sixth European Cup and the second treble in their history (04:54). The guys heap praise on a number of Bayern players, including Thiago, and discuss the attributes that make him such a wonderful midfielder (11:18). There’s also discussion about the amazing job that Bayern coach Hansi Flick has do...

Musa and Ryan look back at Bayern’s 8-2 destruction of Barcelona, focusing on the game itself (00:23) and then moving on to how mismanagement at the board level has led to the current situation at Camp Nou (13:25). The guys also discuss what they're like on the pitch (24:14) before moving on to Rose Lavelle’s move to Manchester City and her NWSL rights being acquired by OL Reign (30:17). Then they...

Musa and Ryan discuss the first Champions League quarterfinal, in which PSG came from a goal behind to score two goals in stoppage time and eliminate Atalanta (04:49). They then run through the four quarterfinal matches of the Europa League (22:00), which will now see Inter meet Shakhtar and Sevilla face Manchester United in the semifinals. There’s also chat about the MLS Is Back final (37:58), as...

The Champions League is back! Musa and Ryan round up the round of 16 second legs that were played over the weekend ahead of its move to Lisbon for the remainder of the tournament. They begin with Manchester City’s drama-free win over Real Madrid (03:56), and Musa is accused of jinxing Raphaël Varane. Lyon went through thanks to the away goal rule (11:42), and there's discussion about Maurizio Sarr...

It’s another what-if episode, in which Musa and Ryan take a trip through an alternate football reality. Before they do, they reflect on the news that Arsenal are to lay off 55 staff members, including roles in recruitment and scouting (04:34). Then it’s on to the what-ifs, beginning with if Gareth Bale had been sold to Birmingham City in 2009 (19:35), if Antonio Conte had signed Romelu Lukaku for...

Musa and Ryan break down Arsenal’s FA Cup Final win over Chelsea at Wembley, thanks to two goals from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (03:40). They discuss Christian Pulisic, who scored before suffering a hamstring injury, and Mikel Arteta’s securing the first trophy of his young managerial career. They also reflect on Eddie Howe leaving Bournemouth and predict where he may go next (24:55), before movin...

Ahead of the FA Cup final between Chelsea and Arsenal, Musa and Ryan are joined by two-time FA Cup winner and Arsenal, Crystal Palace, and England legend Ian Wright. He talks about how it feels to play and score in multiple FA Cup finals, how his first experience with Crystal Palace differed from his second and third with Arsenal, what makes Wembley unique, pre-match nerves, the differences betwee...

The Premier League season wrapped up this weekend, almost a full year after it began. Musa and Ryan do an extended round-up of the key last matchday fixtures, including Watford’s relegation after defeat to Arsenal (06:40) and Bournemouth’s joining them despite beating Everton at Goodison Park (13:15). Aston Villa’s draw away at West Ham was enough to keep them up, and there’s talk about Jack Greal...

Musa and Ryan take questions on who would be in contention for the Ballon d’Or had the 2020 edition gone ahead (05:06), whether Chelsea’s new signings can disrupt the Premier League top two next season (09:46), Leganés’s heartbreaking relegation (16:04), underrated players (21:26), Jose Mourinho’s ever-reducing cycle, which leads to a discussion about pairing managers and actors (21:26), plus Ralf...

Musa and Ryan reflect on the FA Cup semifinals, which saw Chelsea and Arsenal progress to the final and highlighted potential problems within the two Manchester clubs (05:50). In the US, the NWSL was full of shocks as the top four seeds all exited the competition and Britt Eckerstrom stole the show (22:35), plus Ryan shares his love of the numerous novelty Twitter accounts that have sprung up arou...

It’s a mailbag episode this time around, as Musa and Ryan let the questions guide them. They begin with Arsenal’s win over Liverpool (06:40) despite registering just three attempts on goal and a record-low possession total at home. They also discuss how the schedule is starting to take its toll on players, heap praise on the absent Jordan Henderson (12:32), and choose what players they would take...

Musa and Ryan discuss how the Court of Arbitration for Sport’s ruling to overturn UEFA’s punishment of Manchester City for alleged breaching of Financial Fair Play regulations will affect European soccer. They also touch on the damage to UEFA’s authority and how it played a part in creating a handful of powerful European superclubs (03:43). Next, they reflect on the North London Derby, in which Sp...

The MLS Is Back Tournament kicked off last Wednesday, so Musa and Ryan discuss the conditions surrounding its questionable return as well as Orlando’s beating Inter Miami in the opener and how the circumstances differ from the NWSL Challenge Cup (03.48). They take a question on how the NWSL compares to leagues in Europe, and explore whether the next NWSL CBA may allow USWNT players to play in Euro...

It was German Cup final weekend in Germany, so Musa and Ryan begin by discussing Wolfsburg and Bayern securing domestic doubles (02.00) and touch on the developments in German women's football for next season. They then move to the Premier League, with a big Southampton win over Manchester City yet again confirming the great job that Ralph Hasenhüttl is doing on England's south coast (15.27) and t...

In this bonus episode, Musa and Ryan take a trip through multiple alternate footballing universes with their first “what if?” episode since joining Ringer FC. They speculate what happens to Liverpool if Coutinho doesn’t leave for Barcelona in 2017 (03:10), the FA doesn’t ban women’s football in the 1920s (10:55), John Terry doesn’t slip in the Champions League final penalty shootout of 2008 (17:57...

Barcelona dropped more points against Atlético Madrid midweek, so Musa and Ryan discuss the troubles facing the defending La Liga champions (04:50), including the mismanagement at board level of a squad that has a player of Messi's caliber and how his brilliance is being wasted, before heading around the rest of La Liga (27:10). They move on to Serie A, following big wins for Juventus and Inter (2...

What a hectic weekend of soccer! Musa and Ryan begin by talking about the dramatic final days of the Bundesliga and 2. Bundesliga, including Werder Bremen’s 6-1 win over Köln to book a place in the relegation playoff, Gladbach securing Champions League football, Dortmund losing 4-0 at home to Hoffenheim, and the continuation of Schalke’s terrible run (1:20). Things also heated up in La Liga over t...

Following Chelsea’s victory over Manchester City, Musa and Ryan record a bonus episode to discuss Liverpool’s first league title in 30 years (0:30), including heaps of praise for the job Jürgen Klopp has done at Anfield. They also touch on the game that won them the title, Chelsea’s position in the race for the Champions League spots, and Manchester City giving up the Premier League crown (20:02)....

There were so many goals in the midweek European fixtures, but Musa and Ryan begin with the NWSL Challenge Cup, which will be the first major league to return in the U.S. this Saturday (02.58), and the complications caused by Orlando Pride pulling out due to positive coronarvirus tests throughout the squad. The first wave of goals comes from Liga NOS, as Benfica are doing their best to not win the...

In the inaugural ‘Stadio’ podcast for 'Ringer FC', Musa Okwonga and Ryan Hunn introduce the show and get into the first full weekend of Premier League matches in over 100 days (01:50). They open with Spurs vs. Manchester United, featuring a brilliant Paul Pogba (06:00), and discuss how the United midfield might look going forward. Next, they move on to the Merseyside Derby (13:10), Brighton’s vict...