LaLiga Matchday 9 was another adulterated version with just six matches taking place over the weekend, but that just means the analysis was all the more detailed. Join hosts Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Ruairidh Barlow (@RuriBarlow) as they break it down.Starting with the Sunday night partidazo, Barcelona got a much needed win over Valencia and despite Ansu Fati, there are still reasons for pessimism. Following that, we speak to Thom Harris (@ThomHarris_) about Villarreal's inability to put wins together - with or without Gerard Moreno's brilliance.In the second half of the pod, admiring glances are cast towards our Basque league leaders (!), our Basque-led surprise of the season and for balance, ask a little more of Julen Lopetegui's Sevilla. Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) is on hand to detail a non-descript start for new managers Javi Pereira and Quique Sánchez Flores and finally, we discuss our MVP picks. Moments of the week also well worth waiting for. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

La Liga Lowdown

LaLiga Matchday 9 Recap: Basque Brilliance as La Real Lead the Way

LaLiga continues to bring the drama and the emotion to your footballing weekend. After a busy few weeks, hosts Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Sam Leveridge (@samleveridge) cast their eyes over the surprise-filled round. The problems continue to mount for Barcelona as they suffered another defeat at the Wanda Metropolitano. Sam was there to witness it, while our resident Barça fan Román De Arquer (@Aeroslavee) shares his thoughts on the situation. We also hear from Espanyol expert Geoff Gillingham (@GeoffGillingham) on the shock of the round as Los Pericos handed Real Madrid their first league defeat in nine months. Sam and Matt then discuss the rest of the action, including the sacking of Levante coach Paco López, as teams at the top slipped up while others showed signs of life. We pick out the other clubs and coaches most in danger of the chop, and end with the regular staples of MVP and moments of the week. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

LaLiga Matchday 8 Recap: A weekend of surprises and Atlético Madrid

LaLiga continues to be the best entertainment around on Sundays with another 15 goals in 5 games. Hosts Ruairidh Barlow (@RuriBarlow) and Sam Leveridge (@samleveridge) pick their way through that mayhem but not before unpacking a siesta-worthy effort from the title holders Atleti against bottom-dwelling Alavés.Attentions are then turned to Camp Nou, which threatened to be a gloomy affair but ended up a festival of celebration. Román de Arquer (Aeroslavee) analyses an increasingly rare happy day out for Barcelona and the comeback of their new number 10, Ansu Fati. Until now it had been Real Madrid lighting up the league but Unai Emery's Villarreal were only too happy to thwart that run - Jamie Kemble (@JamieKemble) gave us his verdict on a fifth draw in six games for the Yellow Submarine.In the last part of the show Sam and Ruairidh hand out some praise for Basque managers with impressive wins for Real Sociedad, Osasuna and Rayo Vallecano, before deciding on their MVP candidates for the weekend's action. Head over to @LaLigaLowdown on Twitter to find out who reigns victorious. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

LaLiga Matchday 7 Recap: Return of the Kid

More than one LaLiga coach is hanging onto their job by a thread after Matchday 6 in LaLiga in an action-packed midweek round of fixtures. Your hosts Sam Leveridge (@samleveridge) and Ruairidh Barlow (@RuriBarlow) cover all the action with insights from locals fans.Ronald Koeman's Barcelona drew two blanks in the space of four days, against Granada and Cádiz, while Real Madrid produced goals galore and Atlético left it late to find their shooting boots.Getafe fan Dom Tancock (@dorsetdom) joins us to discuss what Luis Suárez's late brace meant for the Azulones, and Míchel's future. Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) also chats about Valencia's defeat to Sevilla as Julen Lopetegui got the better of José Bordalás.Sam and Ruairidh also decide on their MVP picks for the matchday, including a potential Ballon d'Or candidate. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

LaLiga Matchday 6 Recap: The sack race heats up

There's nothing worse than heartbreak and Matchday 5 in LaLiga was an affair riddled with it. Your hosts Sam Leveridge (@samleveridge) and Ruairidh Barlow (@RuriBarlow) are across the major talking points and several of the grounds.Real Madrid are nothing if not resilient and they left Valencia short-changed on Sunday night. Dramatic endings lead the discussion as Real Betis surrender in the 97th minute.The return of El Tigre, Radamel Falcao, came with a roar and Robbie Dunne (@robbiejdunne) speaks on that matter and the ever-interesting climate at Rayo Vallecano. No goals for Atleti against Athletic but Jeremy Beren (@JBBeren) is confident it will not hamper Diego Simeone long-term. Similarly Real Sociedad couldn't burst the net but Phil Ball (@PhilBallTweets) has his glass half full.Finally, Sam and Ruairidh settle on their candidates for the MVP of the weekend. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

LaLiga Matchday 5 Recap: Real Madrid go top as El Tigre returns

La Liga Lowdown returns after the international break to recap another dramatic weekend in the Spanish top flight. Valencia are flying, Real Madrid are back home and Atleti left it late again. Join hosts Matt Clark (MattClark_08) and Ruairidh Barlow (@RuriBarlow) to tuck into the action as the table begins to take shape. We hear from expert Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) on Valencia's win at Osasuna and Levante's late woes against Rayo Vallecano. Plus, Hasan Karim (@TheHasKarim) enthuses over another Real Madrid goal-fest, Beñat Gutiérrez (@beinatguti) gives us the lowdown on Athletic Club's encouraging start, and Matt and Ruairidh pick their MVPs and moments of the weekend. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

LaLiga Matchday 4 Recap: Bats out of hell - the Bordalás era?

Just like Matchday 2, this weekend finished with a partidazo as Villarreal went to the Wanda and - nearly - came home with all three points. Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) joins Ruairidh Barlow (RuriBarlow) to review a weekend of huff, puff and perplexed managers. One of those cradling his head in his hands was Unai Emery, Jamie Kemble (@Jamie Kemble) reflects on a bizarre evening in Madrid.Keith Farnan (@Keith_678) explains why the team everyone had dead and buried are breathing pretty comfortably and David Whitworth (@DCWh1tw0rth) is present to ruminate on a tough start for Real Betis.Finally, an eye is cast over the other noteworthy events of the weekend and several candidates for Jornada 3 MVP are posed. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

LaLiga Matchday 3 Recap: Nobody Is Perfect

La Liga Lowdown returns to review Matchday 2 of the 2021/22 season, as Levante and Real Madrid served up a Sunday night classic!Sam Leveridge (@samleveridge) is joined by Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) to analyse the results and the standout performances, including Atleti's win over Elche in front of fans at the Wanda Metropolitano.We hear from Hasan Karim (@TheHasKarim) who dissects Real Madrid’s roller-coaster draw with Levante, and Román De Arquer (@Aeroslavee) also joins us to evaluate Barcelona’s draw against Athletic Club. Finally, Sam and Matt debate their MVP picks for the round. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

LaLiga Matchday 2 Recap: Sensational Sunday Night

Join La Liga Lowdown for our first matchday recap of the season, the first LaLiga matchday without Lionel Messi in almost 17 years. Sam Leveridge (@samleveridge) is joined by Ruairidh Barlow (@RuriBarlow) to discuss all the action and the best performances.Special guests Domagoj Kostanjšak (@DKostanjsak), Paco Polit (@PacoPolitENG) and Ian Morris (@CeltaUSA) also join us to take a look at how Barcelona have adapted to life without Messi, José Bordalás' dramatic Valencia debut and Celta Vigo's narrow defeat to defending champions Atlético Madrid. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

LaLiga Matchday 1 Recap: Life after Lionel

Following on from our preview of the top half of LaLiga, La Liga Lowdown returns with a preview of the other end of the table, analysing who will face a battle for safety and who could hope to push on from mid-table mediocrity. Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Ruairidh Barlow (@RuriBarlow) discuss and debate who will get dragged into the relegation fight.We hear from fans of two newly promoted sides as Matt speaks to Paul McGarraghy (@PaulMcGarraghy) about Real Mallorca and Sam Leveridge (@samleveridge) catches up with Geoff Gillingham (@GeoffGillingham), a fan of Segunda champions Espanyol. There's also talk on Valencia and Getafe as José Bordálas swapped one club for the other ahead of their season-opening fixture on Friday night, and much more! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

La Liga Lowdown LaLiga 2021/22 Preview Part 2: The best of the rest, who will avoid the drop?

La Liga Lowdown is back for 2021/22! In our first pod for the season, Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Sam Leveridge (@samleveridge) discuss a very different LaLiga after a turbulent summer. In this first part of our pre-season preview, we take a look at the top of the table.We hear from fans of Spanish football’s top three, as Sam talks to Atlético Madrid fan Jeremy Beren (@JBBeren), and Ruairidh Barlow (@RuriBarlow) catches up with Real Madrid obsessive Hasan Karim (@TheHasKarim) and a devastated supporter of Lionel Messi-less Barcelona, Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee). There’s also talk on the race for Europe, with a whopping five Spanish teams heading to the Champions League. Stay tuned for part two of our season preview looking at the bottom half of LaLiga later this week! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

LaLiga 2021/22 Preview Part 1: The title race is back, but not as we know it

It’s our final matchday recap podcast of the 2020/21 LaLiga season and we start by congratulating the champions Atlético Madrid. Ruairidh Barlow (@RuairidhBarlow) brings us the energetic commentary clips of the goals in Los Rojiblancos’ decisive victory in Valladolid, while we hear from Atleti fans Sam Leveridge (@samleveridge) and Jeremy Beren (@JBBeren) as they explain what this title means.We also hear about how Elche secured survival, with Elche fan Keith Farnan (@Keith_678) praising Fran Escribá for the excellent job he has done there. David Whitworth (@DCWh1tw0rth) joins the pod too to talk about EuroBetis. Then, Allen Dodson (@groguet01) has his say on Villarreal’s lack of rotation in their loss to Real Madrid and looks ahead to the Europa League final. As always, the podcast is hosted by Euan McTear (@emctear).  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Matchday 38 recap: The one when Atlético Madrid are champions

This is the latest episode in our series looking at the history of every club in Spain’s top division. This time the focus is on Real Betis, one of the very best-supported clubs in Spain. Euan McTear (@emctear) hosts and recaps some of the club’s highlight moments, before Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) and Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee) walk us through the club's history.Then, Andrew Miller (@AndrewMillerNBA) picks and discusses three all-time Real Betis legends, before David Whitworth (@DCWh1tw0rth) explains what makes a matchday at the Benito Villamarín so special. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The Story Of: Real Betis

The penultimate round of the 2020/21 LaLiga season was one for the ages, as Atlético Madrid came from behind to defeat Osasuna and stay top of the standings. Host Euan McTear (@emctear) checks in on Atleti fan Jeremy Beren (@JBBeren), to see how he coped with all that drama, while Hasan Karim (@TheHasKarim) also offers the Real Madrid fan perspective after they won in Bilbao to keep the pressure on. Barcelona are now ruled out of the title race and Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee) reflects on their most recent disappointment, while also praising Celta Vigo’s positive end to the season. Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) serves up all the drama from the relegation battle, Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) explains how the return of fans to LaLiga stadiums went and there’s even more in this matchday recap too.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Matchday 37: The one when Atleti kept the dream alive

In the latest episode of our La Liga Lowdown club podcasts series, we tell the story of Levante and how they established themselves as a regular top-flight club. Euan McTear (@emctear) starts the podcast by looking back over some of the Granotas’ all-time highlights. Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee) and Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) then provide the detail on the club's history. Ruairidh Barlow (@RuriBarlow) picks three all-time Levante legends. Then, Pål Ødegård (@paalpot75) explains what a matchday at Levante’s Estadi Ciutat de València is like.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The Story Of: Levante

A brand new weekly mini-podcast bringing you the best in Spanish football, focusing on LaLiga, arguably the best league in the world.We'll tell you not just what happened, but how and why, using our extensive squad of reporters spread throughout Spain. We'll have big-name interviews with current and former players and managers from LaLiga, and we'll truly interact with our listeners, featuring them in our content, encouraging their comments and challenging them regularly. Follow us and chat with us on Twitter: twitter.com/LaLigaLowdown Watch our videos on YouTube: youtube.com/c/LaLigaLowdown Insight. Interviews. Interaction. In English. Spanish Football. Sorted.

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La Liga Lowdown

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