La Liga Lowdown

Épisodes

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  Revolution at Mestalla as Real Madrid & Barcelona score four apiece 13.09.2026 38min

  Join Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Harry Gillies for their MD5 LaLiga analysis, with reaction from Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) on Valencia’s sacking of Carlos Corberán. The first coaching casualty of the season is joined at the exit door by CEO Ron Gourlay. The guys discuss the sporting restructure at Mestalla, and the problems still facing the next manager in charge, whoever they may be… Fully recovered from his fury at VAR decisions, José Mourinho is somewhat happier after a convincing win against Rayo, but the Real Madrid manager admits they are still missing too many chances. Barça have scored 21 goals in the opening five matches, with Lamine Yamal and Raphinha combining to devastate Levante, although Luís Castro’s side nearly pulled off a late comeback. The Pichichi already has some interesting contenders, with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang starring once again for Dépor in a 1-1 draw with Getafe, while Morocco striker Yassir Zabiri looks a real talent for Racing. Some of the best young managers in the league have struggled at the start of this season. We review what is going wrong for Celta and Claudio Giráldez, and look ahead to Villarreal V Betis, where Iñigo Pérez will be desperate for his first win as manager of the Yellow Submarine. Thanks for listening in, and remember, we’ve got more pods and articles coming your way in our Substack: lllonline.substack.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Parrott makes Betis soar, Dépor roar on, Alavés & Barça hit five: LaLiga Matchday 4 recap 06.09.2026 37min

  All the MD4 drama and talking points unpacked by Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee) in our recap pod of the weekend.Who had it on their cards for Atlético and Real Madrid to both collect their first defeat of the season so early on and on the same weekend? Definitely not us! But aside from those shocking results, we also had plenty of entertainment and goals from other LaLiga sides.Deportivo A Coruña stunned the Estadio de la Cerámica with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (who else if not?) scoring a later winner against Villarreal, while Alavés slammed five past Osasuna for their best-ever start in LaLiga, now second in the standings with 10 points.Matt and Román also review Espanyol's late and desperate draw vs Sevilla, Barça annihilating Valencia and Rayo Vallecano finally finding their first win through an inspired Sergio Camello. Catch it all in this recap pod!Thanks for listening in, and remember, we've got more pods and articles coming your way in our Substack: lllonline.substack.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  A quick-fire hat-trick, a five-star performance and more Bellingham brillance: LaLiga Matchday 3 recap 31.08.2026 35min

  Check out our Matchday 3 review with Ben Sully (@SullyBen) and Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee)!Three games into the new campaign, and the early picture is already starting to take shape. Real Madrid remain perfect after another convincing win, while Atlético Madrid finally got their first victory of the season after an impressive first half. Meanwhile, Levante’s 5-2 demolition of Real Betis and Racing’s 3-2 win vs Elche were some of the highlights of the weekend, with most of the newly promoted sides making encouraging starts.Three matchdays is too soon to draw any definitive conclusions, but there is already plenty to get excited about!As always, thank you for listening to us and remember that you can subscribe to access our bonus podcast and multiple weekly articles over at lllonline.substack.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Carlos Espí arrives in style, Julián makes a swift exit & Barça hit five: LaLiga Matchday 2 recap 23.08.2026 35min

  The LaLiga train goes steaming on, as Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Harry Gillies break down eight games from Matchday 2. The guys discuss José Mourinho’s second debut as manager of Los Blancos, who were saved by their new star man up top. There was a goal feast in Barça's clash against Elche, with Hansi Flick’s side managing just fine without a recognised striker. That won’t be good news for Julián Alvarez, who has sacrificed almost everything to try and secure a move to the Catalan club. The boys analyse how Atleti did on the pitch while the transfer saga surrounds the team. And there were plenty more matches to get through, including a tough opening game for Athletic’s Edin Terzić. Stay tuned for non-stop LaLiga coverage during a jam packed start to the season! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Rayo pay penalty as Racing impress on top-flight return: LaLiga Matchday 1 recap 17.08.2026 43min

  La Liga is back, and so are the LLL pods!Join Ben Sully (@SullyBen) and Harry Gillies as they go through the first four games of match day one. The guys discuss new managers, dubious penalty decisions, and a future Scottish star in Sevilla.There was plenty of room left for transfer talk, including Rodri’s move to Barcelona. We give our thoughts on how the big clubs have strengthened, and what they still might be missing ahead of deadline day. The focus turned to Barça’s striking options, as Culers will still be dreaming of Julián Álvarez in a blaugrana shirt.It’s going to be a great season for the pods, and we can’t wait to share more episodes with you, including the weekly bonus pod on lllonline.substack.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  2026/27 Season preview 09.08.2026 49min

  Welcome to the new season! We are back and better than ever for another LaLiga campaign, the best league in the World (yes, we are biased).Join Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Román De Arquer (@Aeroslavee) for the full lowdown on the season ahead. We begin with the raft of new additions at Real Madrid, including a certain Portuguese manager back in from the cold for another crack at the big time, plus a new defence, a renewed Vini Jr, and the small matter of their most expensive acquisition of all time!Barcelona have been a little quieter, but have added pace and tenacity in the forward lines, but thus far no big replacement for Robert Lewandowski. What impact will the Julián Alvarez saga have on him, and both the affected clubs? Can Hansi Flick's side retain the title again, or will Los Blancos wrestle it off them?Will Atleti challenge? How will Villarreal do under new management? Who else might be the surprise package? Who looks to be in trouble? What about the promoted teams? Who are the new faces on the scene?All these questions and more are answered inside an hour!With exciting new features ahead for the new season, including an extra free article every week, head to lllonline.substack.com to subscribe to our content.This podcast was produced by Nick Bell. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  25/26 Season Review 31.05.2026 59min

  The end of the season calls for a special pod. So join Matt Clark (@MattClark_08), Ben Sully (@SullyBen), Paco Polit (@pacopolitENG) and Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee) as they get together to pick out the good and bad from an eventful 2025/26 LaLiga campaign. The season review pod starts with a ‘Team of the Season’ category before the focus turns to the standout player, which yields some picks from Barcelona and even a player from a relegated club. After piling the praise on a certain overachiever in our ‘Coach of the Season’ discussion, the positive vibes flow as we pick out our top surprises. But it can’t all be positive, which is why we then choose our major disappointments, and it's not a good section for the two big Madrid sides. The bumper podcast wraps up with talk of key moments and a particular turning point of Real Madrid’s tumultuous season.If you enjoyed the discussion, why not let us know who your picks are for: Team of the season Player of the season Coach of the season Surprise Disappointment Moment of the seasonThanks for listening throughout the season and supporting over at lllonline.substack.com. And stay tuned for our coverage of Spain’s upcoming World Cup campaign. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Emotional goodbyes as Girona & Mallorca are relegated, but EuroGeta rides again: LaLiga Matchday 38 recap 24.05.2026 36min

  Join us for the recap of the final matchday of LaLiga's 25/26 season with Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee)!So many outcomes, so many possibilities... but finally Mallorca and Girona are the two unlucky sides who will no longer be a part of Spain's top tier football league next season. Mallorca won, Girona got a point, but that was not enough to escape the bottom three, with Elche, Osasuna and Levante surviving the battle.On the other end, Getafe sealed their European spot with a win over Osasuna with a meagre total of 32 goals throughout the whole campaign. A miraculous feat led by the mastermind José Bordalás. Villarreal finished third after thrashing Atlético de Madrid 5-1, in what was a perfect farewell for Dani Parejo and Marcelino. We also said goodbye to legends like Dani Carvajal, Antoine Griezmann, Robert Lewandowski, Marcelino and Ernesto Valverde. Meanwhile Barça’s Femení team lifted their fourth Champions League against Olympique de Lyon, and Deportivo de La Coruña joined Racing in winning promotion to the top flight.Thanks for listening to us this season! We hope you enjoyed the pod and articles, and hope to have you on board for next season. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Mallorca on the brink, four teams secure safety & icons bid farewell: LaLiga Matchday 37 recap 18.05.2026 37min

  Check out our matchday 37 review with Ben Sully (@SullyBen) and Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee)!The relegation battle takes centre stage in our latest podcast. The Sunday results favoured Alavés, Sevilla, Espanyol and Valencia, who are now safe and will play the final fixture with no pressure whatsoever. In fact, Espanyol and Valencia now have a slight chance of playing in Europe! But should we be surprised? Swinging from one end of the standings to another has been a very common theme this campaign...Levante, on the other hand, are very close to pulling off a miracle after defeating Mallorca 2-0 in what was a “final” for both teams. Only a dramatic combination of results in the last day would see ‘los Granotas’ go down. Osasuna, Elche, Girona, and, of course, Mallorca, are the other teams involved in the relegation fight for MD 38. In the pod, we also went through their games and options for the final fixtures, which will certainly have a lot of drama.As always, thank you for listening to us and remember that you can subscribe to access our bonus podcast and multiple weekly articles over at lllonline.substack.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Barcelona win the Clásico to seal the title: LaLiga Matchday 35 recap 10.05.2026 36min

  Join Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Román De Arquer (@Aeroslavee) to recap the title-deciding weekend in LaLiga. It’s official: Barcelona are champions. We knew it was coming for a good while now, but at last, Hansi Flick and his team can celebrate a second consecutive title. They won their 11th consecutive match to seal the title and for the first time ever, they confirmed the result by winning the Clásico. We salute the champions, discuss their record-equalling pace and begin to unpick where it all unravelled for Real Madrid. We also pay tribute to Hansi Flick, who was present at the game despite the passing of his father. Understandably emotional at full time, we evaluate his brilliant contribution to the club in the last two seasons.Elsewhere, there is still the race for Europe and the battle to avoid the drop. Celta closed the gap on Betis, but have they left their Champions League charge too late? Below them, no one else won this weekend, so it is still all to play for in the remaining weeks.At the bottom, Oviedo are all but done following their stalemate against Getafe. The result encapsulates their season: fighting and resisting against the odds, but ultimately coming up a little short. Above them, Levante, Sevilla and Valencia recorded big wins to help their respective causes.Levante came from 2-0 down to win on Friday night with forgotten man Etta Eyong scoring the winner in stoppage time. There was also a late winner for Sevilla, who condemned Espanyol to an 18th game without a win. Valencia went to Bilbao, missed a penalty, but still won thanks to Umar Sadiq, and they look almost home and hosed. Worryingly, Nico Williams went off injured, and his brother spoke ominously after the game. Beyond that, Elche and Alavés shared the spoils and Mallorca got a point against Villarreal with another goal from Vedat Muriqi. Rayo host out-of-form Girona on Monday night before Matchday 36 begins on Tuesday. Hold on to your hats!Subscribe to us and support our work at lllonline.substack.com for the only place to get all of our content. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Vini keeps Barça waiting while Villarreal seal UCL spot in style: LaLiga Matchday 34 recap 03.05.2026 35min

  Join Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Harry Gillies as they review the latest round of fixtures from Spain’s top flight.Barcelona can’t celebrate yet. Their city rivals Espanyol fell to Real Madrid at home, meaning El Clásico next week could be when the league is sealed for the Culers. We discuss the challenges facing the next Real Madrid manager, as Los Blancos have now gone two seasons without lifting a major trophy. Meanwhile, Barcelona will need to find a replacement for Lewandowski if they want to make a proper run in the Champions League next season. There is a great contest for the European places, with Real Betis and Celta Vigo having picked up their league form after heartbreaking Europa League exits. Athletic Club are also in the mix, after a 4-2 win away to Alavés, won by a delightful finish by Nico Williams. The relegation battle is just as exciting, with Mallorca beating and leapfrogging a wasteful Girona, while Valencia slip further down after failing to beat an Atleti side made up mostly of academy players. And of course, what was seemingly impossible is now becoming likely - the relegation of Sevilla, who have it all to do tonight against Real Sociedad. We break it all down, so we hope you enjoy. As always, thanks for listening and subscribing! lllonline.substack.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Just a matter of time for Barça, but time is running out for Sevilla: LaLiga Matchday 32 recap 27.04.2026 36min

  Review all the weekend action with Ben Sully (@SullyBen) and Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee) as the title fight almost comes to a close, while the relegation battle is still wide open.With Barça's win over Getafe and Madrid's draw to Betis, the gap has increased to 11 points, meaning culers could celebrate LaLiga next weekend if Madrid don't defeat Espanyol. Otherwise, the title could be decided in 'El Clásico'...Title race aside, Sevilla experienced a heart-shattering defeat to Osasuna, conceding in the 99th minute of the match and consolidating their position in the relegation zone. A Levante win on Monday could see them drop down to 19th, dragging them even closer to Segunda. More relegation drama in Oviedo, after losing to an Elche who hadn't managed a single away win this season, until now. The numbers still say Oviedo have a shot at salvation, but it would require pulling off too many miracles. Alavés, on the other hand, got a massive win against Mallorca that sees them escape the bottom three and almost reach the light at the end of the tunnel.Find all these stories and much more in our recap pod! As always, thank you for listening to us and remember that you can subscribe to access our bonus podcast and multiple weekly articles over at lllonline.substack.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Real Sociedad are Copa champions: Copa del Rey Final recap podcast 19.04.2026 36min

  Today it's Copa del Rey with Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee)!What a final! A fantastic display of football from Real Sociedad and Atlético de Madrid at La Cartuja, with both sides giving everything they had to try and conquer Spain's domestic cup.After 120 minutes and a penalty shoout-out, it was the underdogs, led by Mikel Oyarzabal, who succeeded in achieving their third Copa del Rey. Matt and Román look into the epic twist behind Real Sociedad's rollercoaster season, led by Pellegrino Matarazzo's revolution, as well as pointing out key players like shootout specialist Unai Marrero and Zubieta-produced Pablo Marín and Jon Martín. We also ask where this leaves Atleti, and whether this disappointment will affect their Champions League prospects.They also preview the upcoming LaLiga midweek fixtures of Matchday 33 (yes, you read correctly. Matchday 33 will be played before Matchday 32), with plenty of crucial do-or-die clashes.We hope you enjoy the pod and thank you for listening! Remember you can also access our bonus podcast and multiple weekly articles over at lllonline.substack.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Old-school striker creates history on retro weekend: LaLiga Matchday 31 recap 13.04.2026 38min

  Join Ben Sully (@SullyBen) and Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee) to review the retro-inspired LaLiga matchday 31.In part one, they cover the title race, which is turning out to be more of a runaway after Madrid dropped points against Girona while Barça managed to succeed in the Catalan derby with a 4-1 win. They then turn to the relegation battle, which is heating up, after most of the bottom sides achieved positive results. They first look at Elche’s home win against a receding Valencia and Sevilla’s victory against an Atlético de Madrid packed with subs, with the UCL & Copa del Rey in mind. They continue into part two with Muriqi’s record-breaking goals for a very convincing win against Rayo. They also review the crazy goal fest between Real Sociedad and Alavés, Real Oviedo's thrashing of Celta and all the other fixtures from the weekend.Once again, thank you for listening to our pod and remember that you can subscribe to access our bonus podcast and weekly articles over at lllonline.substack.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Muriqi pierces Madrid hearts as Lewy shoulders Barça 7 clear: LaLiga Matchday 30 recap 06.04.2026 33min

  La Liga is back! Join Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee) and Harry Gillies as they review the latest round of fixtures from Spain’s top flight. Is the title race over? As Real Madrid lost in Mallorca, and Barcelona snatched a 2-1 win away at Atleti, the Catalan giants now have a seven point lead over Los Blancos. We discuss if the two Madrid clubs will now turn all of their attention to the Champions League, something Simeone seemed to suggest against Barça, leaving Julián Alvarez and Ademola Lookman on the bench. The league winner might be a certainty, but the race for the European places is gets more exciting with every week. We discuss the parallels between Real Betis and Celta, as both clubs are fighting for the same goals. Celta deployed some beautiful football away in Valencia, showing once again the fearless play style of Claudio Giráldez. Real Sociedad and Getafe have also greatly impressed and are well in the hunt to qualify for Europe. As for the bottom of the table, we discuss the stark reality for Sevilla fans that the seven-time Europa League winners get relegated, with Mallorca and Alavés putting in better performances in the fight against the drop. We also spare a thought for Real Oviedo, where it might be a case of too little too late for the Asturian side. And as always, thanks for listening and subscribing! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Mikel at the double for Spain in routine win: International break recap podcast 29.03.2026 22min

  The international break is on, so we gathered Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee) to review Spain's latest 3-0 win against Serbia.A friendly game where Spain didn't really face too much opposition and Luis de la Fuente got the chance to try things and give newcomers, like Victor Muñoz, a chance to shine. He also sent a clear message by starting Unai Simón ahead of the other in-form goalkeepers... Matt & Román also pick their favourites to challenge Spain in their ambition of winning the World Cup and take some time to talk about Raphinha's injury which will keep him away for a while, missing both UCL matches vs Atleti, and potentially a UCL semifinal.We hope you enjoy the pod and thank you for listening! Remember you can also access our bonus podcast and multiple weekly articles over at lllonline.substack.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Vini decides the derby & Alavés produce a glorious miracle: LaLiga Matchday 29 recap 22.03.2026 38min

  A pulsating weekend with goals galore! Join Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Román De Arquer (@Aeroslavee) to recap Matchday 29 in LaLiga.We begin in the capital for the Madrid derby. The visitors were looking to do the double over their rivals and took the lead, but Fede Valverde and Vini Jr turned things around to keep the title race alive. Elsewhere, Barcelona were made to work extremely hard to maintain their 100% home record against Rayo, with Joan García again showing why Luis de le Fuente could no longer ignore his stellar form.Villarreal cemented their place in the top four with a comfortable win over Real Sociedad, while Athletic returned to winning ways in their first match since Ernesto Valverde announced he will leave at the end of the season. Betis are five without a win in LaLiga, and the coveted potential fifth Champions League spot is very much up for grabs.In Part Two we delve into the relegation scrap, which is returning to be a dogfight as the weeks go by. Alavés could have folded and capitulated when Celta went 3-0 up on Sunday afternoon, but instead they fought back and produced a magnificent comeback, something not seen in LaLiga since 2005. Four goals and three priceless points.Earlier in the weekend, there were two enormous six-pointers at the bottom. Firstly, Elche ended their accursed winless run with a come-from-behind win over Mallorca, helped by Vedat Muriqi missing the target from the penalty spot in stoppage time. Then, Levante put four past a spirited Oviedo to give themselves more than half a chance of survival. The real losers of the weekend were Sevilla, who were defeated at home again, and look set to sack Matiás Almeyda this week. It can hardly be a surprise for a side who have only won twice since mid-December, but the revolving door to the gaffer’s office is not the biggest problem in the intense heat of Seville.We are back in midweek with the international break bonus podcast. Like, follow, and subscribe at lllonline.substack.com for all our content as the season heads into the business end. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Landslides on & off the pitch in Barcelona while Arda hits it further: LaLiga Matchday 28 recap 16.03.2026 38min

  The run-in starts here! Join Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Román De Arquer (@Aeroslavee) to recap Matchday 28 in LaLiga.On election day in Barcelona, Joan Laporta was in triumphant mood after being emphatically re-elected as Barcelona president. There were celebrations on the pitch too after a 5-2 victory over Sevilla re-established their four-point lead over Real Madrid. We hear from Román what it was like around Camp Nou on polling day and the impressive performance from Barça, particularly hat-trick hero Raphinha.Real Madrid enjoyed a comfortable night too, beating sorry Elche 4-1 ahead of their trip to Manchester. Fede Valverde stepped up again, but it was the youthful flavour to Los Blancos and Arda Güler’s incredible 68-metre golazo which stole the headlines.Atleti dealt with Getafe in between their sparring with Spurs with a stunning strike of their own, while Real Sociedad are dreaming big after dispatching Osasuna 3-1 on Sunday night. The bloated middle all struggled to break clear of the pack, allowing Pellegrino Matarazzo’s side to steal a march. Betis-Celta ended all square, while Athletic Club could not honour Iñaki Williams’ landmark with a result.Plus, there were some significant movements at the bottom of the table, as Elche’s defeat allowed Mallorca to take full advantage and come from behind to beat Espanyol (who like Elche remain winless in 2026). Martín Demichelis registered his first win with a clear style, but Quique Sánchez Flores will have to wait after another gut-wrenching late goal against his Alavés side.Like, follow, and subscribe at lllonline.substack.com for all our LaLiga and Champions League content as the season heads into the business end. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Fede to the rescue as Lamine lights up San Mamés: LaLiga Matchday 27 recap 09.03.2026 38min

  New week, new recap pod reviewing LaLiga's most recent matches, with Ben Sully (@SullyBen) and Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee).In part one, the title race comes to life with Real Madrid's late winner against Celta de Vigo, while Barça relies on Lamine Yamal to win the game against an Athletic Club side that possibly deserved more. We also get a preview of the Copa del Rey final, with Atlético de Madrid defeating Real Sociedad, and a look into Elche's critical situation after yet another winless match, this time losing to Villarreal.Part two kicks off with the exciting Valencia vs Alavés, with Quique Sánchez Flores falling short in his debut after a late Che comeback. Ben & Román also praise José Bordalás' supernatural abilities to get the most out of his players and talk about Mallorca's throwaway at El Sadar, as well as all the other fixtures of the weekend.Thank you for listening to our pod, and remember that you can subscribe to access our bonus podcast and weekly articles over at lllonline.substack.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Lamine Yamal shines as Sevilla stun Betis with derby comeback: LaLiga Matchday 26 recap 01.03.2026 35min

  Join Matt Clark (@MattClark_08) and Román de Arquer (@Aeroslavee) to review Matchday 26 of LaLiga.Part One focuses on Barça's 4-1 victory against Villarreal, with special praise for Lamine Yamal and his first hat-trick as a professional footballer. Three fantastic goals that ensure Barça remain up top and put some fear into Atlético de Madrid before the second leg of the Copa del Rey tie. An Atleti who in fact struggled to defeat Real Oviedo away, leaving it to the very end, thanks to a Julián Álvarez goal that ended his goalless streak in LaLiga. The Basque teams also get a shout, with Athletic drawing vs Rayo and Real Sociedad still riding the Pellegrino Matarazzo effect.Part Two starts with one of the matches of the weekend: the Andalusian derby between Betis and Sevilla. A game of two halves, where Betis went ahead by two goals in the first half, but ultimately threw away their advantage, allowing Sevilla to grab a point. Our duo also talk about Celta's comeback at Girona, Valencia's solid win against Osasuna, Levante still believing and Elche's late draw against Espanyol.We hope you enjoy the pod and thank you for listening! Remember you can also access our bonus podcast and multiple weekly articles over at lllonline.substack.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.