New episode! Aston Villa linked to Real Betis star Jesus Rodriguez. To find out more, we're joined by @ruribarlow.bsky.social of @footballespana.bsky.social 🟣 One of Spain's best young talents? 🔵 Breakthrough season 🎙️ linktr.ee/allvillanofi... 🎥 youtu.be/dX3_ouQyDNk?... #avfc #utv #astonvilla

Osasuna and Vicente Moreno runaway leaders in the most handsome manager in La Liga table. Weak year mind.

If Rodrygo is indeed fit.... Incredible he didn't coming on. Know Ancelotti said he had a fever but... And it was Victor Muñoz that the big chance fell to. Araújo behind Christensen. Some large decisions.

Given where they were, and the lack of changes, Hansi Flick is one win away from a masterpiece of a season. The best season Barcelona have had for a decade. Since Messi, Neymar, Suárez, Luis Enrique and the treble. No small thing.

It's quite the demonstration of Eric García's improvement that Jules Koundé's injury is not being talked about more ahead of tonight.

Ahhhh Isco-Gio Lo Celso, you're too generous La Liga.

Diomande... Open goal, two players with him, sclaffs it wide... That was the moment. Borja Jiménez beyond words. Desperate for Leganés. That just can't happen if you want to stay up.

Not that García Pimienta's Sevilla filled me with emotion, but Caparrós' version leaves even colder (good Spanglish I know). The return of Suso is fine, but it just makes it harder for Lukebakio to shoot, which is ultimately their quickest route to goal.

Very bad news as it happens.

Duk, Raba, Munir and Juan Cruz all in for Borja Jiménez and Leganés - not good news for Sevilla I reckon.

As absurd as the ending was, I think Real Madrid have some reasons for optimism against Barcelona next week - if they play four midfielders. They're not brilliant defensively, but those are the only two La Liga goals they've conceded in four, and they weren't as open early👇

It's a bit of a shame that Celta have no money, because Giráldez is probably one or two really good signings away from taking them to the next level and getting those results against Barça/Real Madrid Maybe a midfielder + defender that could really impose themselves on the game.

Barcelona get out of dodge with a win, and seemingly no injuries (Gavi?). Ronald Araújo probably their best player, which explains a good deal. Héctor Fort won't be at right-back v Inter, you'd imagine if Fermín was going to start, he would've come off for Olmo.

Ayoze Pérez up to 19 goals this season, 16 in La Liga. That moves him into 4th in the Pichichi rankings and top of the Zarra rankings. Such a neat and smart player, and at €4m maybe the best value for money signing in Spain (Europe?).

🗞️COLUMN: Lamine Yamal has earned a comparison that isn't with Lionel Messi 🔎The Lamine Yamal impact is felt as much in his team as it is in the game. Here's why👇 ✍️ @ruribarlow.bsky.social www.football-espana.net/2025/04/29/m...

It was a frustrating evening for #AthleticClub in Glasgow.

Athletic Club made hard work of that. Credit to Rangers who defended well, but Athletic really didn't lift the tempo enough, or stretch wide. Missed Yuri at left-back a good bit. Not a disaster, but if they go out, that second half will be the bit they wonder about.

On the one hand, Barcelona are leaving goals on the table - none of the front three are especially sharp. On the other hand, it's pretty impressive that this is what they look like without being sharp.

Barça lucky to be in front by the end of that half. Midfield struggling to lock things down, forwards sloppy in space and Guirassy beating the offside trap.

Declan Rice: Not fkn about.

Valladolid take all of 55 seconds to concede to the second-worst attack in La Liga, with a defender slide-tackling the ball into the net. The worst attack in La Liga is theirs.

Their title hopes are still slim! But having taken so many sucker punches lately, and especially at the death, that has to feel good for Atleti.

Can really start to see the toll that this run of games is taking on Barcelona now. Sloppy touches, one too many touches, one few passes. Not a big drama for Hansi Flick, but a major missed opportunity in terms of the title race. Defensively, more and more proof of concept.

Terrific from Betis - outside of the big two, the last side you want to face in La Liga right now. And that was without Isco. Weren't even at their best, but few sides have restricted Barcelona to so few opportunities. Bartra controlling the backline, brilliant.

Real Madrid... Ancelotti said it yesterday. They accept more risk at the back because of the firepower they have, saying they are now more effective up front with Mbappé. Today they created enough to win it, but every game is a risk. Especially if the magic four aren't on it.

Takes some of the tension out of the Champions League that, now we know Real Madrid will win it.

What an unbelievable job Corberán has done with Valencia. Bottom when he took over. Just 12 points. Now on 34, 7 clear of the drop and with a win at the Bernabéu. Beyond the numbers though, watching how comfortable they are on the ball, how they battle off it - night and day.

Endrick: "You guys (the press) speak a lot. When we do well, you say good things. When we do badly, you say bad things." Well that is a fairly accurate summary if nothing else.

Since going out to PSG in the Champions League, Imanol Alguacil has done a lot of grimacing. Feels like La Real have been looking for a big moment to celebrate, congratulate everyone and start a new cycle, but they're always just a player or a moment short. Hopefully wrong.

Real Madrid in a game that's totally inexplicable without the name of the club. Shades of the comic, passages of brilliance. You can criticise plenty, but by the time you're out of breath, they'll still be in another final.

Absurd from La Real - having gone 2-0 down on agg., begin dominating, score three goals and complete the comeback. Then go on a half-hour run where they sit off and concede three, twice from set pieces. You want to praise them, incredible effort, but also silly ways to lose.

If Endrick played for Real Sociedad, they'd be challenging for Champions League football next year. Everything they don't have through the middle.

What a move from La Real! (Lucas Vázquez is not long for the Bernabéu)

Get yourself a romance like Real Betis and Antony.

Isco hugs Pellegrini. Benito Villamarin booming. 12 games unbeaten for Sevilla in the derby over, and Betis will be a tope tonight. Strong performance, one that was very much aware that they had more quality than their opponents, and it was about making sure it showed.

Every time I see Jesús Rodríguez, he looks so impressive. Bread and butter is his pace and taking on defenders, but so much variety in his game. Keeps the defence guessing and attacks the soft spots. Difficult not to look at him as Joaquin's heir.

Re: Xabi Alonso to Madrid If there's such a thing as a bad summer to take over. After an extra month-long tournament, you get in mid-July, the players off until 2-3 weeks before the new season, if there's a dividing line - then World Cup year. Not ideal for installing a new system.

That might do Lamine Yamal good in the long run.

Have to hand it to the Netherlands, they've come from behind four times across the two legs now to level it up. Not easy, although de la Fuente might be wondering how/why that's been allowed to happen.

Get the impression Huijsen might not be back with the under-21s

Dean Huijsen has been called up to replace Inigo Martinez in the Spain squad. The latter has a knee injury. #Barca #LaRoja #afcb

Don't recall a game with six goals with so few chances. Rocky game for Barcelona, struggled to lift the tempo, with Pedri more frustrated than ever. That said, Barcelona will play better or worse, but they keep staring adversity in the face and they don't blink.

Kylian Mbappé: Low-key the last few games, but when he is on it, as he was yesterday, tends to make the difference. Without his goals/assists Real Madrid would be 17 points worse off (flawed stat yes), only 7 goals haven't changed the result in La Liga.

Courtois is probably regarded as the best goalkeeper in the world, but the difference he makes for them is not spoken about enough.

Las Palmas a goal down to 18th-place Alavés, double-sub at half-time, striker on for a midfielder. Feels like Diego Martínez is approaching all-in territory (if he isn't already there). Been talk that the club are getting itchy feet too.

That's a pretty disappointing press conference from Carlo. Seen other managers give similar or worse, and maybe he has to follow the club line, but yikes.

What a performance from Villarreal. As mature as you'll see from them in a long time. Just when Atleti were ramping up, they kept the ball for about three or four minutes straight. A little more clinical from set pieces and they'd have nicked that.

Dare I say it... Villarreal defending reasonably well. (Sorry in advance Groguets)

Hard to beat football.

Atletico have played many entertaining games, and many impressive performances in recent years. Tuesday's performance was as exciting as any in a long time. Judging by his words and eyes, Simeone subscribes to that. www.football-espana.net/2025/01/25/a... #AtleticoMadrid #ChampionsLeague