Arda Guler's 75-yard wonder strike

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1:29Palacios, Aguado, Thiago, Yanez and Miguel Angel. I mean, that's a leap of faith right there, isn't it? The player who has not been playing well is Lewandowski. There comes a point, however good you are, when your powers decline.

1:52Hello and welcome to the Rest is Football La Liga episode with Alex Aljo and me, Gary Lineker. Since we've last spoken, of course, we've had Champions League week. You're waiting for another Champions League. I presume you're in Manchester getting ready for City-Real Madrid. Yeah, getting ready for the comeback. La remontada. Or not. Yeah, the last time Real Madrid conceded four or more in the Champions League was here in Manchester at the Etihad. So maybe that gives City hope, but I'm not overly hopeful for Manchester City. We'll talk about it in a moment, but they played well at the weekend and I can't see City going through.

2:32Yeah. So you're always jet-setting, aren't you? Going to all the posh places, Newcastle, Manchester. And Los Angeles on Friday. Wee, that sounds, that's got a bit more of a sunshine feel to it. Yeah. What about you, Gary? What have you been up to? What have I been up to? I went to the Emirates on Saturday. saw a special moment, I think. Incredible. The emergence of young Max Dowman. I mean, he's been around, everybody knows about him for a couple of years now, but it's nice to see him in the flesh, as it were, which was a special moment. We'd probably start with Real Madrid because that was kind of more newsworthy for a couple of reasons.

3:08Another Fede Valverde goal and a very, very special effort from Aldo Gouler. Aldo Gouler, who's seen the goalkeeper off his line and he's going for it. Wasn't that incredible, that goal? So, so, so good. Unbelievable. 75 yards out, was it? Yeah, I was chatting with Harry this morning, wondering whether that's the long, I mean, obviously goalkeepers have scored, but they're kind of flukes. Yeah. But a deliberate effort. Couldn't think of one further away. For Togu, for Leicester, actually scored one earlier this season, which was not far short of that, but it definitely wasn't 75 yards, but he did I think he nutmegged someone first that's for me a better goal but I'm biased what was the furthest you scored from?

3:56I think five five yards I did score one in my you know the proper not a long range effort like Goulet's but I did score one from only in my whole career I think one way actually top corner it was on the angle so it gave me a little bit more but it was definitely outside the box and that was at Old Trafford for Spurs in a 1-0 win Love it. That's actually one of those few goals of my career that you can actually find on YouTube and it's not in black and white. Okay, well, I'll have a look after this and have a watch of that. But this was, I mean, what a goal. That goes beyond words. Sensational from Ardegula.

4:38Yeah, yeah. Unbelievable. And it feels like the mood is better at the Bernabeu all of a sudden. I think they didn't expect to beat City 3-0, but that win was really key for them. They really needed that. Valverde, you mentioned him, has been absolutely brilliant. Five goals in three matches now. And he really deserves this moment. He deserves people. He's sort of like the unsung hero for Real Madrid. He goes about his business. I think the headline of Marco was 11 fedes. 11 fedes, yeah. Yeah, he just runs and runs and runs. He covers so much ground. he's a brilliant player and yeah it's good to see him scoring goals now and it's also good to see goals coming from players that aren't Kylian Mbappe because obviously there's a lot of talk about the over-reliance of Kylian Mbappe and his goals but it just feels like the real good factor is back at Real Madrid I think to be fair that that was never an issue I don't think it was about there not being good vibes or anything within the team it was more the fact they just weren't performing on the pitch and now it just feels like everything's coming together.

5:46Alvaro Arbelo, I saw him yesterday, had a chat with him because he was playing when I was working there, when I was work experience there. And he seemed really chilled, really relaxed, really happy. He didn't seem like a man who was very stressed or under pressure at all. And also he played five of the youth players. Yes, I wanted to raise that actually because it's, let's say it's unusual. Yeah. Madrid have always been about the superstars and Barcelona have raised their own superstars, as it were, from La Masia. But don't they call it La Cantera? Yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah. It's La Cantera. I've got them here.

6:22Palacios, Aguado, Thiago, Yanez and Miguel Angel. Yeah. I mean, that's a leap of faith right there, isn't it? I think it's players that he knows well as well, because obviously he was coaching them. so some of them he's known since they were 13, 14 playing in the Cantera at Real Madrid and he actually said this one line after the game it sort of sounds like a bit of an exaggeration but he said I can now die happy I can die happy because I've played these players and we've beaten Elche and I think it must have been quite a big moment for him as well giving these players who he's known since they were I know they're still, I was about to say tiny kids but you know obviously they're still very young but he's known them since they were really young and to see them play for Real Madrid in La Liga it must have been a massive moment for him as a coach as well and it shows the kind of coach he is whether that's what the club wants hopefully it's what the club wants because surely it should be what every club wants bringing top top players through the youth system giving the opportunities also this is Real Madrid's youth teams you are going to have the best young players in the world there shortly So it seems only right that they're given an opportunity at the highest level.

7:40I trust they don't have the same rules that we have here in terms of academies. I think you have to live within, I think it's 25 miles of the academy or something like that or a certain time distance away. I presume in Barcelona and Madrid, they can basically, the kids come from all over Spain. Yeah, they do. They do. And there's accommodation there. So they just get sent away and they live there and go to school there and everything. It's incredible. What did the public make of this kind of little bit of a shift towards homegrown talent? Because it's always been about signing the biggest stars in world football and bringing them in.

8:20And unless you're really, really special as a young player going through the Madrid system, it's probably hard to get a look in. I think it's really good to see. I can't see how people wouldn't think that, you know, the seven Real Madrid-Castilla players in the squad here travelled to the Etihad, whether they'll get any minutes in the Champions League, I don't know. But still, I think it can only be a positive thing. Of course, we want to see the superstars. Of course we do. There's always going to be superstars at Real Madrid. But to bring some of these young players through, which Barcelona do so well, can only be a good thing for Real Madrid.

8:58I mean, the young Thiago Pitarch. Yeah, Pitarch. Yeah, yeah, yeah. He was given a standing ovation when he came off. I think it's unusual to see for Real Madrid. We're not accustomed to it, but I wonder whether that long-term, I suppose we don't really know what's going to happen with Arba Loa yet. A lot will depend on, I suspect, what happens in La Liga and in particular in the Champions League because that's obviously, that's the trophy they obsess about. Do the Madridistas think they're going to do this? Are they confident? Yeah, they always are. It's in the Champions League. Yeah, it's their baby.

9:32For sure. And I think they will. I think they will. So, yeah, who knows? Could they win it for a 16th time? Yeah, I can see City scoring goals, but I can just see Real Madrid getting one on the counter on occasions. Elsewhere, a comfortable victory too for Barcelona. And a hat-trick for Rafinha. Two penalties and a deflection, but let's not take anything away from him. It is Rafinha who dinks one in. Second penalty of the afternoon, which Rafinha converts. Rafinha. Rafinha shoots, oh, it takes a deflection. And Rafinha has a hat-trick. And he was really quiet at St. James' Park. So, yeah, I think he hasn't been at his best lately, but clearly backed his best in this game.

10:26The player who has not been playing well is Lewandowski. There comes a point, however good you are, when your powers decline a little bit. I'm not saying this is absolutely the moment, but it's going to come at some point. He just looks slightly leggy compared with the Lewandowski you've seen in the past. He was number one to rely on his incredible pace. So it'd be interesting to see if he actually starts him. he rested Laminia Mal didn't he ahead of that second leg against Newcastle and really good to see Gavi is back from injury his first appearance since August he came on what did Flick say after the game I've got it here he said a lot of things were good but at times we did not play with the conviction I want to see in my team huge week we need to be 100 % on Wednesday because otherwise we're out of the UCL out of the Champions League we need to do things better not overly happy they score five goals but they also concede too.

11:23Well, they're going to concede goals. I think that's going to happen with Barcelona, but it's great to watch. It's usually a goal fest. You're not going to get many goalless draws with them. I never predicted 1-1 against Newcastle. They didn't play very well there at St. James' partner. I thought Newcastle were excellent. I'm going to ask you two questions here about the English players. Trent and possibly with Lewandowski struggling, could Marcus Rashford feature? Because he's not had many starts lately. Yeah, I think Trent will start. They need Trent in a game like this one, for sure. He seems more settled and happier at the club now as well, I think.

12:00I think he's adapting well. He just needs a run of being fit, doesn't he? Because we all know how good... I mean, they've had glimpses of it, but then he's had an injury and he's been out for a while again. And I think he deserves a call-up. Well, Rhys James is injured, isn't he, as well, which is a shame. Yeah. So he might well get his opportunity. I mean, he plays for Real Madrid for crying out loud. He's a great player. I know sometimes we pick holes in his game and his defensive side, but I've spoken about that many times, many times. And Marcus Rashford, yeah. Do you think he should start?

12:34I think he deserves a start against Newcastle. Well, he does particularly well against Newcastle. History tells you. He's got quite a lot of goals against them. And confidence is important. Marcus seems really content though. I mean, he's getting action. He's getting minutes on the pitch, but I think when the big three have been fit, they've played. Last season's big three, obviously, of Luminium, Al Lewandowski and Rafinha. So it's understandable. There's also a lot of talk that they're quite close to doing a deal with United for him to stay on a permanent basis rather than a season's loan. I don't know whether there's any truth in that, but nice to have a couple of young English.

13:12Well, they're not so young now, are they? Those two, they're kind of all. They're in their prime, let's say. Players in their prime. A little bit like you are, Alex. I'm not sure about that. I'm not sure about that. Not after a weekend with Alan Shearer's foundation. No, I certainly didn't feel in my prime on Sunday morning. I felt in my prime on Saturday night, that's for sure, but not the next day. Big news in Barcelona this week, of course, was the elections. Unlike this country, Barcelona elect a president for the club and that's elected by Los Socios, yeah? The members that obviously go to all the games.

13:52They've voted in again, Joanne Laporta, who's been their big, big personality. I've met him obviously numerous occasions. He's always very pleasant. I mean, he took on a difficult role, didn't he? After the previous incumbent left the club in absolute mess. Yeah, yeah. And in his victory speech, He promised to strengthen the first team and complete the redevelopment of the Nou Camp as well, which I'm sure will please the fans. 70 % of them vote of him. So a big win for him. And yeah, great that the fans still have their say. The players actually get a vote, which certainly wasn't the case when I was there.

14:36And he seemed to be hovering on their shoulder when they were voting. No pressure, lads. But if you want a new contract, ticked alongside La Porta. And the other one was when the result came through, I saw him dancing around. He'd got a few moves. Well, probably not that many moves, a bit more. A bit Donald Trump, actually, I thought. But this is his second term, so he won't be able to be elected. He cannot be elected again. Yes, although he was also elected, of course, prior. Yeah. It's the second spell as present, isn't it? Yes. Well, we're doing this in two halves, so we'll be back in a minute.

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17:08Welcome back to the rest is Football La Liga with Alex Alge and me Gary Lineker it's time to turn our attention to Atletico de Madrid and well firstly what a goal from Molina Gollazo Gollazo not many players score goals like that and particularly not this player Molina I don't think he'll score another goal like that maybe in maybe in his career. Yeah. So good after eight minutes, the only goal in the game. Simeone made 10 changes from the Tottenham game. Even a change in goal. Yano Black, late withdrawal through injury. Juan Musso started in goal. He's done really well in their Copa del Rey journey, obviously in the final in that.

17:53More than able deputy to Yano Black, clean sheet for him. Hitafe didn't have a shot in a really one-sided first half, but grew into the game, but still a big win for Atletico. and it looks like they're finishing those Champions League spots now for sure. I'm pretty confident they're going to make it now, as Eric had his say. Eric has had his say and his first line is actually, I'll say what Eric's first line is then we'll explain why he says it. He said, an amateur urologist pays Swarlot a visit. Not quite up there with Michel and Valderrama, however. So basically just to explain, it was a bizarre off-ball incident.

18:34between Hetafes Abdel Apkar and Alexander Soloth. So replays clearly show Apkar pinching Soloth in his private area, shall we say, leading to a red card after the referee was sent to the monitor to have a closer look at what had gone on. Can I ask one question before you carry on? Sure. Was it an off-the-ball incident? Yes. Sorry. Slightly off.

19:10I'm sorry. I'm such a prick. And then, so he comes up, said player who was involved in this off-ball incident said, it was not my intention to touch the player in this area, he claimed afterwards. Anyway, even if it wasn't his intention, you can't do that. And he was sent off. I'm not sure there's anything in the rules. Do you think there's a law 17F? Thou shalt not grab opponents by... Because there is one on pulling the hair, isn't there? But I'm not sure about one on pulling the tajar. This could have been both because this was the incident with Michel in Valderrama. He could have gone for the hair run.

19:56Can you remember the original incident of this way back that's very famous that occurred in this country. Who was it? Gaza, Vinnie Jones. Have you ever seen that? Oh, I have seen it, I think. Yeah. And I think that was definitely intentional. Soorloff's okay, though. He's not too sore. I think he's all right. But yeah, so that was Eric's main concern this week. Look, he suddenly cares about Soorloff. That's good. What else has he got to say? He said, it looks like Simeone has just about met the club's objective for the season, which was Champions League football next season, but that might change under the new owners.

20:33And he said Tottenham turned up 22 minutes late for the Champions League game. Didn't play that well. Yeah, still won 5-2. Spurs by far the worst team this season at the Metropolitano. The worst team so far at the Metropolitano. Yeah, that's Eric's claim. Quite damning, but they were bloody awful. Hitafe could have nicked a point had it not been for Musso. Very, very good backup up to Oblak. Yeah, he made a brilliant save in stoppage time. But yeah, another good win for Atletico Madrid. Things are looking up. You're not going back to the aforementioned moment there, are you? Oh, no. Harry, don't laugh at that.

21:18You said it, not me. Anyway, before we land ourselves in too much trouble, do you want to round things up? Let's round up the rest of the results from La Liga at the weekend. Alaves drew 1-0 with Villarreal. A 98-minute equaliser from Nicola Pepe rescued a point for Villarreal. Alaves after an own goal from Rafa Marin had put the home side ahead. Girona beat Athletic Club 3-0, banished any lingering relegation fears as goals from Hugo Rincon, Azirin Unai and Claudio Echeverri gave them a 3-0 win over Athletic Club. Bottom club Real Oviedo sprung a surprise victory over Valencia with a 32nd minute David Costa's goal, keeping their distant hopes of safety alive.

22:05Charles Pickle opened the scoring for Espanyol at Mallorca, but the home side rallied and goals from Pablo Torre and Samu Costa saw them move out of the bottom three. A rare goal from Hector Beirin saw Real Betis earn a point at home to Celta Vigo after Ferran Jukla's early opener. A brace from Gonzalo Guelles and a penalty from Mikel Oriazabal gave Real Sociedad a comfortable 3-1 win over Osasuna. And finally, it finished all square on Monday night as Rayo Vallecano and Levante played out a one-all draw with Pathy Cis levelling for the hosts after Carlos Espy had opened the scoring for Levante.

22:45You had to be careful at the end there with that Pate Cis. Easy to say, Sate Peace. Sate Peace. Very long. Sate Peace. Some great name. Nothing will beat Charles Pickle. Charles Pickle is a fabulous name. Who got sent off in that game, by the way. So he scored and... Did you get sent off the week before? Always in a pickle. You've already made that joke. Yeah. I can't recycle that, can I? I don't know. You keep pickles in a can for ages.

23:16Okay. That's all we've got time for today on tomorrow's episode of The Rest is Football, the latest now moments that made them. We're focusing on a player that was very much from La Liga's son, Luis Suarez. What a player he was. For now, though, goodbye from me. Goodbye from me.

24:06We'll see you next time.

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