In short
Podcast Episode Notes: The Rest Is Football
Episode Title
Atlético Stun Real In Madrid Derby, Barca Go Top Of La Liga & Elche In Dreamland
Episode Description
This episode discusses
- Atlético Madrid's significant victory over Real Madrid and its implications for their season.
- Barcelona's best lineup when all players are fit.
- Newly-promoted Elche's performance and position in the league.
- Ongoing issues at Athletic Club following a poor run of form.
Hosts
- Gary Lineker
- Alan Shearer
- Micah Richards
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Key Topics
- Madrid Derby
- Match Summary:
- Atlético Madrid achieved a stunning 5-2 victory over Real Madrid.
- First victory of this magnitude for Atlético in 75 years.
- Key players included Julian Alvarez, who scored a hat-trick and delivered a superb free kick.
- Discussion Points:
- The performance shift for Atlético Madrid as a potential revival for their season.
- Real Madrid's struggles under pressure; Xabi Alonso's management approach.
- The impact of the loss on Real Madrid's morale and upcoming fixtures.
- Quotes:
- Gary Lineker noted, "Diego Simeone was asked after the game what he liked about the performance. And he said, todo, everything. He loved it."
- Barcelona's Performance
- Match Highlights:
- Barcelona came from behind to defeat Real Sociedad 2-1 and ascended to the top of La Liga.
- Goals by Jules Koundé and Robert Lewandowski sealed the comeback victory.
- Key Player Analysis:
- Discussion on the best lineup for Barcelona with current squad availability.
- Special mention of Marcus Rashford's assist streak and his growing importance to the team.
- Quotes:
- Gary Lineker remarked on Rashford's adaptability and performance: "He’s made himself difficult to leave out, which is terrific."
- Elche's Surprising Rise
- Newly-promoted Elche sits in the top four after a 2-1 victory over Celta Vigo.
- Discussion on their unexpected success and potential sustainability in La Liga.
- Key Players:
- Andres Silva, recognized for his scoring ability, and John Donald, who contributed to the victory.
- Athletic Club's Struggles
- An ongoing discussion about Athletic Club's poor run of form, including three defeats and a draw in their last four matches.
- The lack of goals and overall performance concerns leading to questions about the management.
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Additional Insights
- Fantasy Football Mention:
- Listeners are encouraged to join "The Players Lounge" for fantasy football competitions against the hosts.
- Next Fixtures:
- Upcoming matches in the Champions League featuring Barcelona and Real Madrid, with discussions on the teams’ preparations and expectations.
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Conclusion
The episode encapsulates the drama of La Liga with both Atlético's resurgence and Barcelona's strategic positioning. The struggles of teams like Athletic Club highlight the competitive nature of the league, while Elche's achievement provides a refreshing narrative of success. Overall, the episode blends insightful analysis with entertaining commentary, making it a must-listen for football fans.
Written by AI. May contain mistakes. Listen to the episode to check what was said.
Transcript
Automatic transcript. May contain errors.0:005 a.m.
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1:50Gary Lineker:And newly promoted Elche are in dreamland as they make it seven games without defeat and are into the top four. Stay tuned for all the action.
2:13Alan Shearer:Hello and welcome to the Restus Football La Liga episode with Alex Algeo and me, Gary Lineker. It's been another fascinating weekend of Spanish football with a bit of a twist at the top of the table. Alex, well, firstly, where are you? Looks a bit misty behind you.
2:32Gary Lineker:Yeah, pretty dreary Istanbul today. Istanbul, ahead of Galatasaray Liverpool in the Champions League. So looking forward to that one. Never been to Istanbul. I thought it was going to be sunny. I was told it was going to be warm. But no, pretty rainy. Looks a bit like England, doesn't it? but looking forward to the game. We're right by the stadium as well. So I've heard the atmosphere is pretty intense inside the lion's den.
2:58Alan Shearer:Beautiful city though, Istanbul. Have you not had the chance to... The thing is people go, oh God, you had a lovely trip then. You're basically flowing in, aren't you? You go in a hotel, you have a meeting. Ate a kebab. You prep it. Well, at least you ate a kebab. That's something. That's a joke. It was delicious. But you don't really have the chance to go around tourist-wise and see the city because it's gorgeous, Istanbul.
3:19Gary Lineker:yeah maybe Wednesday after the game I'll have a flying in the evening so I will go and explore Istanbul what about you Gary where are you
3:29Alan Shearer:well I'm down in south of England at the moment still recording my new show The Box which comes out in the spring probably it's been a lot of fun it's great and been lucky so far touch with the weather because there's a lot of big outdoor activities games challenges I think it's great I think it's really I think it's going to go down really well it's a lot of fun I really enjoyed it good we're halfway through something something different but so far so good brilliant look forward to it
4:03Gary Lineker:football
4:04Alan Shearer:yeah a bit of football there's only one place to start isn't there and that's probably the Madrid derby not quite I don't think Alex what we anticipated
4:14Alex Scott:the free kick is towards the back post Gonzalez just kept it alive. Simeone's cross, Lenore Montella, he opens a scoring for Atletico. Mbappe gives the pass and then sets off. This is Kylian Mbappe. Kylian Mbappe, 1-1. Incisive, and the moment he gathered the ball there, he knew what came next.
4:44two for company
4:47Alex Scott:picks out Ardegula and Ardegula scores again and Real Madrid from 1-0 down are 2-1 in front here
5:03Alex Scott:delivers the corner it takes a flick and goes in and 2-2 Diego Simeone likes that Real Madrid don't and I think their frustration is that they believe it's a hand ball well it might just hit him on the forearm there no goal and it stays at 2-1 Real Madrid
5:33Alex Scott:that's in towards Saul off this time he does score and I don't think there'll be anything taking off the big Norwegian this time. Alexander Sorloff, frustrated a few moments ago, has his revenge. Alvarez delivers again, he's poked away. Back to the Argentinian, Alvarez delivers, there's a high boot there from Aragula. Penalty says the referee. Whoa, it's all happening in the derby. Nico Gonzalez holding his face. was on first glance a high boot and it will be a penalty for Julian Alvarez he scores it and Atletico Madrid are back in front and another Atletico Madrid free kick in a decent position oh brilliant Julian Alvarez has a second and that is fantastic the Atletico Madrid are looking to ice the cake in style now Antoine Griezmann it is Atletico's derby day and Antoine Griezmann perhaps fittingly finishes it off here
6:41Alan Shearer:So Alex not quite what you predicted No
6:47Gary Lineker:no I think I need to make a formal apology to everyone especially to Atletico Madrid fans who are watching because I said I can see nothing but a big I think I said big big win for Real Madrid which is not what we saw We saw a big, big win for Atletico Madrid, scoring five goals past Real Madrid, first time for 75 years. And really a very, very good performance. I think Diego Simeone was asked after the game what he liked about the performance. And he said, todo, everything. He loved it. He absolutely loved it.
7:25Alan Shearer:I'll tell you one thing. I'll tell you one thing about football, right, Alex? I've been in this game a long, long time. there will be many, many occasions where it makes you look a complete fool. So don't take it to home. Say less.
7:37Gary Lineker:I should say less. No, don't say less because it's a podcast and that doesn't work.
7:44Alan Shearer:Predict less is maybe. Yeah, not good. Or never go with too much confidence.
7:49Gary Lineker:Not in football. Yeah. That would be my advice. Normally with Real Madrid, confidence with Real Madrid doesn't tend to backfire that often. But we saw last season they struggled in the big games. and that's continued so far this season. Obviously a game that they really, I would say needed to win. It's a Madrid derby. They always need to win that. Atletico Madrid really needed to win that. Had they lost, they'd have been 12 points behind Real Madrid, but now up in fifth and a massive three points for them. But as I said, that they really deserved it. Xabi Alonso said, we're in a building phase, but how long can Real Madrid be in this building phase?
8:28Gary Lineker:But Julian Alvarez, I think we should talk about him because five shots on target last week and five goals, a hat-trick against Rayo Vicano midweek, and then two more. One of those brilliant and absolutely superb free kick. And Simeone was clearly pretty emotional after that as well. You could see he put his head in his hands after that goal.
8:50Alan Shearer:He's a survivor, that fella, isn't he? Just as you think he's under pressure, he clucks out the results of the century for Atletico to bat in Real Madrid like that. And it didn't look like that was going to happen necessarily early in the game. Real Madrid started pretty well. Didn't need some decent football. I don't think, I mean, I know they'd won every single game under Alonso this season, but they hadn't really, a little bit like Liverpool in the Premier League, that, you know, even though they'd won all their games, they hadn't looked anything like the finished article. and you start to think that if they come up against someone really good, that would be a big test.
9:30Alan Shearer:And, you know, Liverpool lost at the weekend. But this, I think, was a shock, I mean, to lose like this because Atletico have been really struggling. But we talked as well, didn't I, last week about Xabi Alonso asserting himself, leaving certain players out, rotating, obviously trying to establish a presence within the dressing room, which is all very well, leaving big-name players out occasionally. like he's done with Vinicius Jr., Trent Alexander-Arnold before he got injured, the new signings. And that's fine until things go a little bit badly. And then that can test the dressing room a little bit.
10:10Alan Shearer:It's still very early. I'm sure it'll be fine. I'm sure he's hugely respected there because he's a player that's played for Real Madrid for a long time. Very successful in his first season at Leverkusen. Anyway, remarkable. but it just it's a little bit of a testing moment I would say yeah
10:28Gary Lineker:certainly is I think very few positives for Real Madrid really from that game two shots on target though two goals Kylian Mbappe with another goal now into double figures in all competitions ten goals a really nice one-two between him and Ardegula and then it was actually Ardegula who scored their second they took the lead 2-1 2-1 up things were looking up for Real Madrid Ardegula with his third goal of the season and he's actually proved to be a really important player for Xabi Alonso's team so far this season. Some really good work from Vinicius Junior on the left as well for that goal, but then it started going pretty badly for Real Madrid from that moment on.
11:06Gary Lineker:There was a goal disallowed. It came off Clement Longley's arm, but then Saul equalised and Julian Alvarez with two and Anton Griezmann with a goal, his first of the season. Great afternoon for Atletico Madrid. a terrible afternoon for Real Madrid, who then had to get on a plane to Almaty the following day, nine hours to mull over that defeat on their way to Kazakhstan. So, yeah, not a great couple of days for Real Madrid.
11:34Alan Shearer:That is not a resort. You want to jump straight on a plane, is it? I'm just high all that way. No.
11:42Gary Lineker:And tricky for Xabi Lanzo as well, because Danny Carvajal's injured, obviously no Trent. So what's he going to do? maybe play Ferdinand Valverde at right back? I mean, he's very adaptable, isn't he?
11:54Alan Shearer:Valverde, he can play anywhere. I mean, they should be all right in this game. I mean, it's not, I mean, the trip's a lot, but it's an opposition that Real Madrid should beat comfortably, you would have thought. But in terms of Diego Simeone, I mean, he is remarkable to keep his drive and his commitment for all those years. It's mad really, isn't it? I mean, he's had dips before. We've seen it before. And it's usually when he goes against the way he wants to play. Sometimes he wants to be a little bit, he'll go, we're going to do a bit more expansive football and a little bit open football. Doesn't seem to work.
12:31Alan Shearer:And then he goes back to Diego Simeone football. But on this occasion, once they went behind, you thought it's going to be in trouble here. And he actually played some really free-flowing football and scored some good goals. And you're right about Alvarez. He's a talented individual. Argentina are going to be very strong again at the World Cup you know Alvarez Romero at the back really good McAllister they've got so many good players I think they'll make a strong fist of defending their title
12:58Gary Lineker:I'm sure Manchester City wish they'd never let him go obviously it was difficult for Julien Alvarez at Manchester City with Erling Haaland but he would have got his opportunities wouldn't he though with injuries but he's certainly doing well very well at Atletico Madrid
13:12Alan Shearer:he's really good he's alright he's decent
13:15Gary Lineker:I actually spoke to Jan Oblak, ahead of the Madrid derby. He was speaking about Julien Alvarez. Some interesting things there. He was speaking about Conor Gallagher. Over 500 games he's played for Atletico Madrid. The 500th was the game at Anfield. Been with Diego Simeone throughout. Should we hear from him?
13:33Alan Shearer:Oh, yes, please.
13:36Gary Lineker:Julien Alvarez. Hat trick for him. Just how highly do you rate him and how important is he for Atletico Madrid?
13:42Micah Richards:Yes, happy for him because he was not in a great moment as well. So he deserved this hat-trick in the last game. He's a very important player for us. He came last season and he's the player who can do a difference, who makes a difference. So we are really happy to have him here. Hopefully he will continue like that, scoring many goals and helping us to win titles.
14:09Gary Lineker:Over 500 games with the same manager as well, with Diego Simeone. He's called you the best goalkeeper in the world before. How would you sum up your relationship with him?
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14:19Micah Richards:Yes, a lot of things. For sure, I learned a lot of things with him, with all the stuff he has. So, pretty intense. But we have a good relationship. We support each other since the beginning. So, for sure, we're going to do this until we will be here.
14:41Gary Lineker:What do you make with Conor Gallagher as a player and a person?
14:45Micah Richards:A great person. I mean, a great player first and then a great person. He's really good. He's really aggressive. He's good with the ball. He can run a lot. So, I think he's missing some confidence, but that's probably because in many games he doesn't play an entire game. He goes out maybe too soon for him, but I'm sure that when he gets this important confidence, he's going to be an amazing player. He's an amazing player, but he's going to be an even better player for us. He can score goals, he defends good, so he has everything to become one of the best.
15:28Alan Shearer:Yeah, I know, Black. I think he's one of the very, very best goalkeepers in world football. What's he like as a fella? He seemed nice.
15:37Gary Lineker:Yeah, he was very, very chill, very relaxed, considering it was the day before the Madrid derby, but he's played in quite a few of them. So I'm sure he doesn't get nervous or intimidated anymore. He's won the Golden Glove out in Spain six times, which is incredible. And very honest as well. Interesting what he said about Conor Gallagher. Yes, it was. Yeah, because I said we like, you know, following the English players out there in Spain and let's talk about Conor Gallagher. And he said, well, it's hard for him because he's lacking confidence. He's not playing enough. He came on for the last 25 minutes in the Madrid derby, but he's not one of those players that's going to come on and change a game.
16:14Gary Lineker:He's not an impact sub that's going to come on and score. He really needs to be starting. And in a World Cup year as well, he really needs to be starting for Atletico Madrid. But there's a lot of competition.
16:24Alan Shearer:When he first went to Spain, he was very much a fan favourite, wasn't he? He started really well. He's gone off the boil a little bit, hasn't he? He's had a few issues and he's not been a regular starter.
16:36Gary Lineker:What do you think in Tuchel's World Cup squad, Connor Gallagher?
16:40Alan Shearer:England have got so many good players. I think it's going to be difficult for him. He's not a technical player, but he is a warrior and he will cover the ground. He is a runner and he's honest. I mean, he's a very, very good footballer. But if you look at the players coming through in midfield with England now, I think it's going to be difficult for him. he certainly will need to get back into Atletico's starting line-up, play regularly, and they'll probably need, such is the nature of, unless you're one of the big stars and playing abroad like Bellingham or Trenton, I think it's difficult to get yourself noticed unless you're doing something special.
17:23Alan Shearer:So if they go really well in the Champions League, for example, and he performs well, then that'll give him a chance. but I would say he would be an outside bet for the squad. But he is also a player that gives you something different. He gives you legs. If you play a certain system, I mean, he can really cover the ground and he's got a great attitude. But if you've got – you also can't let yourself get affected by confidence like Jan Oblek said about him. So we shall see. Let's take a breather and then perhaps discuss one or two the other games when we come back and including Barcelona is where once again they're not in the camp now.
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20:18Alan Shearer:Welcome back to the Restless Football La Liga with Alex Aljo and me, Gary Lineker. Let's move on to Barcelona. Now, they were back, not in the Johan Cruyff this time, they were back up in Montjuic in the Olympic Stadium.
20:35Gary Lineker:Yeah, Post Malone's cleared his stuff out of the dressing room finally. They're back in the Olympic Stadium. That's where Paris Saint-Germain will play in the Champions League as well. But yeah, it's taking a while, isn't it? I think there are safety issues now at the Nou Camp. They were going to go back to the Nou Camp and play with a reduced capacity, but that's not happening.
20:54Alan Shearer:They've not done the top part yet, have they? It looks like they've done most of the bottom two-thirds.
21:00Gary Lineker:Yeah. They'll get there. It'll be worth the wait.
21:03Alan Shearer:They're not putting a roof on, are they? For example, I mean, I know the Noucap has traditionally never had that, except for one bit over the balcony. But the rest of it has always been open and exposed. I was wondering whether they would. But it doesn't. I mean, if they have planned a roof, that is going to take a while.
21:22Gary Lineker:Scrap the roof. Scrap the roof.
21:27Alex Scott:corner taken short it's De Jong teeing it up for Rashford and Romero makes the save Yafabao pokes it to Barat Shea just knocks it away from Koundé and Ogriot Sola gives Real Sociedad the lead it's Marcus Rashford's corner it's Jules Koundé's header it's Barcelona's equaliser Marcus Rashford has another La Liga assist and it's a bullet header from Koundé to draw them level. Lamin-Yemal looking to burst towards the byline. Yemal's ball in. Robert Lewandowski via the post completes the comeback. And they just love doing things the hard way this season, Barcelona. They've turned it around again. Is the Barcelona break on here?
22:23De Jong
22:25Alex Scott:Yamal Lamin-Yamal with two for company looks to square it must be from Lewandowski comes back off the bar and down and again just about Real Sociedad with some desperate defending deny Barcelona a third
22:48Alex Scott:the full time whistle goes and Barcelona do go top of La Liga with a 2-1 victory here against Sociedad.
22:57Gary Lineker:To the top of the table.
23:00Alan Shearer:Once again, coming from behind, Alex. Coming from behind again.
23:03Gary Lineker:Yes, yes, yes. And unlikely goal scorer for Real Sociedad as well. Alvaro Odriozola opening the scoring for them. He hadn't started in La Liga.
23:12Alan Shearer:That is a hard name to say.
23:13Gary Lineker:Alvaro Odriozola, because he played for Real Madrid, but hadn't started in La Liga since the 23-24 season. So injuries and just being out of favour. And so he was certainly not the player I expected to open the scoring. Rashford started the game really well. Started a couple of good chances. He did.
23:34Alan Shearer:He had some nice moments, actually.
23:37Gary Lineker:And yet another assist. He's still waiting for his first La Liga goal, but four assists in a row now in as many La Liga games.
23:45Alan Shearer:No, he was looking good. I think he played quite well. And the other thing, of course, the return of Yamil. Took him a minute. Didn't take long to get an impact.
23:56Gary Lineker:Yeah, yeah. One minute after he came off the bench assisting Robert Lewandowski. Another header for Robert Lewandowski, the winning goal.
24:07Alan Shearer:He missed an absolute sitter, though, just before he hit the bar, didn't he? From about four or five, six yards out.
24:13Gary Lineker:What do you think their best line-up is, Gary? Oh, blimey. It's a tricky one, isn't it? I've written out what I think it is
24:20Alan Shearer:I think Pedri might be in there
24:22Gary Lineker:he's so good again
24:24Alan Shearer:he's so good I think Pedri, De Jong those two for sure those two definitely for sure and then it's whether you've got Lopez or Olmo you could play Olmo's he's flexible he can play anywhere up there I think I think Lamine-Yumal might get in on the right obviously Lewandowski in the middle I suppose probably the one from that. If you had to pick it for the big game and everyone was fit, Rafinha has to be in there. And Lewandowski and then Marcus. But Marcus can fill in any of those positions. So versatile. But he's obviously, he's starting a lot of games and I think he deserves a big pat on the back for that.
25:08Alan Shearer:He's got himself in a position. I think most people when he went there thought to themselves, given his difficulties at Manchester United over the last year or two, I think a lot of people thought, well, blimey, he's not going to play at all, is he? But he's played a lot. And he's made himself difficult to leave out, which is terrific. And the two goals he's got at Newcastle, particularly the second one, he lit up the Champions League that night.
25:35Gary Lineker:It's really good for his confidence as well.
25:37Alan Shearer:Really good for his confidence because he's
25:39Gary Lineker:sat on the bench and it could have been very different for him, but he's certainly, he's done the job, hasn't he, when he's been put on the pitch?
25:47Alan Shearer:And you can see he's popular amongst the players, the way they react to him when he does something. So I'm really pleased for him. I hope he carries on because he's a prodigious talent. When he's on his game and his mind's in the right place and he's confident, I think he's a bit of a confidence player. Most people are. But when he's on it, he's a joy to watch. And obviously having spent a bit of time with him recently when we went to Barcelona with big meets to interview, he's a lovely guy really lovely and he was so excited by the challenge and I'm so glad it started well for him because the start is so important you know it can be difficult particularly at a club like Barcelona or Real Madrid where the expectancy levels are incredibly high so you've really got to deliver and he is delivering
26:36Gary Lineker:at the moment
26:37Alan Shearer:and long may it continue
26:38Gary Lineker:Is he learning Spanish?
26:40Alan Shearer:He was he'd already taught he was having lessons when I was there I hope he's stuck at it As you know, nowadays it's much harder than it was in my day. You have no idea what it was like in my day because you weren't even born.
26:56Gary Lineker:That's not true. That's not true.
26:59Alan Shearer:When were you born with that? You should never ask anyone's age.
27:04Gary Lineker:Same year as your oldest son.
27:06Alan Shearer:Oh, right. Okay. So George, 91.
27:09Gary Lineker:Yeah.
27:09Alan Shearer:Yeah. You were not born when I played for Barcelona. I was 86 to 89 Alex oh god it makes me feel old oh goodness oh yeah yeah yeah I'll bet you never thought back in then I'll be doing a podcast with that old prat one day I didn't know who you were
27:27Gary Lineker:Gary of course I did of course I did in terms of learning Spanish though it's so much easier
27:34Alan Shearer:if you're surrounded by people that don't speak English and that was very much the case in my day Yeah, exactly.
27:40Gary Lineker:That's what Trent was saying the frustrations were, because he's really, really trying with his Spanish, but they're speaking to him in English. They want to practice their English as well. So they're speaking to him in English. He's like, no, I've come to your country to speak your language. But that's such a great attitude to have, isn't it? Because Gareth Bale certainly welcomed people speaking English to him. He didn't really have any interest in learning Spanish or speaking Spanish, which is probably not the best approach when you're in Spain. No.
28:08Alan Shearer:Well, when we spoke to Marcus about that and he was he was having lessons and he was desperately keen to learn. But he said the same thing. Everybody, you know, so many people speak English now, but which makes it hard. Nobody spoke English. Hardly anyone, I should say, spoke English when I went to Barcelona. And that was hugely advantageous in terms of learning the language. So, yeah, Barca, though, back on top of the league, Alex.
28:32Gary Lineker:yep yep back on top of the league and looking very good very strong got a tricky game in the Champions League midweek though will be a really big test for them Paris Saint-Germain Real Madrid played Paris Saint-Germain at the Club World Cup we all know what happened that afternoon 4-0 defeat at the MetLife Stadium so I think it'll be a really big test for Hansi Flickside see where they're at and they go to the Olympic Stadium on Wednesday night so looking forward to that game
29:01Alan Shearer:Yeah, unquestionably. I think that'll be a cracker. I'll watch that one.
29:07Gary Lineker:Well, I think we've lost Gary. Either he's lost his signal or he's been taken away by his production team because he is on set today filming. So I will round up the rest of the highlights from the weekend in La Liga on my own. There was a big game between two of the most likely candidates for fourth place in La Liga this season. Villarreal beating Athletic Club 1-0. Still no Nico Williams for Athletic Club. it's now three defeats and a draw in their last four La Liga games they've only scored one goal in five matches in all competitions since the international break which is pretty concerning for Ernesto Valverde it was Alberto Malero with the goal for Villarreal in the 77th minute when he came off the bench the first goal for him since he signed from Las Palmas in the summer he struggled a bit so far but he certainly has the talent to make a big impact for Villarreal this season Athletic Club came really close to an equaliser.
30:00Gary Lineker:Alejandro Rego's long-range effort hitting the bar. But no, all three points for Villarreal. Big win for them. Also worth mentioning, a really, really impressive start for Elche, newly promoted side in La Liga this season, sitting in the top four after they beat Celta Vigo 2-1. Another goal for Portuguese striker Andres Silva, his third of the season in his sixth game. Borja Iglesias had equalised for Celso Vigo and John Donald scored Elche's second. A scrappy goal, but they did play really well and deserve to win unbeaten. And as I mentioned, in the top four. That's all for this episode of The Rest is Football La Liga.
30:43Gary Lineker:Champions League is back this week. We'll keep a close eye on the game in Barcelona as Hansi Flick's side take on Paris Saint-Germain. and we'll also keep an eye on Real Madrid out in Kazakhstan as they take on Kairat Almaty. We'll see you next time with all the reaction to this weekend's La Liga action. See you then.
From the publisher
Can Atlético Madrid’s brilliant victory of Real Madrid be the kickstart they need for their season? What is Barcelona’s best line up when everyone is fit? How have newly-promoted Elche upset the odds to find themselves in the top four?
Gary and Alex also discuss the problems at Athletic Club, as their poor run of form continues.
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