Barcelona Getting Better And Better, Alonso Putting His Stamp On Real Madrid & Atletico Out Of The Title Race Already?

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0:53Coming up on today's show... stumble again as they're held by lowly Mallorca. Stay tuned for all the action.

1:13Alan Shearer:Hello and welcome to the Rest is Football La Liga with Alex Algeau and me, Gary Lineker. Quite a lot to discuss, Alex. We had Champions League, of course, last week, where it was a lot of Premier League versus La Liga, which came out slightly in favour of the Premier League. And then we've had some interesting football over the weekend in La Liga and some cracking goals to boot. You were busy doing Champions League last week as well. So you've been busy. I was at Tottenham, Tottenham Villarreal, which was not a thriller. I wouldn't say Lewis Junior gifting, gifting Tottenham that goal. Terrible, terrible mistake from him.

2:01He's not going to want to watch that back many times, but no, it was good that the champions lead back. I enjoyed the game. I went up to the roof. I don't know if you saw, but I climbed to the top. Oh, I was going to ask you about that. That is my worst nightmare.

2:13Alan Shearer:Are you scared of heights? Horrendously scared of heights. I'm terrible. And I discovered it when I was on pre-season with Leicester when I was 17 years old. And I got into the first team squad. And the pre-season was in Sweden in the summer. So it's beautiful. And the players, there was a ski jump. And we went right to the top to see what it would be like to look down the ski jump. You know, I just went completely wobbly. And I had to lay on the floor. The players were helping me down. and I'm so embarrassed. But you hadn't discovered it before then. You didn't know you were scared of heights before then.

2:51Alan Shearer:I had no idea. And I got up there and it was pathetic, Alex Half. I don't mind admitting it. And ever since then... It's not pathetic. We've all got our fears and phobias. Don't worry. Yeah, but the thing is, even watching you up there made me feel nauseous. Yeah, well, it is a sheer drop. I've been up there before. I've actually abselled off the side. It's an incredible stadium. It really is. It really is. It's amazing. It's fantastic. Yeah. I'm also filming a new show called The Box at the moment. They've just revealed all the celebrities, actually. How's it going? It's going really well. We've done the first episode.

3:23It was a lot of fun. It's really good, actually. But one, I'm just going to, I'm saying this because one of the episodes, I'm not going to give too much away, involves me having to be somewhere high. Uh-oh. Have you filmed it already? I mean, I am not one of the competitors. I'm the host, but I'm kind of slightly hands-on in terms of telling them what they have to do sometimes and clues and stuff. And one of them involves something high. I'm not going to spoil it beyond that, but oh, dear. But you haven't done it yet or you have done it yet. What could possibly go wrong? Oh, goodness. Well, I wish you all the best.

3:58Alan Shearer:I need to toughen myself up a little bit. I need to conquer my phobia. Anyway, we should talk a little bit about some football. We'll start the action off with Barcelona, another comfortable victory. Before we discuss it, let's have a look at the action. Well, Barcelona started their Champions League campaign with a win at Newcastle on Thursday night. The man who fired them there, Marcus Rashford, starts on the bench this evening.

4:29Leon. Or Rafinha. Of course, Koundé has set off ahead of him. Instead, Rafinha looks for Dani Olmo. It's the back heel. It's a goal for Ferran Torres. Expertly crafted and beautifully converted. And Barcelona, inside 15 minutes, have the opening goal. It is all about the back heel from Dani Olmo to leave Ferran Torres with the finish.

5:01Barcelona boots it long. And Rafinha, and it's two on two. Rafinha feeds Ferran Torres and Ferran Torres makes it too he's the right side of the halfway line as far as offside's concerned and from that moment on Etafe were in big trouble

5:23again Ferran Torres is in over the top and his effort comes back off the crossbar almost a first half hat-trick real simplicity simple run Simple ball. So close for Torres.

5:43Marcus Rashford sets off for Barcelona here. He's got Robert Lewandowski racing up to join him. It's Rashford. He picks out Dani Olmo. And Barcelona have wrapped up the job here.

5:58Alan Shearer:Well, once again, Alex, they were playing in the Estadi Johan Cruyff. I sense there might be a few fixtures there because Camp Nou is still not ready. Yeah, we're saying maybe next week, but I think they said, yeah, they're saying that, but they said November 2024 as well, didn't they? So, we'll see. But it'll be great once they're back, a real boost for Barcelona. And also there were some empty seats as well, which was interesting because it was only a 6 ,000 capacity, maybe because it was late on a Sunday, but it's not late in Spain, is it actually? Not a late kick-off in Spain on a Sunday. It's more likely, isn't it, that the way they've distributed the tickets that perhaps some people who won maybe didn't know or couldn't go.

6:38Yeah. Whereas normally you'd give the tickets to someone else. I don't know. I'm just... Yeah. But still no Laminia Mal out injured. He started Ferran Torres and Robert Lewandowski with Marcus Rashford on the bench after a brilliant performance in the Champions League midweek. Wow. So happy for him. That header and then a rocket. that second goal unbelievable that second goal was breathtaking it was interesting as well not just for I mean it was Marcus was sensational I mean he really was in that second half

7:10Alan Shearer:particularly I was I was so pleased for it I heard in the commentary actually they said I was the last English player to score in European tie or European away game oh my goodness which is obvious because I was actually the last English player but although it's not obvious in the sense that I might not have scored in Europe but Oh, that is obvious. So everything that he does now, everything he does, that'll be the last blow. Oh, Gary Linnecourt's a lot. He used to play football at it. Exactly. That second goal, so good and great for his confidence as well. He's clearly still got it, hasn't he, Gary?

7:47Oh, of course. I mean, he's an immense talent, Marcus. You know, he's had some dips in new careers like most of us do

7:54Alan Shearer:and he's been at a club that's had huge problems at Manchester United. And it seems that most of the players that have left there have done particularly well subsequently. But yeah, he was left out. He brought him on at half-time though. He had an assist. He nearly scored with a couple of good efforts as well. But the first goal from Ferran Torres. Wow. Lovely little backheel, that, from Dani Olmo. I mean, the move, that was classic Barcelona, wasn't it? Brilliant move, brilliant move. and then the second goal, Hatafé caught on the break. Rafinha releasing Ferran for his second great finish pass at David Soria.

8:34And then he almost scored a hat-trick as well, didn't he? Hit the bar, but a brilliant performance from Ferran Torres. Yeah. Also a brilliant performance once again from Pedri. It's mad, isn't it? All of a sudden in England last week, because he was so good against Newcastle, everyone's going, you know, this Pedri's really good. Have you not been watching? I know. I saw Jack Grealish tweeting about him. He's saying, wow, this is good. Yeah, but he's very, very, very special. Yeah. Obviously, we remember the glory period of Barcelona in particular with Xavi and Yester and Busquets in midfield. But, you know, he's going to be right up there in that level.

9:15No question in my mind, if he's not already. Yeah. I saw he was asked about winning the Ballon d 'Or one day and he actually said, no, I'm not interested in those. individual prizes, I'd much rather win trophies with my team. That's always the thing you say. Yeah, well, Laminia Mal wouldn't say that.

9:32Alan Shearer:Yeah, but Laminia Mal's got a bit, he's got a bit of cockiness about him. Cristiano Ronaldo wouldn't say that. Cristiano Ronaldo has a bit of cockiness about him. Yeah, there's a common theme with the players. What would Messi say? Oh, what would Messi say? Yeah, he's more humble. He's more of a team player, isn't he? Well, I don't think he's very much a team player, as is Pedri, by the way. And they're all team players because they contribute massively to the team, including Cristiano. But there is also, I think, with someone like Cristiano, obviously there's a focus on winning personal things as well.

10:06They're all pretty good, but a comfortable win really wasn't it for them, as you would expect to end Getafe at home. Yeah, but Getafe had had their best start to a season. But Barcelona do look like they're playing some of their best football at this early stage of the season. probably contrary to Real Madrid, who did get the job done against Espanyol at home. It's now five wins out of five in La Liga. Not an outstanding performance, but an important three points. They won midweek in the Champions League as well at home to Marseille. But let's take a look at what happened at the Santiago Bernabeu at the weekend.

10:42So far, so good for Real Madrid at the start of this season. Five wins from five in all competitions. Tonight, they host an Espanyol side who've lost their last 11 visits to Real. Santuono caught Dani Carvajal. Real look to break down a side that has started this season pretty well themselves, 10 points from four games and have already beaten Atletico Madrid. Valverde feeds Eder Militao, who goes for goal himself and scores an absolute belter. Well, almost a year since his last Real Madrid goal and this has emphatically been worth the wait.

11:29Beautiful strike. Dmitrovic gets a bit on it, but no chance he's keeping that out. It's Junior looking to run at the Espanyol defence. It's Mbappe! Kylian Mbappe's red-hot start to the La Liga season continues. And two minutes into the second half, Real Madrid double their lead. That's Lantzano lifted over the top for Mbappe. And Mbappe looked to lift it over Dmitrovic. Mbappe sets off again. It's killing Mbappe. Dmitrovic makes the save. And again, finishes Junior. It comes back off the outside of the post. Real had three bites at that one, but couldn't find their third of the night.

12:24Alan Shearer:Well, the highlight of that game was the two goals and particularly, I thought, Militao's Thunderbolt from what, I don't know, 25, 30 yards? He doesn't score many of those, by the way. I don't think he's going to score another one of those for a while. It was a Thunderbolt, wasn't it? Absolute rocket. So good. So good. Vinicius Junior was in the starting line-up. He's been a bit out in and out the side, hasn't he, under Xabi Alonso so far? What do you read into that, Alex? What's the word in Madrid on the street? He was replaced after 77 minutes, wasn't he? There was footage of him chatting to Xabi Alonso, clearly fuming.

13:03He threw a water bottle at the ground because he said, look, I'm playing my best football. I don't want to be taken off. He was feeling good. But I guess this is a good sign as well when a player wants to play that much as well. But Xabi Alonso did take him off. There's a bit of talk in Madrid that Xabi Alonso might not be a massive fan of Vinny Jr., but he's still a top, top player, isn't he? Yeah, I mean, he's very close to winning the Ballon d 'Or. He had a difficult time last season, but from what we've seen so far this season, he deserves to be playing. But there's a lot of competition in that Real Madrid team.

13:39Alan Shearer:Yeah, I think also Xabi Alonso being a very young coach coming into Real Madrid, obviously had an incredibly successful season or two at Leverkusen, particularly the first season where they almost, almost went a whole season in all competitions without losing a game until the final of the Europa League. But to come in and he's made a few kind of strong statements, you know, with a new signing with Trent, leaving him out occasionally for Kalabau, rotating in that position, leaving Vinicius, who's obviously not just one of the superstars of Real Madrid, but also, you know, one of the big egos there.

14:20Mbappe is clearly settled very quickly in playing that role. And he's absolutely flying. So I just wonder whether he's trying to impose himself on the club as their leader

14:34Alan Shearer:and trying to show the players perhaps that he's not going to be biased towards players just because they've got a big name. But that can rebound. It'll need to be, I've seen it sometimes when coaches have come in with big egos and then they've upset one or two of the big players. And then if results go against you, they can damage you, those players, if you upset them under those circumstances. But so far, 100 % winning record. Absolutely. Absolutely. So far, so good. and massive boost. The return of Jude Bellingham as well who came on at the very end of the game. The Bernabeu love him so, so much, don't they?

15:18The whole stadium singing Hey Jude. Oh, that's beautiful, wasn't it? 66 days after surgery back playing for Real Madrid but obviously not ready to start yet. They'll manage his minutes but massive to have Jude Bellingham back in that team. But Trent, they've lost Trent, haven't they? Really disappointing, gutted for him four minutes into the Champions League game. midweek. Hopefully he'll be back for the game at Anfield in the Champions League. Around about that time, he's expected to return because we'd love to see him play now, wouldn't we? But yeah, disappointing for him. We want to see him play.

15:52It's great to see Jude Bellingham play. Obviously, you know, this podcast goes out mostly for fans of Spanish football in England.

16:03Alan Shearer:So we want to see the English players playing over there. And Jude's a superstar. Jude's a superstar. and he's so popular in Madrid and he's going to be hugely important for England coming up in the World Cup next summer. That's for sure. We need him fit and firing. Well, one player who is fit and firing right now is Kylian Mbappe. Seven goals in six games so far this season and he scored a golasso, didn't he, at the weekend? But maybe not as good as Eda Militao's. Not many will be as good as that this season, but still a brilliant goal. He just, he's on fire at the moment, isn't he, Kylian Mbappe?

16:39But he's got to keep it up now. And I think he's adapted to the nine roles so brilliantly. I've said this once or twice already on the pod, but, you know, he was always on the left-hand side where he's facing up to players. And I think, I'm not just saying this because I play in the middle, but it's easier for players like that if you can beat players like he can. But to learn quickly how to play as a number nine, but he's super intelligent young man anyway. is not as easy as people think. And I love the way he spins behind. He gets himself offside occasionally, but that's part of being a centre forward.

17:15And you do that sometimes deliberately to make sure the defenders keep trying to play you offside. Slightly different, I thought, against Espano. I played a relatively low block. So he's coming deep. And then his finish was superb. He completely did the keeper. We used to go, you did him with the eyes where you look in one corner and you whip it in the other. He's almost impossible to defend against at the moment for any team.

17:41Alan Shearer:He's playing brilliantly. Okay, let's take a little break there, Alex. And when we come back, we'll discuss some of the other games.

17:51Welcome back to the rest of football, La Liga. Let's talk Atletico Madrid. I said their crisis was over last weekend, but not sure about that now because they drew away to Mallorca, who are down in the bottom three. They were down to 10 men, but another really, really disappointing result for Diego Simeone's side. Conor Gallagher scoring for them after they'd gone down to 10 men, but then Marucci with the equaliser. A really disappointing result again for Atletico Madrid, who lost in the Champions League as well midweek at Anfield, but a spirited comeback. So I think some positives to take away from that result, but a disappointing draw at the weekend.

18:36Well, absolutely. It always is, isn't it? And obviously Julian Alvarez as well, missing a penalty, which was a major surprise. Good to see Conor Gallagher getting on the score sheet.

18:49Alan Shearer:But yeah, all's not well really in the camp there, is it, at the moment? So I think it's, I mean, he's had a few tests over the years as Simeone, but this is a real one as well. Yeah, you mentioned Julian Alvarez missing that penalty. He's then taken off after 60 minutes. And people were lip reading what he said on the bench, which was siempre a me. Always me. Yeah, really. Also having players that aren't happy, clearly not happy players being played out of position. And I don't know where, I don't know where this is going to go for Diego Simeone, but I did mention that I've got some Atleti fans out, out in Madrid and they want him out.

19:30They said he lost the plot. Yeah, this morning I actually spoke to one who said he's lost the plot. He's lost the plot. Goodbye and thank you, he said. But yeah, it's a tricky one, isn't he? Because he's also been brilliant for that football club as well. Football fans' memories are always very short. I've learned that over the years. I've learned that over the years.

19:50Alan Shearer:But we'll see if he can survive this one, Diego Simeone. He's got a big week coming up. Rayo Vallecano midweek. And then the Madrid derby at the weekend as well. but you could definitely say that out of the title race already at this early stage of the season. I would say so. Yeah. I mean, that's the thing. If you, if you drift off Barcelona and Real Madrid, you know, if it's the other way around and Barcelona and Real Madrid were a few points back, you could, you could sense that they could turn it around, but you do need for Atleti. They do need a better start than that to really remain in content.

20:28I know it sounds ridiculous after just a few handful of games at the start of the season, but I think that's definitely probably the case. Alexander Sorloff's red cards maybe looks worse than actually was when it's slowed down. I'm not sure whether the AR should be intervening. Depends on the angle, doesn't it? My personal opinion is that when referees go to the monitor, they shouldn't be shown super slow-mo when it comes to tackles in that sense. Because any kind of contact with slow motion, it makes it look more deliberate and worse than it actually really is. That's just a view that I've had since I've imposed this on us, this awful VAR.