La Liga: Trent Impresses On Madrid Return, Barca Slip Up After Changes & Athletic Club Maintain A Perfect Record

0:00Alan Shearer:Coming up on today's show, Barcelona drop points for the first time against an impressive Rayo Vallecano. Vinicius Junior makes it 2-2 as Real Madrid hit back to beat Mallorca.

0:15Alan Shearer:Athletic Club join Real as the only other team with a 100 % record after beating Real Betis. And Atletico Madrid's struggles continue as they're held to a draw by Alaves. Stay tuned for all the action.

0:41Alan Shearer:Hello and welcome to The Rest is Football La Liga with Alex Aljo and me, Gary Lineker. Alex, first and foremost, you've been travelling around all over the shop. Yep. I've been to Kazakhstan and back since we last spoke. Therefore, Celtic, well, Kyra Almaty, Celtic, second leg, a thrilling nil-nil. Well, that's the trip. Went to extra time and pens, but Kyra Almaty are through and Real Madrid will go to Kazakhstan to Almaty. Match day two, so the end of September. So basically you were doing homework for the rest of this football. There you go. Yeah, Madridistas, hit me up. If you want Kazakhstan recommendations, I can tell you all the best places in Almaty.

1:29Alan Shearer:Was it a good trip? What was it like there? I went via Doha, so it was a long, long way. I think that they'll obviously, Real Madrid will fly direct, 10-hour flights, which is not ideal, maybe mid-season. 10-hour flight in Europe. But it was beautiful. Mountain range, very belt safe, clean, lovely people. Borat gave it a very, very bad reputation. Borat is actually banned in Kazakhstan. It wasn't even filmed in Kazakhstan. It was filmed in Romania. So you don't mention the word Borat out there. Not a fan. I can't imagine Real Madrid are particularly enthralled about the draw for that one. They were fuming.

2:05I was getting messages from friends, former colleagues, and they were saying, please just tell me something good about Kazakhstan because, yeah, they're not looking forward to the trip. But it's a great place. What about you, Gary? What have you been up to?

2:18Alan Shearer:A weekend watching football, a mixture of English and some Spanish. And just because we're doing this show now, I thought I must go on Saturday lunchtime for a bit of Spanish food. So I went to a restaurant called Legado. Legacy. Correct, Legacy. Translation. In Shoreditch. Edgy. It's the new restaurant by Nieves, the chef. She's brilliant. Very fancy. Very, very good, actually. Well, we need to do a pod from there, I think, at some point. That would be a really good idea. So we'll give them a plug, and deservedly so. Let's talk about a little bit of football. Barcelona dropped their first points of the season last night.

3:05Alan Shearer:Caught some of that. But before we talk about it, let's show you the action. Jamal looking to wriggle away from a challenge. He gets away from Chavarria who just catches him and the referee points to the penalty spot. The protest's waved away and Lamin-Yemal has earned his side a spot kick. It doesn't seem as though there were a huge amount of contact, but with VAR down there will be no second pair of eyes. Lamin-Yemal won the spot kick and Lamin-Yemal scores the spot kick and Barcelona are in front. expertly dispatched from the teenager.

3:52That's loose from Eric Garcia. It could be costly very quickly. It's scored by Jorge de Frutos, but the flag is up.

4:05Palazón to swing in the corner. It's towards Fran Pérez, who is totally unmarked and able to volley Valacano level again. He was in all sorts of space and suddenly it's 1-1. Jamal, is there to be one last attack? Well, it's comfortably snuffed out and Barcelona dropped points in La Liga for the first time this season. So, VAR wasn't working, right? Yes, exactly my point. Which would be music to a lot of people's ears after the weekend in the Premier League. Oh, it's not working? Oh, shame.

4:43Alan Shearer:I don't mind that at all. Although I think Lamin-Yumal's decision, it looked like there wasn't too much contact there. And I'm not sure that they may well have overturned that. They actually gave the penalty on field. Yumal himself finished it off quite comfortably. Yeah, really confident from the spot. For an 18-year-old as well to step up for Barcelona and say, yep, I'm going to take the penalty. I was thinking about it on the pitch at the time, who else could have taken one? Rafinha, I guess, the only other player that would have wanted to take it. But if Lewandowski's on the pitch, what's he saying to Laminia Mala?

5:17That's mine.

5:19Alan Shearer:Well, possibly, but I think it's only a question of time before he takes them all because, you know, he's that kind, he's that player, isn't he? He's the superstar of the future. It took Messi a little bit of time to get on them. You know, Cristiano was stating that the great players want to take them, but you're right. Lewandowski also knows that that's going to add significantly to his goals tally. and he's coming to a certain age where he'll play fewer and fewer games. I suspect we've seen that already. He'll pick up one or two knocks. He's coming to the twilight of his career. What a career he's had.

5:58Alan Shearer:But I would imagine at present, if he's on, he'll take them. But the fact that Jamal knocked it away comfortably, well, as soon as the situation changes at all or Lewandowski misses a couple, then I suspect he'll be the main penalty taker, whatever his age may be at the time. Hansi Flick making quite a few changes as well, isn't he? He benched Araujo and Kublaz. He started Christensen and Eric Garcia. Rashford started the last game, started this one on the bench. Gary, what is it like as a player, maybe this early in the season, especially for a forward player like Marcus Rashford, when the manager is making so many changes, does it add a bit of pressure, do you think?

6:39Thinking, I have to score, I have to provide an assist, otherwise I'm back on the bench.

6:43Alan Shearer:you're asking the wrong bloke I knew you were going to say that I teed you up for that you teed me up you were like Peter Beardsley there you're not here across the six yard box so I would say no of course it is but I was surprised he made the changes he did particularly at the back particularly the way they play and I think it came up unstuck because of it I'll come to you perhaps the wider point about what it's like as a player when you place it under threat but I think he's chopping and changing a bit but particularly defensively I mean the way they play that high line that the timing needs to be so good and it wasn't and I think in the second half in particular that Ray Ovea Cano had numerous opportunities to score and if it hadn't been for some absolutely brilliant goalkeeping then Barcelona would have been beaten so yeah I was surprised particularly the central defenders because, I mean, I don't know whether he did it as a criticism against Araujo and Cubarsi, although they won the last game, but there were times when they were beaten again.

7:52Alan Shearer:But I don't know. If you're playing that way, you need to play week in, week out. You've dropping and changing. And the rotation coming up, particularly before international break where you're going to lose players and some of them will get a rest and some won't. But I was surprised at that. I expected it all along in terms of Marcus Rashford because, you know, we know that the front line at Barcelona is very strong, even though Lewandowski has been injured and he's creeping back. He came on, of course, towards the latter stages. But, you know, Marcus in and out at the moment. But what it's like for a player like that is that when you get your opportunity, you want to grab it and he'll be desperate to do that.

8:36Alan Shearer:I think he did okay when he came on. But, you know, what did he get? 20 minutes or so? It's not that long to make a difference. Lewandowski came on as well, of course, up front. But he did change things up front at the top as well. So, played Danny Olmo in almost a 10 role. So, he's shuffling around a little bit at present. But I think all teams at this stage of the season are finding their way, aren't they? Yeah, absolutely. Rayo Vallecano, though, credit to them. They showed so much courage. They played midweek as well in the Conference League. But really, really good. That equaliser, Fran Pérez, he's come from Valencia.

9:17What a steal, by the way, for a million pounds. Just a million pounds. What a bargain. Yeah, incredible. A million euros, actually. A million euros. But totally unmarked, wasn't he? Completely alone. But still harder than it looks. You can tell us, Gary, that goal, the way he took it. Brilliant volley.

9:33Alan Shearer:Oh, it was a very good finish. In fact, I thought they were, you know, EC as well I thought was really good, dangerous. But yeah, he did finish it coolly and calmly. It's about getting the contact right in those circumstances. I think more than anything else, not snatch at it. It's very easy to snatch at those sort of chances. He certainly got it right. I don't think he's a game we can read too much into. I think Barcelona and Hansi Flick, I think he'll be annoyed that they let a couple of points slip, particularly after they got ahead in the game. But he obviously is trying to find the right formation, the right way of playing.

10:14Alan Shearer:But they've got so much talent there to fit in, I guess, as well. But I think fiddling around with his back four is the most surprising aspect of it. but they continue to play that, you know, the high line. What do you think the best back four is? Well, I think Kibar is going to be a proper player, but he's very young and learning. Araujo is a bit more kind of what we call old school. Do they say that in Spanish, do you think? Escuela vieja? Viejo. Escuela vieja. Colegio viejo. Yeah, maybe that way. But yeah, I think Kibar, I think that's probably their best partnership at this stage. But he's obviously not totally convinced yet himself.

11:03Yeah. And there was an interesting line Hansi Flick said after the game. He said, he said, egos kill success. He said, we don't want egos. Egos kill success. Just thought that was interesting.

11:12Alan Shearer:Well, it's hard not to have egos when you've got superstars in your team as well. Did you have an ego, Gary? Did you have an ego? Well, I hope so. I think, Yeah, you need a certain amount. It's very difficult, isn't it? The difference between confidence, which is absolutely necessary, particularly for a striker. Like an aura, an aura as opposed to an ego maybe. Ego, I think we've all got an ego. It depends what kind of ego you've got. You know, certain confidence. I would say in my early days, I wouldn't have had any kind of ego whatsoever. In fact, I didn't have that much confidence in myself.

11:58Alan Shearer:I thought I was blagging it for a certain amount. But I think towards the latter stages of my career, when I knew that I was good, there was the element of an ego would creep in. And egos can be positive as well. Yeah, I was going to say, ego doesn't have to be negative, does it? Yeah. I think what he's saying is nobody's more important than the team. Yeah. That sort of thing, yes, absolutely. So he's probably just putting down a few pointers. maybe there are one or two players in the squad that perhaps getting he feels too big for their boots yeah and he just wants to send a little message so he's left one or two out and also making that kind of statement about egos saying right keep your feet on the ground yeah so I get that it's probably just good bit of good management I would have thought so speaking of egos should we move on to Real Madrid who maintain their 100 % record with a well comeback win against Mallorca They won 2-1 before we chat about it.

12:55Here's how it unfolded. Trent Alexander-Arnold looking for the run of Kylian Mbappe. It's Kylian Mbappe. That will not be the last time we see those two combine for a Real Madrid goal. Although I think that Kylian Mbappe is about to be denied. He is just offside. It'll be Torres' corner. It's headed goalwards by Mariki and headed in by Vedat Mariki. and Real Mallorca have the lead. I'm not sure that the Kosovin ultimately knew too much about that. His back was almost turned, but it's got past Thibaut Courtois. Madrid work the corner short. Carreras, Tyson stealing in round the back and Ardekula totally unmarked, the simplest of finishes.

13:50Vinicius Junior dinking and dancing and delivering brilliantly for Real Madrid. They have turned things round. Estantuodo shot, a good save by Roman. It's bobbling. Goula has turned it in for 2-1 to become 3-1. Well, it is handball and that one for the Turk is not going to stand.

14:19much to Real Madrid's frustration ruled out

14:25Alan Shearer:well they came from behind so that's three wins out of three for Real Madrid not free-flowing yet but I don't think anyone is yet at this stage of the season I think you see that right across Europe teams are finding their feet some of the clubs of course played in the Club World Cup like Real Madrid they've probably started training a little bit later than everyone else. I think Mbappe looks really sharp up front. Best player in the team right now, isn't he? Yeah, I think so. I mean, the two goals he scored, but were both disallowed for offside. I mean, they were so tight, weren't they? Both of them, he'd be gutted.

15:01Alan Shearer:I mean, the finishes were exquisite, I thought. Trent Alexander-Arnold would be gutted as well because that ball for the first goal that was disallowed, that's what Trent was brought to the Bernabeu for, wasn't it? Exactly that but at least he's shown what he can do and good for him that he was back in the starting 11 as well I think after the disappointment of being left out of the England squad as well yeah I was surprised he was left out of the England squad but there's plenty of time and ahead of him Jed Spence, Rhys James and Tino Livramento it seems I know I don't know what do you think Gary I think he deserves to be in that squad he'd always be in my squad he'd always I've been a Trent Alexander-Arnold fan for a hell of a long time.

15:43Alan Shearer:I've watched him. He's given me so much pleasure. Yeah. What is it, though, about that England set-up, though? I don't know. He's fiddling around, isn't he, at the moment? He's been doing that since he took over. Some of his selections, you go, well, but we'll wait and see. I guess there's a method behind the madness at the moment. But I suppose also he might be thinking, well, Trent's feeling his way over there. Let him settle in. I don't know. He didn't say that. He just said, at the moment, I've got these fullbacks ahead of Trent. But Trent gives you something that no one else gives you. The passing ability and the creativity that he gives you from that position is second to none.

16:20Alan Shearer:And the other thing as well is that most teams that England play against, particularly in qualifying, will sit deep. And so therefore, you need players with the sort of talent that can open up defences. And there's no question that Trent has that. We saw that beautiful pass that hit that you mentioned for Mbappe, who's marginally offside. He also hit a shot from just outside the box that just went wide of the post. A terrific effort from that. He was playing more centrally at times, which I thought was interesting. Well, I think he'll push him in there because that will be one of his qualities.

16:59Alan Shearer:We saw that so often at Liverpool, didn't we? He would go inside and then you'd need someone that would fill in for that. Jordan Henderson used to do it and latterly Saboslai used to drop into that right back position when he went forward. So you can do that. I wonder whether, I think Sid talked about it last week, didn't he? Whether at some point that Trent will move into a more of a midfield role. I've always thought that he was a midfield player. I mean, he was a kid. It was only when he got in the first team at Liverpool that he started playing at right back. He was so bloody good there that he never shifted him.

17:37Alan Shearer:Whether it's too late now for that major change to happen. They tried it in the Euros, didn't England, didn't they? But he was kind of hung out to dry a little bit with the way England played. And then he was kind of made out as the villain of the piece, which I thought was grossly unfair. But I think he'll blossom there. It takes time to, you know, it's a big club. It's a big move. New culture, new language, eating at 11pm. Nothing wrong with that. As long as you get the joys of a siesta in the afternoon. But the goals, Arda Goula had a brilliant game. I think his best in the Real Madrid shirt so far.

18:23Yeah, Dean Housen did all the work, though. He did brilliantly in the air at the far post, but easy finish for Goula for the opening goal. and then a super solo goal from Vinicius Junior. It looked like he was about to pass out to his right then he took it on his left but that's Vinny Junior at his best which we haven't seen for a long, long time.

18:42Alan Shearer:I wonder if that Ballon d 'Or disappointment got to him a little bit. I think it did. I think it did and I think the way the club reacted as well because they turned it into obviously nothing against I'm not saying anything against Real Madrid here but they were so upset about it that they turned it into such a huge deal. They could have said, look Vinny, it doesn't matter. We know you're the best. It's fine. Or, you know, and maybe even attended the ceremony. Heads held high, but they didn't. And I think maybe, yeah, it did get to you. I think they probably recognise that was a mistake now as a football club.

19:12Alan Shearer:I think they've pretty much said that. Xabi Alonso, what's the view out there? I mean, I know you're in touch regularly with folk in Madrid. You spent years there. What's the feeling of the start of his career as a manager there, as a coach, I should say? I think it's been really positive because he's a legend at the club. He's a legend. So him coming in, he had so much respect already. It's not an easy job. We all know that, being the manager of Real Madrid. But I think he'll definitely be given time. Maybe more time. At least two months. At least two months. Give it three. Give it three. But definitely positive.

19:55They all love him. and I think the players have a huge amount of respect for him as well. I think the way Mbappe's reacted to him coming in as well, he's near his best, isn't he, Kylian Mbappe? We didn't see that towards the end of last season under Carlo Ancelotti.

20:09Alan Shearer:Well, I mean, we say that, but he did have a bit of a remarkable season. He scored so many goals last season. I think it was the work ethic more than his numbers. It was his work ethic, which was criticised. But he's playing for Xabi Alonso. I mean, he was also shifted to a different position, of course, Killian, because he's always played on the left. But he's actually, do you know what? He's turned himself now. A little bit, it reminds me a little bit of Cristiano in a way, although different players. But he's learned to play as a nine. And he's learned it really quickly. And I know he got caught twice offside yesterday for both his goals, but they were so marginal.

20:47Alan Shearer:so marginal he's he's brilliant at going and then spinning behind and he's so quick and he's finishing so accurate but I think that I think he's about to blossom and I think that at the moment not this season but for next you know you've got a World Cup coming up as well and if he stays stays clear of injury then the sky you know I mean he's done it in World Cups before he's obviously won a World Cup he's a he's a fantastic fantastic tack great guy got so much respect for him and the fact that he's he's almost receded that receded that position to Vinicius Junior on the left and he's playing but I think it's going to suit him I think they'll get the best out of Mbappe worries me a bit as a Barca fan but they've got Laminya Mal and I think they'll be okay we have Laminya Mal we've got Kylian Mbappe one other player by the way that deserves a mention Alvaro Carrera is a left back that clearance by the way I think that's the best goal line clearance I've ever seen ever seen I wouldn't disagree and to think Manchester United let him go you know that he played for well the under 23s for a while I think he was the player of the year then he went out off on loan he went to Preston North End on loan and now look he's at Real Madrid Preston North End to Real Madrid what a move rather being Preston myself no unbelievable unbelievable who would have thought a Manchester United player leaving the club would do better somewhere else.

22:18Alan Shearer:I hope it's not really happened that much recently as they said. Let's take a little breather and we'll look at some of the other fixtures when we come back.

22:28Alan Shearer:Welcome back to the rest of the football La Liga. Time for us to talk about the only other side, Alex, with a 100 % record after three games and that's Athletic Club de Bilbao. Impressive 2-1 away win this weekend at Real Betis. Athletic club who lost six in a row during pre-season and then have won the first three games of La Liga. Just shows you and I always used to say even as a player pre-season means nothing. Nada. Nada. It doesn't. It really doesn't. All you want is a bit of fitness. Well that says it all doesn't it? I mean they lost 3-0 to Arsenal they have Arsenal match day one of the Champions League.