Rashford Shines Again, King Jude & Griezmann Hits 200

18:52and Xabi. We know what Xabi's like. He's not going to enter into all that tittle, tattle. A shame he missed the penalty, though. I think it would have been good for him to score that.

19:02Jude Bellingham:I imagine Killian gave it to him because of what happened the previous week and thought it'd be a nice thing, nice opportunity, actually. It probably has the reverse effect in the way because he missed it. But it doesn't matter. If you're going to miss a penalty, miss it when you win 4-0. Yes, exactly. Exactly. And another brilliant performance from Jude Bellingham as well. I mentioned it earlier in the pod. He's on the front page of Marker this morning. It says, King Jude, Ray Jude.

19:28Alan Shearer:Ray Jude, I like that. Ray Jude. Oh, Ray Jude. Oh, yeah, okay. It's a pun, Alex. Yes, it's a pun. It's a pun. It's a dad joke.

19:35Jude Bellingham:Sorry, you're not old enough yet to get those kind of nonsensical jokes. Ray Jude, okay, I got it. Anyway, it says, Real Madrid are enjoying the, they're saying the rebirth of Bellingham, but they're saying, I think, because he had that shoulder injury for so long. Yeah, the injury was out for a while. Yeah, but it must have been, I think he was playing with it for a long time as well, strapped up that must have been really hard for him how could he have been at his best level when he was playing through such a such a bad injury obviously had the operation and and came back quicker than than he was supposed to and he's been absolutely superb yeah I mentioned on um the rest is football that went out on Monday morning I think I talked a bit about my interview with Carlo Ancelotti I did for us which will probably go out next week and And Carlo was really good on all sorts.

20:25Jude Bellingham:And he was talking about, I asked him about Jude Bellingham, because, you know, these rumours, and because Tuchel left him out, and presumably probably because he's only just coming back from his shoulder injury. And I was saying, you know, I asked Carlo about, you know, there's a lot of rumours that he can be difficult and this and that. And, you know, I said, I'm sure it's not true. And he said he's absolutely a model professional. he said he's a great kid incredibly talented works really hard and I expect he would probably answer something along those lines but it doesn't surprise me it's very easy to get immersed into a world of made up headlines when people kind of make two and two add up to seven so I think Jude looks absolutely back to his best and when you're injury free it makes a real difference yeah absolutely You can see it when you speak to him as well.

21:21You get it. You understand what this guy is all about. I interviewed him last year for the first time and I was blown away by how mature he was, the way he spoke, like a veteran, like a player coming to the end of his career, wise and all the knowledge. And it was just, it was absolutely brilliant. So really happy for Jude that he's back to his best. And Alvaro Carreras, also worth a mention, the fourth goal a rocket a rocket

21:49Jude Bellingham:what a hit that was from that angle so good apparently he's the best at paddling the squad as well so he's not only been a brilliant addition for Real Madrid this season but wonderful goal his first goal for Real Madrid and to round off a 4-0 really comfortable really comfortable win ahead of a tricky trip to Merseyside I know I know there'll be a lot of talk in Madrid about that one as well because that would be perceived as a really big game Liverpool winning at the weekend as well sort of stopping the rot a little bit for them which was I think Crisis Yeah sort of crisis footballing crisis Exactly things into perspective but I think that that's going to be a really interesting game you must be looking forward to being there for that one because that will be jumping I'm really looking forward to it really really looking forward to it I'm going to be wearing blue at Anfield later on I'm not sure how well that will go down.

22:47That's true.

22:48Jude Bellingham:Evertonian blue as well, I think. Uh-oh, uh-oh. I won't be letting the stadium. But no, really looking forward to that one. I actually think it's hard to predict that one. I think they'll cause Liverpool real problems because they've struggled. Although he did go back on his slot at the weekend to pretty much the formation and the midfield trio that performed so brilliantly last season. So I expect he'll go with them again. So therefore they become a slightly different proposition, I think, because they were trying to find their feet with some of the new players, but only Ekitike played up top and obviously Isak's injured.

23:26Jude Bellingham:So it didn't really change the system from last season. They look more comfortable within that framework. But I think Real Madrid probably go into the game as favourites, given their brilliant start under Xabi Alonso this season. They seem to be improving along the way as well. Some of the early performances from Real Madrid weren't necessarily particularly scintillating, but they got the job done. But yeah, it's a tough one to call, obviously, because there's something about Anfield on European nights. I mean, it's a bit of a cliche, but it's also true. But, you know, big players like these Real Madrid players, they're used to playing at places or playing games that are tough atmospheres, big atmospheres.

24:07Jude Bellingham:And that's what you love as a player. If you're a Mbappe and you're a Vinny Jr. and you're Jude Bellingham, you want to go to Anfield and perform there because, you know, they're the magical nights or they can be. Yeah. Speaking of atmosphere, I interviewed Trent Alexander-Arnold this week as well.

24:25Alan Shearer:Did you again? How is his fitness? Is he back? yeah he's back he's fit he's fit yeah he is fit of course he wants to play but I asked him what kind of reception he expects because he said it's going to be a very very difficult game and I said in what way are we talking about the football are we talking about how it's going to be for you on your return he said a bit of both but probably mostly the football and then at the end I said to him if you do get a good reception which I said the reception you deserve a good one will that be closure in a way for you and I don't think there's a few Liverpool fans that aren't overly happy that I said he deserves a good reception but I truly believe he does

25:03Jude Bellingham:Trent given so much to Liverpool you know one of the key players in all the success they've had over the recent years won absolutely everything they didn't like that he left at the end of his contract because they didn't think that they should lose him without any money but you know that's the thought football isn't it you get treated like you're a piece of meat being flogged somewhere he's perfectly entitled to see out his contract I think that's actually the more the decent thing to do is to do that rather than go in middle of contract so if you see out your contract in any other walk of life you'd be absolutely fine I understand fans care and they don't necessarily see things in from a neutral perspective at all but he's given everything to Liverpool he's won everything with Liverpool how can you turn down that kind of challenge a new challenge exactly yeah but it's not just a new challenge is it it's the biggest of challenges on the you know they are the yeah I will always favor Barcelona but in in reality Real Madrid is is the world monster and um you can't not go there so and it's incredible I think most Liverpool fans are understanding of that but you're always going to get some hardcore that, you know, you, you, you so tribal in football that you can't see that you can't see beyond your own club sometimes.

26:27Yeah. And I get that. They just wish he was a Liverpool player as we've seen that they are missing him this season, but it was great to talk to him. We did the first bit of the interview all in Spanish. I said to him, I said, let's start in Spanish. And I expect him to say, no way, no way. Okay. I said, I'll ask you some stuff like, how are you? And things like this. He went, nah, I went, that's way too basic. I was like, okay, all right. He's doing well, is he, with it? Yeah, he was like too basic. So it was perfect Spanish, perfect. He does three hours a week, which is a lot. But no, really good.

27:00Jude Bellingham:Well done, Trent, for that. That's brilliant. And it will help him. It'll help him in the dressing room. He'll get respect from the supporters for doing it. It's a shame he got injured early on. But again, you can go back to Mbappe last year. And I'm not saying, you know, they're different, obviously different personalities. But, you know, within a few months, if Trent finds his game and we know he's got a hell of a lot of game, they'll start loving him in Madrid. Yeah, absolutely. Absolutely. Let's take a break. Let's take a break. And then when we come back, we'll talk about a couple of other entertaining games in La Liga this weekend.

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28:34Alan Shearer:Welcome back to The Rest is Football with Alex Alge and me, Gary Lineker. Alex, I need an update of the Atletico Madrid update. Another comfortable victory from your friend and your taxi driver friend. Haven't been speaking to my taxi driver friend, but I am speaking to my other friend, as always, on a Monday morning. Here's his reply. I said, are you feeling happier about Atletico? And he said, painful first 45 minutes. our best players were Sevilla's centre-backs he's giving up on Simeone he's giving up on him I wish we can play them every weekend

29:13Jude Bellingham:that's my description of fans there that I did just before the break

29:17Alan Shearer:they get one thing yeah and you know grass is always green on the other side as well exactly be careful of that but I found it interesting I've caught the highlights of that game and Alvarez they actually call Julian don't they over there yeah the spider they also call him La Aranha La Aranha yeah that's his nickname yeah I like that he's a player though what a player what a player really good thought that Giuliano Simeone had a really really good game yeah

29:49Jude Bellingham:son of Diego of course yeah son of Diego and Diego came out full of praise for him post-match we have spoken about it haven't we but it must be a hard situation you asked about your son in a post-match interview I know Obviously, it's tricky. You have to just speak the truth, don't you, I guess? He had a brilliant game. He's doing really well. Both parts, I think it's tricky in both ways. As a manager, you're probably thinking, I can't favour him at all within the squad, which actually might be difficult if you are his son because you probably feel you end up being treated unfairly or you could be seen as being favoured, which is probably even worse for a player because you don't want the rest of the team going, oh, he's dad's favourite and all this.

30:37Jude Bellingham:He's only playing because of his dad. So you've got to probably do a little bit more than other players do, I would say. So he's certainly been very good and he's brilliant, particularly for the second goal. Yes, it was some brilliant work from him. And I think no one in Spain is saying he's in that team because of his dad. I think everyone truly rates him. and thinks he's a top, top player, which he is. Different sort of player from his dad, that's for sure. Yes, yes, yes. Very different, very different. Big milestone for Antoine Griezmann in that game as well, scoring his 200th La Liga goal.

31:16Jude Bellingham:Yeah, he missed a really good chance to do it before that, didn't he? And then managed to do it right at the death. Yeah, yeah. Coming off the bench to score, which seems like that will be his role throughout the season. But he's obviously still got it. And a big win for Atletico. convincing performance after what's been a really tricky start to the season bar that Madrid derby win but they they beat Betis in the Monday night football convincingly and then another great performance in the top four now so I think yeah crisis over despite negativity coming from certain members of the fan base. A glass half empty for him but no I think yeah it's looking good for Atletico.

31:56Alan Shearer:Yeah, Villarreal as well. Yeah, another convincing win for Villarreal, who are also in the top four. I watched them play at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium earlier this season and they were pretty dreadful. I was thinking, God, this isn't the Villarreal that we know. But things have 4-0 win against Rayo Baicano, who'd also been having a decent season. So three straight wins for Rayo Baicano going into this. Yeah, really good performance from Villarreal too. But Gerard Moreno, his second goal in two games. Looks like he could be really key for Villarreal.

32:32Jude Bellingham:Well, let's finish with Athletic Club. Another defeat. It's a derby, that, isn't it? Real Sociedad versus... The Basque derby. Yeah, because San Sebastián, Real Sociedad, and then down the coast a little bit is Bilbao, where Athletic obviously play, and a late, late winner. Yeah, a late, late winner, and interesting situation with Nico Williams as well because he was on the bench at the beginning of the season. Everyone was blaming Athletic Club's poor form on the fact that he was out injured, but now he's actually, he's fit again, but he was on the bench, came off the bench, didn't really have much of an impact.

33:09He hasn't played that well and Athletic Club seemed to be in trouble.

33:13Alan Shearer:Yeah, they are struggling. Yeah, a massive result though for Real Sociedad and Sergio Francisco, who's been under pressure but this result could buy him some time. It was a really, really good game though. It was a really entertaining game that one as it always is. And the interesting thing about the Bass Derby is that the fans sit together which is probably, surely, one of the only derbies in world football where that happens.

33:39Jude Bellingham:It used to be the case with Everton and Liverpool, you know. I'm not sure it is now but it probably is in a grave because families were so mixed because they're from the same city but it's with Bilbao and San Sebastian, they're not the same cities, obviously. So you're not likely to get the mixture of families as much as, say, in Liverpool. But that is interesting. But football fans should be able to get on, shouldn't they? But in a big derby like that. Emotions, tensions. But credit to them. Credit to them. And yeah, it was a really enjoyable game, I thought. and big win for Real Sociedad. Before we go, let's have a quick roundup of the other games that took place in La Liga over the weekend.

34:27Real Betis beat Mallorca 3-0 at home. Former Manchester United player Anthony starred for Real Betis as they cruised to victory against Mallorca. The Brazilian winger scored twice and assisted the other goal as Betis bounced back from defeat last week and moved up to fifth. Espanyol lost 2-1 away at Alaves. Denis Suarez and Lucas Boyer with the goals for Alaves in their impressive victory. Espanyol dropped to sixth and lose ground on the top four. Getafe won 2-1 at home against Girona. Mario Martín and Borja Mayoral were the goals for Getafe, which moves them up to seventh. Christian Suani's injury time penalty wasn't enough for Girona, who stayed rooted to the foot of the table.

35:09Levante lost 2-1 at home to Celta Vigo. Miguel Román scores a 91st-minute winner for Celta Vigo to make sure they don't draw one-all once again. Unai Vencedor was sent off for Levante in the opening 30 minutes and the 10 men ultimately couldn't hold out until the very end. Celsavigo now have two wins in two after failing to win in their first nine games.

35:33Alan Shearer:OK, Alex, well, enjoy Anfield. I'm sure you will. Thank you. It's a big one. Another kind of Premier League versus La Liga clash

35:41Jude Bellingham:that will give us something to talk about next week. but for now goodbye from me goodbye from me