Matchday 13 Preview

0:00Phil Kitromilides:If you're a small business owner, you'll know just what it's like to be the chief everything officer. HR, payroll, employee benefits. Well, Gusto can do all of that for you. Gusto is online payroll and benefits software built for small businesses. It's all in one, remote friendly and incredibly easy to use. It's quick and simple to switch to Gusto. Just transfer your existing data to get up and running fast. Try Gusto today at gusto.com forward slash locked on soccer and get three months free when you run your first payroll. That's gusto.com forward slash locked on soccer. The world's biggest soccer tournament has arrived and you can trade the entire tournament on Calci.

0:38Phil Kitromilides:On Calci, you can trade every match from the opening stage all the way to the final. On Calci, you're trading against peers in a live market, meaning there's no house. And as the probability changes, you can buy in and out of your position. For a limited time, download the CalShe app and use code CUP26 to get$10 when you trade 10. K-A-L-S-H-I CalShe. Trade the beautiful game. 18 plus only restrictions and eligibility requirements apply. Event contract trading involves risk and may not be suitable for all investors. Prices, values, and available markets may differ from those mentioned. For more information, see calshe.com slash regulatory.

1:09Phil Kitromilides:Tee off on the Turkish Riviera, Europe's premier golf destination. with championship courses in Bilek and Antalya, luxury all-inclusive resorts and year-round sunshine. It is the perfect getaway under the Mediterranean sun. Play immaculate fairways designed by golf legends, then unwind beside stunning beaches and five-star hospitality. Search Turkey on TripAdvisor now to book your ultimate golf holiday in the Turkish Riviera.

1:49Hello everyone and welcome to this week's TSFP Friday preview podcast where we look ahead to what's coming up this weekend in La Liga EA Sports. I'm Phil Gittramelidis as always, he's Sid Lowe as always. Hello Sydney. Good morning Philip, it's a little bit chilly. It is a bit chilly is it? Yeah. You've been outside?

2:06Phil Kitromilides:I have been outside and it's cold out there. I mean you are wearing a t-shirt mate. I know, I know, I know but that was you know it was It's like a two-minute quick round the block. And then I got back in and thought, yeah, I probably should have put something on. You went outside in a t-shirt? Gee, you nutter. It's four degrees. What are you doing? Anyway, there we go. You could take the lad out of London. Exactly. Yeah. This is spring, mate. This is lovely. This is what's coming up this weekend. Match day 13 in La Liga. Friday night kicks off with a Valencian derby at Mestalla. It is sold out at Mestaia for Valencia against Levante.

2:46It's a massive game for both teams. It's 17th against 19th in the table. It's properly huge, this one. We won't dwell on it too much because it's the Friday night game and it dates the pod a little bit. But if Valencia lose this, it could be the last game in charge for Carlos Cordoban. I'm not sure he could survive losing the derby at home after what's preceded that. Then on Saturday, you've got Alaves against Celta Vigo. The first game back at camp now for Barcelona is at home to Athletic Club de Bilbao. You've got a Basquish derby between Osasuna and Real Sociedad. And the Saturday night game is Villarreal against Mallorca.

3:24Then on Sunday, it's Oviedo against Raya Vallecano. The TSFP derby, the first ever one seed. It's magnificent. Neither of us are going to be there.

3:34Phil Kitromilides:Well, it's the first ever one in Primera. We've played each other in Cielo a few times. Yeah, OK. But this is the one that really counts, you know. Of course. Betis against Girona. Getafe against Atletico Madrid, a local derby there. And Real Madrid travelling to the Estadio Martínez Valero on Sunday night to take on Elche. Monday night football is Espanyol against Sevilla. Let's start off then with that game at the camp now, which you will be attending the fantastic fixture, which is Barcelona against Atletic Club, one of the most repeated fixtures in the history of Spanish football. It somehow feels right that this is the game that Barcelona return home with.

4:16Now, you're going to do a TSFP diary for our patrons about what it's like being back at the camp now. So let's focus this little chat on what we expect from the game. Of course, Barcelona missing some key figures. Obviously, you know, Frenkie de Jong is suspended and Pedri isn't going to be back in midfield. Marc Casado, actually, I think he missed training this week, but, you know, he probably will start. Even so, it will be a strong starting XI for Barcelona in a game where they could potentially put some pressure on Real Madrid.

4:54Phil Kitromilides:Yeah, they could potentially put some pressure on Madrid because I think the, not just the points situation, but I think the kind of the emotional feel of the two big sides has changed since the Clásico. Sorry, here comes the dog. That's what that funny noise is. The emotional situation feels like it's changed a little since the Clásico. Barcelona, Pahansi Flick was actually saying this last night when he received the award for best manager of last season. He was talking about how the second half at Vigo, they'll be all right if they play like that. Now, I think that's interesting because if we talk about what Barcelona want to be and how they want to play, that second half in Vigo, I think, has been misinterpreted.

5:34Phil Kitromilides:And I think it's been misinterpreted through the prism through which everything seems to be interpreted with Barcelona. There's this idea, I think, that they sat off in that second half and that they didn't play the high line, that they were defensive, that not a lot happened. I only agree with that up to a point. I think it was the second half where not a lot happened. I think it was the second half in which they exercised control rather than the chaos, which was so enjoyable in the first half. But I think the idea they sat off, it just isn't right. I think actually what happened was they got the press right and they didn't allow Celta the chance to play those passes.

6:04Phil Kitromilides:So I think that those elements of their game will still be there, at least in intent. Whether or not they're successful in doing so, of course, is a different matter. I think it's going to be very interesting to see how they do that, because as you've just said, we don't know what the midfield is going to look like. And I'm genuinely interested to see who the other midfielders will be. how he constructs that midfield, whether he maybe thinks, OK, let's have Ferdermin and Dani Olmo as midfielders and have free forwards. And then you start to ask yourself, is that a midfield that can do those kind of things, that can keep possession of the ball, that can maintain control, that can maintain that pace of pressure and not allowing space for the other side?

6:42Phil Kitromilides:And I must admit, I'm not sure that the answer is yes, that they can do that. And so I think that's going to be really interesting. That said, of course, you know, and this is a preview, pod in which we look at the way teams are, I'm still concerned about Athletic Club. I think they haven't been good all season. I think they don't have the intensity that they've had in previous years. I think, obviously, they don't have the players because they've had injuries. We don't know if Nico Williams will play at the end of the last game against Real Loviello when he scored that brilliant goal. Ernesto Valverde was saying, you know, we will be leaving him out.

7:11Phil Kitromilides:There will be weeks when he doesn't play two in a week. He won't be able to be there all the time. He's got what Lamin's got. He's got what Lamin's got. and so I'm really intrigued to see what the middle of Barcelona's midfield looks like and what the fitness levels of Atletic look like. Atletic haven't won away to Barcelona since 2001. That's amazing that. They've not won away at Real Madrid for a very long time as well. I guess because, do you know what, I think one of the reasons for that might be? Go on. At the risk of stating the beating obvious, I think one of the reasons might be they are not as good, right?

7:46Phil Kitromilides:Now, bear with me, obviously, but lots of teams do it. But I think Atletic are different to most teams. All right, Atletic are not the same thing throughout this 20-year period. They haven't played the same way in all of these 20 seasons. But I don't think they're a team that goes away to teams and says, all right, let's be ultra-pragmatic. Let's park the bus. Let's see if we can get something. They generally try and play. Yeah. They haven't kept a clean sheet away to Barcelona in 40 years, Sid. Wow. 1985. I suppose the closest they've been. It is against Atletic, isn't it? that Mark Gugh goal, which is in the last minute of an otherwise a nil-nil, and they lose one nil, and that's only about three years ago.

8:25Phil Kitromilides:It's probably the closest I can think of. Yes. So on paper, it's actually a pretty good picture for Barcelona to be returning to the camp now. More on that return over at patreon.com forward slash dsfp. Come and be a patron. It costs from€4.75 a month. It's really not a lot of money for really quite a lot of content and analysis on Spanish football. Oviedo against Raya was absolutely massive for Oviedo. They desperately need to start winning, Sid. I mean, really, I mean, you know, we're further away through now. We're getting to a point where it's getting serious. Yes. Hope it's not this weekend.

9:05But you're only three points from safety as well. You win against Raya and you could be out of the relegation zone up to 16.

9:10Phil Kitromilides:But this is part of it. Let's not go through all the kind of like the emotional stuff because I feel like I've talked about it quite a lot and our listeners don't need to hear it again. In terms of kind of the change in what was the season to be enjoyed, even if we knew it would be hard, to what now feels like things have kind of broken a little bit. There's a broader question. Well, there's a more footballing one, which is what you're talking about. I think we all recognise now, and I think possibly at the start of the season, we all feared it might be the case, that Oviedo's squad is possibly the weakest in the first division.

9:41Phil Kitromilides:I think it probably is. That they create very, very little, which isn't necessarily to say that they can't but they don't. Now I don't think there's a huge amount in the squad to do very much more but your point about the points I think is really significant is all the way through this season so far. First of all there was a period in which Javi had one in the bottom three but even once they've been in the bottom three every week you've gone into it thinking yeah but if you win this you climb three or four places everything looks very different. This is an opportunity and this is why it was so frustrating to go to 0-0 and lose that lead against your owner admittedly then to get a late, late equaliser, it felt quite good, that the Osasuna game was frustrating because Osasuna were terrible.

10:21Phil Kitromilides:And really, that's a game you've got to go and win if you're going to survive. And this, I don't think this counts as an opportunity in quite the same way that the Osasuna one does because Rayo are a much better team. Rayo are a much, much better team. But I think that thing that you were saying about the points is that you keep thinking it's just there. But at some point you've got to go and bloody get it because otherwise it won't be there. And we'll see if it is this weekend. You're up against the Rayo side, by the way, who are really stronger on the road than they are at home, strangely enough.

10:48Only the top three have picked up more points on the road this season, right? I've got three wins away from Vallecas. Nine of their 12 goals have come on the road as well this season. And Oviedo, Sid, Oviedo scored two goals at home all season.

11:02Phil Kitromilides:Yeah. I mean, that's bloody awful. Exactly. Exactly. I mean, that is, and you know, Sid, you have this feeling because of what you were saying, because the points mean that you're only one win away from climbing out of the relegation zone and actually maybe putting a couple of teams between you and the relegation zone. But then you look at this and you think, yeah, but you've got to get that win. And those wins aren't coming and the chances really aren't coming. There's been not many games where you thought, yeah, we had two or three really good chances. Against Ossoona, actually, there were a couple.

11:30Phil Kitromilides:And Feddevinas, in particular, had two really clear chances that should have been taken. But there's not a lot happening. And to go back to the question we were asked on Monday or Tuesday in the pod about the 11 of the season so far. I wasn't joking when I said Adam Niscandé in goal. I dismissed it, but statistically he has been... Yeah, absolutely. And obviously that's partly because, as you say, because we get shot at a lot. And that, in a way, is where I'm going. Oviedo aren't very good and our results aren't very, very bad yet. They're bad, but not very, very bad yet. But actually, it's not exactly a comforting realisation that Oviedo's best player, by some distance, has been their goalkeeper.

12:13Allow us to be a little bit self-indulgent and dwell on this game, which is of interest to me and Zid, but probably not a huge amount of our audience, but still. Is Alimau going to play? I hope not.

12:26Phil Kitromilides:Well, so do Oviedo's players, because of course we're all convinced that the classic former player turns up and does us damage thing is about to happen again. Yeah, he is a... Anyway, I won't say what I think of him at the moment, but I'm not overly convinced by his ability to manipulate the sphere into the rectangle, which is what he's been bought to do. If your business runs on five different apps, 12 browser tabs, and one spreadsheet that everyone's afraid to touch, it's probably time for Odoo. Odoo is an all-in-one business management software that connects every part of your business into one powerful, easy-to-use platform.

13:03Phil Kitromilides:So instead of wasting time switching between disconnected systems, your entire business works together in real time. Your team moves faster, your data stays accurate, and you can actually focus on growing your business. Let one unified system run your entire business. From the first opportunity to the final payment, everything works together in one place. Whether you're a small business or managing a large operation, Odoo gives you one flexible platform built to grow with you. Learn more at odoo.com. That's O-D-O-O dot com. Are all batteries the same? That's like asking if all soccer players are the same.

13:49Phil Kitromilides:Take Messi, the most decorated player ever. Is there any other player who has achieved that? No, just him. Now take Duracell. Is there any other battery with power boost ingredients inside? No, just Duracell. Remember, goats only trust goats because they're built different. And Messi only trusts Duracell. I see you. Avatar Fire and Ash is now streaming on Disney+. It's the film critics are calling the best Avatar yet. A true epic and completely jaw-dropping. This is the only purest thing in this world. Return to Pandora on Disney+. It will be an adventure for the whole family. And watch the Oscar-winning phenomenon at home.

14:33This is sick!

14:37Phil Kitromilides:Avatar Fire and Ash, now streaming on Disney+. Rated PG-13. Let's move on and talk about Getafe against Atletico Madrid on Sunday, this local derby, which Atletico Madrid have absolutely dominated. the history of this fixture. They've played 40 times. Getafe have only ever won five times, although the fifth victory came in the most recent meeting back in March, I think it was, and it was a really, really painful one for Atletico Madrid. You might remember this game. They were winning, and then Mauro Arrambari scores in the 88th and 92nd minute, and Getafe win 2-1. That game came in between the two legs of the Champions League last 16 clash, which they lost to Real Madrid.

15:22Then they lost to Barcelona in the league. Then they got knocked out of the cup and it all fell apart from them. But traditionally, this is a fixture, like we said, that Atleti have absolutely dominated. Between 2011 and 2021, they went 17 league games without conceding a goal to Getafe. 17 league games without conceding a goal. So there we go. That is a history is very much on Atletico Madrid's side. And there was a story in the paper this week about the fact that that last game against Getafe in March is kind of being used by Simeone to channel the anger and the frustration that is still felt from that game into Sunday's match.

16:02Phil Kitromilides:Yeah. And also because while we are talking in far more positive terms about Atletico Madrid now, there still needs to be a run of good performances away from home. so they won that one at Betis and I think that changed things and the sense that okay here we go they finally won an away game but I think they need a consistency of away performances to feel emotionally like actually there is a chance that they start to if nothing else put some pressure on Madrid and Barcelona put themselves in a position where it's not guaranteed that first and second are out of their reach and that they're fighting to be third or fourth and actually of course part of the problem with that is if you do get into that mindset it's very easy to let it go a little bit Because actually there's a bit of you that thinks, well, whatever happens, we won't slip it down to fifth.

16:48Phil Kitromilides:Which, of course, is when the risk comes of slipping down to fifth. So I think they need to keep their eye on the first two. And that involves winning these kind of games. I think that probably part of the explanation for that long run is that Atletico traditionally have been a team that do some of the things that Getafe do. I was about to say Girona there. They're strong. They're good from set plays. In theory, the last Atletico Madrid game that I did, was it 22 corners? And they did nothing from them. And they considered... And they conceded from Esquiz Levante, that back post header for Manu Sanchez, I think it is.

17:18Well, apparently, they've been working a lot on set pieces in this international game. Well, I should hope so. A lot, both attacking and defending. Yeah.

17:26Phil Kitromilides:I should hope so, to be honest. I mean, obviously, look, I say I should hope so, but a football team shouldn't be reactive to just what happened in the last game. There should be a broader pattern of what they're seeing. But when something is so kind of screaming you in the face is that, then of course you do that. But I think this is a game that Atletico Madrid should win. I don't think they'll find it easy to score the first goal. And then, of course, let's ask ourselves that question, because we keep seeing it this season. Will they be able to hold on to the first goal? Remember, they've scored first in every game they've played so far this season in La Liga, but they've only won seven of those 12 matches.

18:01A quick word here on a story that I read this morning. I don't know if you've seen it, that Cristantos Uche might be heading back to Getafe. Have you seen this story?

18:09Phil Kitromilides:right well this is this is very interesting actually because well i say this is very interesting the reason this is interesting is because i was talking to someone about this actually quite recently um and about there's a feeling that um his level just isn't quite premier league level so this is the story the story is that obviously he went to crystal palace but it was a season-long loan with an obligation to buy for 20 million euros if he starts 10 Premier League games. He hasn't started one. He hasn't started one. He hasn't come close to starting one. And Crystal Palace is saying you can have him back in January.

18:43And Catafé are like, oh, well, I mean, Bor del As would be very happy to have him. But the club need those

18:49Phil Kitromilides:20 million euros a lot. Well, here's the thing. The club need those 20 million euros in terms of needing those 20 million euros. And I'm not entirely sure how or why this happened. Those 20 million euros were written in to the calculations for their limite salarial this year. This year. So if he does come back, that then puts a hole in next summer. And we already saw the difficulties they had in getting players registered this summer. Well, they had to sell him to register six players. Yeah. Exactly. So then what happens? Because obviously the other thing is that then you're, if you think, okay, yeah, but then, all right, well, we sell him next summer.

19:27Phil Kitromilides:But given the experience of what's happened at Palace so far this season, there isn't a team, certainly watching him in the Premier League, that says, OK, we'll do it next year. No one's going to do that now. And there is a feeling there that his level isn't quite Premier League level, that Palace partly bought him because they had to react quickly, because, of course, they lost their best player to Arsenal quite late in the window, that they thought, OK, well, this is someone who could be useful as part of the squad. We don't know if he'll start, and then we'll see if he develops into that player.

19:53And so far, they're saying that, I hate to be as blunt as this,