Matchday 17 Preview

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1:35Hello everyone and welcome to the TSFP Friday Preview Podcast. Looking ahead to what's coming up on Matchday 17 in La Liga EA Sports, the final round of fixtures of the year. Sydney is still in Phoenix, Arizona. He's flying back today, so I'm with Al again. Hello, Al. Hello, Kichou. How's it going? Good, thank you, my friend. Let's talk about what's coming up this weekend in Spanish football. Yeah. OK, yeah, we'll hear from Sydney in a second. These are the fixtures. Friday night is a big, big game at Mestalla. It's Valencia against Mallorca, a game of real significance at the bottom of the table.

2:14Valencia are 17th, Mallorca are 14th. But there's very, very few points between the teams at the bottom of the table. So that is a really, really important game for those two teams and also about seven or eight other teams in the bottom half of the table as well. Oviedo against Celta Vigo. That kicks off on Saturday at 2 p.m. More on that, unsurprisingly, in a second. Levante against Real Sociedad. It's a game between two sides with interim managers. Of course, Real Sociedad sacking Sergio Francisco. John Ansotegui is taking charge of Real Sociedad. Levante still have the combo of Del Moral and Iborra in charge of them for this game.

2:57Also, sooner against Alavesa is a local-ish, Basque-ish derby. And Real Madrid against Sevilla is the Saturday night game at the Bernabeu. Then on Sunday, the final game of the year for Atletico Madrid is, unfortunately for them, away from home. It's the bad news. The good news is it's against Girona, who haven't been particularly brilliant this season. Massive game at the Estadio de la Cerámica. It's first against third. it's via real against barcelona it's not in miami but it is he at the ceramic elche against the mighty raya vallecano shout out to rio who won in the conference yeah you had fun last night didn't you my boys did us proud being the team that are currently fifth in the cosoven super league through to the last 16.

3:39you can only beat the opposition that's in front of you get exactly what we did through to the last 16 of the conference league massive achievement for rio So forgive the horrific Rio bias as per usual. The two games, no, and then on Sunday night, it's Betis against Getafe. And Monday night football, final game of the year, is Athletic Club against Espanyol. Those are the fixtures then. Let's hear from Sydney and hear what he's looking forward to this weekend. So which games am I looking forward to in this final weekend before the Christmas break? This is one obvious one, of course, and that is Real Oviedo at home against Celta de Vigo.

4:14and I'm trying to work out whether it's plausible to get there. In theory, I land at Barajas on Saturday morning at 10 to 9. The game is at 2 o 'clock. Had the game had been at any other time on Saturday, I would have been sure of making it. The game's at 2 o 'clock. That basically means car waiting at Barajas straight to Oviedo. I suspect it's not going to happen, not least because, of course, Barajas Airport has that enormous satellite terminal, which is a ball lake. It can take you an hour to get out of the place, let alone to then get up to Oviedo. So I suspect I won't be there. But that's one to look out for.

4:46And it's one to look out for as much as anything else because everybody wants to see what the reactions of the team will be after sacking of Luis Carrion. What the team will be like under Almada. What kind of players he will play. Whether there'll be a shift in style. And actually in the last couple of days there's been suggestions that Almada might not be that keen on Santi Cazorla. So quite a lot of eyes on that. Not just mine. But yeah, probably mostly mine. The other games that stand out this weekend for me there's one really really I suppose for the same reason as Oviedo it'd be interesting to see with Real Sociedad um but and I'm disappointed as well by the way that the Atletico playing Espanol on a Monday now the Monday game is always forgotten a little bit anyway and that's really frustrating but I think being the last Monday game before the Christmas break it's kind of somehow even worse to be forced to wait until that Monday night um and and it's a real pity actually because Espanol obviously you're in a brilliant position at the moment in fifth place they're playing fantastic well.

5:39They won four games in a row. So I'm really keen to see that one. But I expect I might not be able to because by then I'll be heading back to the UK for Christmas. So what's the other obvious game? It's not Real Madrid, despite all the focus on Xavi Alonso. I feel like it would take something really huge for this game to change the way that they decide what to do with him. And I suspect that what they will decide to do is wait and see to the Super Cup or, of course, wait and see if there's an alternative that comes to them that's genuinely plausible before then. And so there's a bit of me that wonders if the Real Madrid-Sovier game is actually largely, not irrelevant, but not hugely significant in this whole process and possibly not hugely significant in terms of the result because I think we all assume that was a big assumption maybe and it's a stupid one perhaps, but the Real Madrid win that comes to me.

6:29The big one, of course, is Villarreal against Barcelona, The game that was going to be in Miami is not in Miami. It's not the first time this has happened, of course. They've kept trying. It kept on getting knocked back for various different reasons. On this occasion, it won't be in Miami Villarreal against Barcelona. It will be played in Villarreal, down in the province of Castellón. And, of course, it's huge. I suppose, in a way, it's huge because of the symbolism of this game not being there. But also, I think, actually, because that symbolism is deepened by just how good Villarreal are. And that idea of them forfeiting a home game against Barcelona, I think, takes on an extra significance if they were to now win this game at home against Barcelona and put themselves in a position in which we think, wow, they really could do something in La Liga.

7:18You know, there really is a chance of this. Now, their last game was cancelled because of the role postponed, because of the reigns. There's a game in hand on top of everything else as well. But if they were to win this, I think we'd be looking at them and thinking, wow, this is something to be taken seriously. Not least because, as we've talked about lots of times with Villarreal, it feels like there's a logic to the way that they perform in La Liga. They are beating the weaker teams, but they're not beating the really strong ones. And so this is an opportunity maybe to change that. And with it, perhaps, to change the way that we feel about them and how serious they are in terms of competing for the lead title.

7:52And, of course, it would have the additional element that if Barcelona were to be beaten, correct me if I'm wrong, I think they've won every game since the Clásico now, if Barcelona were to be beaten, it would reopen that sense of Barcelona's vulnerability and reopen a title race, which I don't think is closed anyway, but I think it would make it much, much clearer to us that this is a title race that's still open. So that is what I'm looking forward to on this last weekend before the Christmas break. And above all, I'm looking forward to a flight making it back to Barajas really quickly and if at all possible not going to the satellite terminal but instead going to the normal terminal and me being able to race up to Asturias where inevitably we won't score.

8:32Sid Lowe:A couple of things there Kitro. Firstly repeated shots fired at Barajas terminal 4S from Sid. That sort of took up most of the most of the voice though I think complaints about the satellite terminal there and secondly did I hear correctly were my ears mistaking me was I having some sort of delusion? Or did I hear Sid say that Oviedo's new coach is not a fan of Santi Cazorla? That's what he said. What are we doing here? What are we doing? Why would you do that? Why would you appoint a coach who's not a big fan of your best and most legendary player? The only good player you've got. Why would you do that?

9:07Sid Lowe:Are you trying to get relegated? What's going on? I mean, he's getting on a little bit, Santi. I mean, I don't want to be sacrilegious here. Yeah, but he can play football, which is not, you can't say that for many of that team. yeah can you he knows how to play football can you hear that Al can you hear I think that's the sound guys that's rude that was the sound of some listeners wishing that Oviedo get relegated so we don't bloody talk about them so much on every podcast guys don't do don't say that that's well it's it's the first year in the podcast's you know 13 year history that this has happened and it might well be the last yes so just I enjoy it for what it is and realize that this is this is this This is transitory.

9:46Yes. Let's see how Oviedo get on. I mean, I bloody hope Sid doesn't go there after a transatlantic fight. I think he's just...

9:53Sid Lowe:I mean, he's been away for five, six days at that point. I mean, I presume he'd be going with the family, not alone. So it's not like he's jetting in and immediately heading off again. But surely you'd take a breather after a transatlantic fight. I think he's just giving it the big one. There's absolutely no way he's going to Oviedo. No, zero. It seemed like he was leaving the possibility open based on how his transit goes from the plane to his car. Not even you are doing that. Absolutely no way. But yes, Oviedo with that really important game. I mean, yeah, it's not a final, Al. It's match day 17.

10:32It's not final. But it is a game of massive significance to Oviedo. though let's talk about that Real Madrid Sevilla game which Sydney kind of glossed over and didn't think was uh yes of huge significance um how important do you do you think it could be well

10:50Sid Lowe:I mean I'll be there so that alone makes it right you know a pretty big deal um no I I understand what Sid's saying in that is this game or performance going to be decisive in terms of Xabi Alonso's future no probably not probably it isn't it feels like whatever's going to happen with Xabi Alonso is already if not set in stone then largely decided what what's the most likely outcome in this game is that Real Madrid despite all their problems despite injured absentees despite everything else you know they're playing against Sevilla who are not very good probably win at home get a win even if they don't play terribly well and nothing changes again you know what what could happen I guess the only thing that could happen here that would radically change things is if Real Madrid are absolutely appalling and lose.

11:36Sid Lowe:If they lose, then maybe his... Which is what happened in their last home game in the league. Yes, but against a better team. But against a better team. If that happens, then yes, then maybe his departure is brought forward. Seltzer at eighth, Sevilla at ninth. No, but I think Seltzer are a considerably better football team than Sevilla personally. Considerably, okay, yeah. I mean... I like it when I say things. You don't say a lot, but you say a lot with a little. I mean, you leave it, you make it very clear how you feel about the thing I've just said without really, without really sort of getting stuck in.

12:10Sid Lowe:No, look, yeah, if they lose really badly, then maybe he goes straight away and doesn't make it to the Zupa Cup. But I don't think that's going to happen. So like I said, I think it's going to be once again as you were. Ready to soundtrack your summer? With Red Bull Summer All Day Play, you choose a playlist that fits your summer vibe the best. Are you a festival fanatic, a deep end DJ, a road dog, or a trail mixer? Just add a song to your chosen playlist and put your summer on track. Red Bull Summer All Day Play. Red Bull gives you wings. Visit redbull.com slash bright summer ahead to learn more.

12:44See you this summer. You don't wash your jersey during a win streak. You don't switch seats when your team's up big. And you definitely don't shave during the playoffs. When things are working, you don't change them. That's why when you drink Jägermeister, you drink it ice cold. Anything else? Well, that'd just be bad luck. Drink it cold or don't drink it at all. Jägermeister. Damn, that's cold. Drink responsibly. Jägermeister liqueur, 35 % alcohol by volume. Imported by Masked Jägermeister, U.S. White Plains, New York.

13:17Where is Daredevil? I'm right here. Don't miss the return of Marvel Television's Daredevil Born Again. So what's next? I've been liberated. We're going to take this city back. Over Medicaid. In an all new season, now streaming only on Disney+. They're hunting us. It's time we started hunting them. I can work with them. This should be tons of fun. Marvel Television's Daredevil, born again, now streaming only on Disney+. As it is at the moment, Barcelona are four points clear of Real Madrid. This is obviously a good chance for Real Madrid to put a little bit of pressure on Barcelona. closed the gap to just a single point ahead of one of the toughest away games in the season, in theory, for Barcelona.

14:04In practice, I think they've actually got a very good record at the Estadio de la Ceramica. I mean, we don't need to necessarily dwell on the fact that this game was supposed to be played in Miami. I mean, we've spoken about that.

14:15Sid Lowe:I had literally forgotten about that, though. Yeah. Until Sid mentioned it. It seems like that came and went so long ago. Yeah. What's happened? Sid ended up stateside anyway about the same time by pure coincidence. But Sid would have been there, of course, in Miami. I don't think you or I would have been. But no, yes, it almost seems, again, as has happened every time this has come up, you know, over the last sort of decade, it's already kind of a, it feels like it never, yeah, it never happened because it didn't. Sid saying that Villarreal are such a good team and sort of glossing over the fact that they were knocked out of the Copa del Rey in midweek by harassing San Dandere.

14:52perhaps he didn't see that and by the way

14:56Sid Lowe:I was called out by one or two listeners we were talking about this on the bonus pod and I was saying this is a kind of a predictable cup set which to be fair you also questioned but people that watched that game were saying well look Rassing it wasn't even Rassing's first team it was like Rassing's B team they made a whole host of changes for that game because of course they're prioritising the league where they're top of Segunda and they still beat Villarreal so yeah maybe it was it was even more disappointing than even I had had kind of given the impression in the bonus pod. Yes, yes, Al. I mean, I'm looking forward to this game between Villarreal and Barcelona, not least.

15:31I mean, it's first against third, should be a good game. This fixture sort of guarantees goals and entertainment. Last season, Villarreal won 3-2 at Montjuic.

15:42Sid Lowe:Oh yeah, of course they did, I forgot about that. Barcelona won 5-1 at the Ceramica. Yeah. Season before that, Villarreal won 5-3 at Mondri. Oh, that was fun, that one. I remember that one. Yeah, that was brilliant. Final game for Xavi. Yeah. It wasn't fun for Xavi, yeah. And Barcelona won 4-3 at the Ceramica. So this is basically the most entertainment that a La Liga game can provide in the last sort of four or five years is this fixture, basically. More or less. I mean, I'm looking through, you know, there's been some... Barcelona won 3-1 at the Ceramica in 2021, 4-0 against Villarreal in 2020, 24-1, also in 2020.

16:20There was a 4-4 at the Ceramica in 2019. I mean, this is entertainment guaranteed, guys. And you're going to be commentating this one, right? Like all the big games. I will be commentating this and Real Madrid's Sevilla.

16:33Sid Lowe:We'll get that voice warmed up to, you know, sing the goals a lot of times. As they say in Spanish, yeah. Cantar los goles. I mean, don't literally... I do not sing goals. Don't literally do that thing that that famous Argentinian commentator used to do where he would sing a little song for every time a player scored. What was his name? Bambino Pons. Goal. Goal des goals. Goal des goals. Goal des goals. Yeah, I mean, maybe it would help you stand out from there. Yes. It was good, that wasn't it? I remember those days. You know what? I hate shit like that. Sorry, I absolutely hate it. No, well, yes, again, Novdy value is high, but if you're watching your team play football, maybe you don't want to be serenaded in that way.

17:14Sid Lowe:in a sort of high-stakes encounter. But it was good fun. Discrepo. But anyway, that's not what we will be doing on the international broadcast. Myself and Terry Gibson, absolutely not. No, Gibbo's not going to join in. I mean, it would be hilarious. It's Christmas, so... Yes, yes. Atletico Madrid with that trip to Girona, who are currently 18th, but they're coming off the back of a victory and potentially turning a corner. I actually think that they're playing better, Girona, and you're seeing signs of what Michel wants from this team. We saw him at the start of the season saying, these guys basically can't do what I'm asking them to do.

17:58I've asked them to do stuff that they can't do.

18:00Sid Lowe:It's amazing that they've actually managed to find a way back from that because when you reach that stage, when you've got the coach basically publicly calling out your players and they're playing as badly as they were, like that is almost inevitably the prelude to a you know a sacking a managerial change and they stuck with him and like you say they're they're getting better like I think that's that's the kind of thing that a coach deserves so much credit for because that is not an easy thing to to do it's not um big caveat here being that they're going to be without uh Unahi who's offered to AFCON like a lot of players are going to the AFCON Cup of Nations and he has been their best player by some distance, I would say, Azadean Unahi, who's off with Morocco.

18:40We'll see who can potentially fill his spot. I'm not convinced that Thomas Lamar is going to necessarily shine against this former club, but let's see.

18:48Sid Lowe:Yeah, and I mean, we say that they're playing better. It's still, what, one win in the last... Still in the relegation zone. One win in the last four games, two wins in the last sort of eight or something. So yeah, in terms of revivals, it's modest, but still. Hashtag modest revival. level. Let's see what kind of 11 we see from Atletico Madrid as well. I'm keen to see where Marc Pubil plays. Are you? Is that what's keeping you up at night? I mean, no. It's on your mind. It's a burning desire of mine that's sort of grown in the last 24 hours. I'm really desperate to see what position is Marc. Well, you're about to find out.

19:22Sid Lowe:I mean, it's a matter of days away. If only I could wait that long. We spoke about him in the newsletter on Monday and how he's been turned into a centre-back of pretty impressive performances so far. There's no Jose M 'Ajiménez, there's no Clemón L 'Anglais as well who picked up an injury mid-week and he's going to be out for, we think, maybe a couple of months, Clemón L 'Anglais with a pretty serious looking knee problem and Jose M 'Ajiménez is always a boost. Which is a boost, etc. and so on. It's not a boost, they need, they need. I mean, he likes Clemón L 'Anglais, Simioli likes him. don't say he's the only one don't say that that would be unfair but yeah but no what he's done with Poubi is brilliant because a lot of fans earlier in the season were kind of scratching their heads and saying why isn't he getting opportunities wherever in the team be it at a fullback or whatever but having now brought him in and yeah right now he looks like he could be I mean kind of the future for Atletico Madrid at centre-back which is I mean Simeone said he will be in the spain national team soon he will be let's see um i'm interested to see what atletico madrid do in the january transfer window well that fun to look forward to our it's swinging open we love transfers it's our favorite i mean yeah i mean yeah yeah at last the football's going to take a take a back seat and we can get back to the good stuff of um of speculation i mean in which la liga's 20 clubs spend a total of you know five pence on players in january i'd say that kind of stuff even if it is potentially what would be your guess oh right now if i had to put it to you right now what is your guess for la liga's total total outlay not net but just total sort of outlay in in the january window why are you doing this why are you being so mean don't be mean it's like it's not what do you think it'll be i mean i don't know but it's not going to get into double figures in terms of...

21:19Millions?

21:20Sid Lowe:Do you know what I mean? Like, who's... Well, you know, Real Madrid aren't planning to buy. Atleti, maybe a left-back. Maybe a left-back. Atletico, always maybe a left-back. Yeah. Yeah, yeah. Because you don't like the ones that you got. Barca won't do anything and no other clubs have got any money. So... Right, OK. There you go. There's your transfer window preview. But keep watching, guys. Keep watching. Keep subscribing. Patreon.com. Oh, no, because transfer is a bullshit. I mean, that was sort of necessary to the functioning of a football club. So, aren't they? Focus on your academy, Kittre.

21:56Sid Lowe:Get your own house in order. Bring the kids through. Okay. Cool. Forget transfers. Speaking of kids coming through, Athletic Club are travelling to Espanyol on Monday. As Sid alluded to, that is a big game. It's a slight shame that it is shunted on the Monday, but it means that we can really sit down and enjoy it and soak it in as our last La Liga action of the year. Espanyol. Shout out to Espanyol on what they've done in 2025. I mean, brilliant. Shout them out. Three consecutive 1-0 wins. Four on the bounce. Fifth in the table. Fifth in the table. They did get knocked out of the Copa del Rey though by lower league opposition.