In short
The Spanish Football Podcast: Matchday 27 Preview
Episode Overview In this episode, Phil Kitromilides and Sid Lowe preview Matchday 27 in La Liga, discussing key matches including Celta Vigo vs Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid vs Real Sociedad, and Athletic Club vs Barcelona. They also dive into predictions, team forms, and current league dynamics.
Episode Details
- Podcast Title: The Spanish Football Podcast
- Episode Title: Matchday 27 Preview
- Hosts: Phil Kitromilides, Sid Lowe
- Release Date: Monday (specific date not mentioned)
- Ad Breaks: NordVPN, BetterHelp
Key Matches Discussed
- Celta Vigo vs Real Madrid
- Current Form:
- Celta Vigo is in good form, sitting sixth in the league and having won four matches in a row.
- Real Madrid is struggling with injuries and suspensions, missing key players like Kylian Mbappé and Jude Bellingham.
- Predictions:
- Phil: Predicts a Real Madrid win, citing their historical resilience.
- Sid: Agrees with Thumper the rabbit's prediction of a draw.
- Atletico Madrid vs Real Sociedad
- Match Context: This match serves as a precursor to their Copa del Rey final.
- Team Strategy: Both teams may not show their full tactics or motivation, as they will want to keep strategies hidden for the final.
- Predictions:
- Both hosts predict a draw, emphasizing the potential for a lack of excitement in the match.
- Athletic Club vs Barcelona
- Match Context: Both teams recently exited the Copa del Rey.
- Current Form and Squad News:
- Barcelona may field a weakened squad due to injuries and the looming Champions League match.
- Predictions:
- Sid: Predicts an away win for Barcelona, noting the importance of league points.
Other Matches
- Osasuna vs Mallorca: Osasuna is favored to win due to their current form.
- Levante vs Girona: Sid predicts a Girona win.
- Villarreal vs Elche: A straightforward prediction for a Villarreal home win.
- Getafe vs Real Betis: Predicted to end in a 0-0 draw.
- Sevilla vs Rayo Vallecano: Both hosts lean towards a draw.
- Valencia vs Alaves: Phil favors a home win for Valencia.
- Espanyol vs Oviedo: Predicted to end in a draw, with both teams struggling.
Notable Commentary
- Phil and Sid's Dynamic: The hosts engage in light-hearted banter, including a whimsical subplot involving predictions made by Thumper the rabbit.
- Analysis of Team Conditions: In-depth discussion on player injuries, tactical setups, and recent performances give listeners a comprehensive view of each match's stakes.
- Overall Predictions: Sid’s and Phil's methods of prediction are compared to Thumper's, with humorous commentary on the reliability of each approach.
Conclusion The episode is rich in football analysis, predictions, and engaging dialogue between the hosts. Listeners can expect a deeper understanding of La Liga's current landscape as they prepare for Matchday 27. The analysis includes team form, potential strategies, and historical context that enriches the listening experience.
Call to Action
- For more insights and exclusive content, listeners are encouraged to join the Patreon community at patreon.com/tsfp.
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Note: This summary is intended for fans and followers of La Liga and Spanish football, providing insights into the upcoming fixtures and expert analysis from seasoned commentators.
Written by AI. May contain mistakes. Listen to the episode to check what was said.
Chapters
Tap a time to open that second in VOMatch Day 27 Overview
0:45 to 1:33
Discussion about Oviedo's position and recent content updates for patrons.
“So what you're saying now is that there isn't a chance.”
Predictions for Match Day 27
1:33 to 3:05
Sid's struggles with predictions and the introduction of a rabbit to predict outcomes.
“So we thought we'd see how Sid's rabbit gets on, predicting at least one game.”
Thumper vs. Sid's Predictions
3:05 to 5:15
Sid discusses his prediction against the rabbit's prediction for the Celta Vigo vs. Real Madrid match.
“We've put the video up on our socials, by the way, so go and have a look.”
Celta Vigo's Performance Analysis
5:15 to 7:22
Analyzing Celta Vigo's recent form and performance against Real Madrid.
“If we're both wrong, I have to get the dog to do it next week.”
Osasuna vs. Mallorca Preview
7:22 to 9:30
Preview of the Osasuna vs. Mallorca match, discussing team forms and management changes.
“Osasuna against Mallorca is on Saturday.”
Levante vs. Girona Prediction
9:30 to 10:54
Predictions and analysis for the Levante vs. Girona match, with reference to previous games.
“Well, last week I was kind of quite convinced that Levante were done and then they went and won.”
Atletico Madrid vs. Real Sociedad Preview
10:54 to 12:46
Previewing the Atletico Madrid vs. Real Sociedad match, discussing implications for Copa del Rey.
“We have, Sid, a dry run for the Copa del Rey final this weekend.”
Athletic Club vs Barcelona Preview
14:24 to 18:19
Analysis of the upcoming match between Athletic Club and Barcelona.
“Then the big game of the weekend, it's Athletic Club against Barcelona, certainly in terms of history and tradition.”
Villarreal vs Elche Match Insights
18:20 to 21:01
Discussion on Villarreal and Elche's current form and predictions.
“Then on Sunday, first things first is Villarreal against Elche.”
Sevilla vs Rayo Vallecano Analysis
21:02 to 21:56
Evaluation of Sevilla's and Rayo Vallecano's performances and expectations.
“So a win for either of them should move them away from the drop zone even further.”
Show all 12 chapters
Valencia vs Alaves Prediction
21:57 to 24:00
Predictions and analysis for the game between Valencia and Alaves.
“I think they are a side that, I keep saying this, that I think they have massive flaws.”
Espanyol vs Oviedo Preview
24:01 to 25:51
A look at the upcoming match between Espanyol and Oviedo with predictions.
“And they've been beaten a lot as well, though.”
Transcript
Automatic transcript. May contain errors.0:01Phil Kitromilides:In the NHL, Silver is second to none. The playoff push begins. Alex Ovechkin in the Capitals. Ovechkin fires! He scores! Take on Czechias, David Pasternak and the Brewers. Then USA hero Jack Hughes and the Devils host fellow countryman J.T. Miller and the Rangers. The NHL is back! Saturday on ABC.
0:38Sid Lowe:Hello everyone and welcome to this week's TSFP Preview Podcast. I'm Phil Kittromelidi, Sid Lowe is with me to look ahead to what's coming up on Match Day 27. Sid?
0:49Phil Kitromilides:27? How did that happen? So what you're saying now is that there isn't a chance. Time has run out, Oviedo are down, we can forget about it, we can do something else instead.
0:59Sid Lowe:Oviedo are down I think we've discussed this extensively On the bonus podcast that we did For patrons at patreon.com Forward slash TSFP yesterday We also spoke about the Copa del Rey Semi-finals as well There is loads of content over there Patreon.com forward slash TSFP If you're interested In Spanish football Or you want a distraction from Everything else that's going on in the world Which seems to be quite a handy thing Right now come and join us patreon.com forward slash tsfp anyway here we are um putting out another free podcast on a friday to look ahead to what's coming up to match day 27 now we do predictions on this podcast i say we sid does predictions on this podcast and last week sid um it was your worst week ever you've been in a sort of sliding down curve in terms of getting them correct last where you got three out of ten.
1:52Sid Lowe:Yeah. Which has prompted drastic action.
1:56Phil Kitromilides:Well, yes, it has. I'm about to be replaced. So we thought we'd see how Sid's rabbit gets on,
2:08Sid Lowe:predicting at least one game. And if the rabbit gets that game right, then next week we're going to bring him in for the entire whole podcast. Yeah, for the whole podcast. I'll just talk to the rabbit. he's going to predict is a he right thumper is a he thumper is a she actually she's a she
2:25Phil Kitromilides:thumper is a she rabbit you can't hear me still why can't you hear me that is funny can you hear me i can yes i can hear you i can hear you fine philip something's happened it is a he right it's a she rabbit she's a she called thumper okay so i mean i didn't choose a name. When children choose names, they tend not to be gender specific. I'm not sure that Thumper's a very gender specific name anyway. Feels masculine. Do you think? I mean, Thumper does thump. When she gets angry, she will thump by heart.
2:57Sid Lowe:It's not a problem. We roll with it. So Thumper is going to predict what's going to happen in Celtic Vigo against Real Madrid tonight. We've put the video up on our socials, by the way, so go and have a look. But what has Thumper predicted?
3:10Phil Kitromilides:Thumper's gone for a draw. Now, I don't know if I should just accept that and run with Thumper's prediction or whether I should do a counter prediction to turn it into competition between me and Thumper. What do you think? Yeah, all right. Okay. I am going to back miraculously Real Madrid to get away with it and to win. There's something about Real Madrid that when we think it's all going to end, somehow it doesn't. But then I look at the team and I just, you know, here I am rationalizing. I could just do what Thumper did and probably be more accurate and go for the banana that most attracted me, which is essentially how Fumper chose that it would be a draw.
3:46Sid Lowe:You know, you just look at that. The starting 11 is all right, I think. There's nothing really wrong with it. Yeah. The starting 11 is okay. Obviously, they are missing Kylian Mbappé, Rodrigo, Bellingham, Militao. Obviously, Carreras got himself suspended. Hausson got himself suspended. Mastantono got himself suspended. There's no Dani Ceballos in midfield. They're missing eight or nine players. but the starting 11 that they can put out today is still decent.
4:15Phil Kitromilides:The starting 11 is decent and there's not a huge amount wrong with it, but they're not playing very well. No. This starting 11 or any other starting 11. But there's just a bit of me that thinks somehow they'll find a way. They haven't actually lost in Vigo for 12 years, you know.
4:34Sid Lowe:And Celta are flying in terms of having a really good season. in their sixth. They're flying in Europe. They've won four games in a row in all comps. They're a really good team to watch. They beat Real Madrid earlier at the Bernabeu, of course, the 7th of December, the game that started the end for Xabi Alonso. But at home, they don't actually have any left at home. They've only won four times, haven't they?
4:56Phil Kitromilides:Yeah, only four wins. So, I mean, there's a bit of me that would quite like to take Thumper's prediction, but I'm going to go head-to-head with the bunny. I'm going to take on that bunny, that bunny going down, I'm going for a round-of-the-way win. There you go. All right.
5:12Sid Lowe:Let's see. Let's see who comes out on top. What if we're both wrong?
5:15Phil Kitromilides:If we're both wrong, I have to get the dog to do it next week.
5:19Sid Lowe:You're literally betting your whole credibility against the rabbit, Sid. Are you prepared to do this?
5:25Phil Kitromilides:Yes. I think my credibility went out the window years ago. And I think the possibility of losing out, at least to a cute, floppy-eared little creature, you know. It's not the worst thing that's ever happened to me.
5:39Sid Lowe:All right. I'm looking forward to this game. It's a big game. Celta Vigo play good football. They move the ball quickly. Their passes per minute. Only Barcelona and Real Madrid play the ball quicker than Celta and they've got a really high passing accuracy as well. I think only Barcelona and Real Madrid have a better passing accuracy. They move the ball quickly. They move the ball effectively. They played around Real Madrid at the Bernal earlier this season. They're a really good team to watch. So, yeah, looking forward to this game. Okay. We're opposing Celta, though, between the Rabbit and Sid.
6:09Sid Lowe:We are opposing the home win.
6:10Phil Kitromilides:Yeah, I mean, that's quite bold, isn't it? And it is weird to be in a position. I suppose, do you know what? In a way, I can't even justify my decision because I look at this and I think of it rationally. I think Celta. But there's just something that, well, I mean, you've given some of the rational reasons. Celta not being very good at home. Real Madrid starting 11 actually not being that bad. Champions League football coming up probably should again lean us towards Celta or to at least towards Real Madrid not winning. But there's something, I just find it hard to imagine Real Madrid losing three in a row.
6:40Phil Kitromilides:That would be amazing, by the way.
6:42Sid Lowe:Wow. When was the last time that happened, Sid?
6:45Phil Kitromilides:I honestly don't know. It happened at the end of the first David Beckham season. They lost the last five, I think, including one in which Beckham was sent off away at Mourthia. But yeah, I don't know if it's happened since then. And I feel like it can't have done. Although, remember they got beaten by Barcelona twice. So that was across different competitions. We're talking about the league. Yeah, I'm not sure. You've caught me. I don't know. Maybe the rabbit knows. I don't know.
7:15Sid Lowe:Maybe the rabbit does know. Give it some options and I'm sure I'll choose the right one. Moving away from Sid and his rabbit. Or the rabbit at least. Osasuna against Mallorca is on Saturday. I'm commentating this one. Osasuna in really strong form. and Mallorca are not.
7:32Phil Kitromilides:Yeah, I mean, obviously Mallorca are difficult to judge because they had an interim manager the last game. You had that really brilliant footage of Martin Demichelis watching the game with his daughter, leaning on his arm, sort of looking really, really bored. You can kind of imagine the daughter thinking, are you sure you want to take over this lot? They didn't play well at all. They haven't played well for quite a long time. They're not as good a team, Mallorca, as they should be because, you know, earlier in the season, we talked about, or at least I talked about from a Raul Loviehda point of view, this idea that if you get a decent striker who scores you 10 goals a season, that's probably enough to save you, even if you've got almost nothing else.
8:10Phil Kitromilides:Well, they have that striker. Ricci's got 16 goals. It's an absolutely phenomenal return. I know he takes the penalties. I must confess, I'm not sure how many of those 16 are penalties. But 16 is brilliant, and they're still in the shit. Demichelis, I'm really, really interested, not so much to see the result, although obviously you were about to ask me for a prediction for one, but to see how they approach it and whether they go now. Do they try and shut up? Do they try and be a little bit more attacking? Does he try and get into their heads more than he gets into them tactically? I suspect he does, but it's not that else.
8:45Phil Kitromilides:But he's also in a difficult position because Mallorca are that strange club where they've got rid of a manager and the players, I think at some level, probably are happy that he's gone because they're performing so badly they want to change. But they're not happy that he's gone on a personal level, if you sort of mean. And so you have got this situation where you haven't got a squad of players desperate for someone else to come along. You know, immediately receptive to the new guy on a personal level as much as a playing one. So I don't know what's going to happen with Jorke. Anyway, for this particular game, I'm going home win.
9:18Sid Lowe:Yeah, I think it makes sense to go for a home win. Osasuna very strong at home. they've also got a decent goal scoring forward as well. This is the battle of Budimere against Matici, which is worth watching. All right, Levante against Girona.
9:34Phil Kitromilides:Well, last week I was kind of quite convinced that Levante were done and then they went and won. They didn't actually play very well, did they? That was not a good game. Then Alavespa Man sent off. Exactly. Exactly. I'm going for Girona in this one.
9:55Sid Lowe:Yeah, a way win. I mean, that was only Levante's second home win of the season. Yeah.
10:00Phil Kitromilides:I mean, it was only their fifth in total, wasn't it? I think. But yes, exactly. Only their second home win all season. Although it is true that their last two wins have both been at home because the other one was Elche. What's that? About six weeks ago, six, seven weeks ago.
10:14Sid Lowe:Yeah. OK. So we're going for Girona, a way win there. By the way, while you're doing all this, Sid, I am currently consulting the archives to try and find the last time that I lost three. No, I'm back in 2020. Are you literally doing it game by game? Are you scrolling to see it? I'm scrolling, I'm scrolling.
10:33Phil Kitromilides:How many seasons have you got through so far?
10:36Sid Lowe:I'm in 2020 at the moment, so I'm looking for three consecutive league defeats. I try to Google it and nothing comes up. It's rubbish when you Google these kind of things. You know, you want an immediate answer, specific. And even artificial intelligence isn't helping either. So I will continue to do this.
10:54Phil Kitromilides:AI can do all sorts of stuff, but not the stuff you really want it to do.
10:57Sid Lowe:We have, Sid, a dry run for the Copa del Rey final this weekend. It is Atletico Madrid against Real Sociedad.
11:06Phil Kitromilides:And you know what? I actually think that matters. I don't think this is just a quirk. I don't think this is just a quirk, a curiosity, that this is a dry run for the Copa del Rey. I think it matters that it's a dry run for the Copa del Rey. I think it does impact upon the way the two of them go into it, obviously just because they've just played semifinals and won them. But I also think it impacts upon it in that I think there are some managers, I don't know if Matarazzo is one of them, but I do think Simeone is one of them. I absolutely do think Simeone is one of them, that go into this game thinking, I don't want this game to be useful for them.
11:41Phil Kitromilides:I don't want this game to show them anything. I don't want this game to reveal anything. I don't want this game to create any kind of environment or reaction or irritation or confidence or whatever it may be that impacts upon the final. Now, having said all that, I don't know what that means in terms of how they set up. But I can see a scenario in which this game just kind of goes by and both teams sort of just want it to go by and aren't really all that worried about it. And bear in mind that Atletico Madrid play Spurs. Now, lads, it's Spurs, but they play Spurs in midweek. I feel like this is a game where Atletico absolutely will rest players off the back of what happened in midweek, where Real Sociedad in all probability will as well, although I don't think the level of exhaustion was quite the same, albeit they've had a day less of rest than Atletico Madrid have.
12:34Phil Kitromilides:I feel like this is one of those not very interesting sort of drift towards a draw games
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12:43Sid Lowe:Drift towards a draw game Okay, so you're going for a draw then? I'm going for a draw Okay Yeah, I mean that's relatively well argued I think, you know, maybe the rabbit will
12:54Phil Kitromilides:What's your statistical analysis and or counter argument on this?
13:01Sid Lowe:I agree with what you're saying obviously Atletico Madrid is strong at home but they will be having one eye on the Champions League even though it is against those absolute useless people from North London but yeah no I think a draw is a very very possible very possible outcome so we'll go with a draw When you want your spring break to feel like and your kid's pool day to feel like and your hotel bed to feel like
13:38Phil Kitromilides:and room service to feel like because at Hilton, hospitality feels like
13:44Sid Lowe:Your cabana's ready. Would you like fresh towels?
13:46Phil Kitromilides:It matters where you stay.
13:50Sid Lowe:Book now at Hilton.com. Hilton. For this day. this episode is brought to you by Nespresso introducing Virtuo Up the latest in a long line of innovation from Nespresso it's innovation you can touch sense and taste in every single cup with a three second start easy open lever and dedicated brew over ice button it's even easier to enjoy your coffee your way sip for yourself shop Virtuo Up exclusively at Nespresso.com Then the big game of the weekend, it's Athletic Club against Barcelona, certainly in terms of history and tradition. Both sides knocked out of the Copa del Rey in midweek in differing circumstances.
14:37Sid Lowe:Athletic Club were poor against Real Sociedad. Barcelona gave their absolute all against Atletico Madrid. Barcelona missing some players, obviously, Jules Koundé and Alex Balde They're both picking up injuries in that game, so missing their two first-choice full-backs on either side for Barcelona. Pedri was absolutely exhausted at the end of the game, and Hansi Flick admitted it was a risk to keep him on. I'm glad he didn't get injured, but he didn't. How do we see this one going?
15:07Phil Kitromilides:Yeah, I like the, well, I don't know if I like, but the kind of fixture quirk of the two semi-finalists playing back-to-back games against each other, and the losers and then the winners as well. It almost feels like a competition, like the final game of a competition. Here's the final, here's the third, fourth place playoff for the other two. And I suppose this is the third, fourth place playoff. I think this will feel like more of a game probably than the Atletico Madrid-Real Sofie'd have won because I think there's more invested in it because the truth is that both for Atletico Madrid and Real Sofie'd have, the league is not a priority at all.
15:42Phil Kitromilides:For Barcelona, of course, the league is. And of course, for the Athletic Club, the league has just become a priority to try and get that final European place. I think that I'm, again, this is another one where I'm interested to see how they approach it emotionally, not for the same reasons as the other game, where I think they let it go, but because that sense of trying to get back into the flow of things. And I think the fact that Barcelona play Champions League in midweek changes everything for them. Absolutely everything. Because I think otherwise this is as full a team as they can field. I think the fact they're playing Champions League in midweek means it's absolutely not as full a team as they can field.
16:18Phil Kitromilides:I think it's not just McCunde and Ballet. I agree with you. I think it's, well, not so much I agree with you. I pick up on where you were talking about Pedri. I find it hard to imagine Pedri starting. Or if he starts, I find it hard to imagine him playing more than an hour. Even if he says, I want to stay on the pitch. Even if Barcelona want him on the pitch, I think this time you take him off. And in midweek, there was that moment where Flick actually said, do you want to come off? And Pedri's like, wait, wait, wait, wait. But it was their last window of change. And so the only way they were going to change Pedri is if the game had gone Obviously, Franco de Jong is already out.
16:49Phil Kitromilides:That's not to say Barcelona don't have some good midfielders. We saw how brilliant Mark Bernal was in midweek. We've seen good performance from Casado this season, albeit, I think, less good than some of the ones in the early part of last season. I think Olimo will start. I think Marcus Rashford will start. I think there'll be at least someone rested in the top of the pitch as well. But I don't think Athletic Club are very good. So I'm going to go for an away win, not with a massive amount of conviction, but I'm going to go for an away win because I think this does matter. Well, of course it matters.
17:21Phil Kitromilides:I'm stating the bleeding obvious to say this does matter to Barcelona. But I think they will try not to allow themselves to be drawn to midweek of next week.
17:31Sid Lowe:Barcelona travelling directly from Bilbao to Newcastle. So they're not going back to Barcelona. Well, it makes sense, doesn't it?
17:40Phil Kitromilides:Why give yourself two extra flights? and if you feel that you're mentally prepared for that rather than go home, leave again, come back out again, I think it's the right thing to do.
17:52Sid Lowe:2009, Sid, the end of that season that you suggested was the last time that Real Madrid lost three league games in a row. 2009? Who was it against? Well, they lost the last five. Yes, that's what I thought.
18:06Phil Kitromilides:It was the last five, yeah.
18:06Sid Lowe:So they lost against Barcelona, Valencia, Villarreal, Mallorca and Osasuna. Wow.
18:14Phil Kitromilides:OK, there we go.
18:15Sid Lowe:So let's see. Yes. OK, back. So you're going for a Barcelona away win in that one. Then on Sunday, first things first is Villarreal against Elche. We're going for a pretty simple home win here.
18:30Phil Kitromilides:I think that's a simple home win. I'm really interested to see what Elche do and how they break this this current run of games because even in the moments when they look alright they're just not winning I mean for Elche it must be well it must be the best part of 12 games now for Elche that they haven't won in and they're really really close to being properly properly dragged into it now you have to go all the way to the 21st of December for their last win not quite 12 then that is it, that's 9 I think
19:01Sid Lowe:it's not good so we're going we're going for a home win there yeah Hesafi against Betis this was due to be on Saturday but instead it is on Sunday at 4.15 oh you've done it Phil you've raised the issue
19:14Phil Kitromilides:that you didn't want to raise because I'll now go off on a massive long rant just very briefly let me say it's absolutely disgraceful that there are four games whose kick-off times have changed this weekend right that'll do not going to do more than that but there you go
19:26Sid Lowe:for more on this join us at patreon.com forward slash gsfb as Sid goes off on long, profound and expletive ridden rants against the Champions.
19:35Phil Kitromilides:Another little rant. Do you know what I was told today? This is a little aside, but let me throw it in. I asked whether the competition committee, the disciplinary committee at the Federation, would look at the Rudiger thing from Monday night. Do you know what I was told? One of the reasons why they wouldn't is. What's that? I think this is amazing. So had there been an official complaint made, they would look into it. But they don't just look into it, because this is a really bad one. They don't just look into it and just act, right? And the reason is because to do that, they would have to watch every game, otherwise it's not fair.
20:09Phil Kitromilides:Now let that sink in for a minute. We've got a disciplinary committee that's refusing to watch every game. Like what the absolute is going on? They've got better things to do, Sid,
20:18Sid Lowe:than watch Spanish football.
20:20Phil Kitromilides:Yeah, eating ham, probably. But anyway, yeah. I find this quite hard to predict. I don't. Don't you? I feel like it's a 0-0 draw.
20:32Sid Lowe:Yeah, I think it's a draw. Oh, OK, good.
20:33Phil Kitromilides:Right. All right, there you go. In which case, right, I'm glad. I've got the backup from you. I'm going for the 0-0 draw. I feel like Getafe don't do it twice in a row. I feel like Betis, I don't really trust them. I feel like this game, obviously, we know what the intentions of Getafe will be. Yeah, 0-0 draw. There we go.
20:51Sid Lowe:Betis on the road this season with seven draws. Seven draws out of 13, more than anyone else in the league. So I think it's a pretty solid backing them for a draw. We've got Sevilla against Rayo Vallecano immediately after that. I'm commentating that one. Both teams on 30 points in the table. So a win for either of them should move them away from the drop zone even further.
21:13Phil Kitromilides:Yeah, and they're both in a reasonably good position now, aren't they? What is it? Six points, I think, over Mallorca. I mean, obviously, you can be pulled back into it. But I think Rayo are a better team than a team that should be in the relegation zone. I think the fears that you had about Rio, I wouldn't say they've been entirely allayed, but they haven't been beaten in a month now, isn't it? It's four weeks without being beaten. I think it's a couple of draws. One of them was Betis. I can't remember who the other one was. And of course, that win against Atletico at home when they played away.
21:42Phil Kitromilides:Atletico. So it's a decent run. It's a very good run then. So what's that? Atletico, Betis, Atletico, Atletico, and obviously the mighty Real Oviedo. It is a pretty good run. Sevilla, I don't really know what to think. I was very impressed with their response in the second half against Betis last week. I think they are a side that, I keep saying this, that I think they have massive flaws. I think they have real problems. I don't think they're a good team. But I do think that they're a team that has something. I don't think they're a total basket case. I don't think they're a total disaster. I don't think they're that easy to beat, except when they collapse and then they collapse full on.
22:21Phil Kitromilides:You know, they conceded four against Mallorca. They conceded three against Levante. they let in three against Atletico Madrid Barcelona put five past them if I remember rightly didn't they earlier in the season albeit it's Barcelona so I'm sort of a bit
22:38Phil Kitromilides:am I sitting on the fence and going for a draw I think I might be
22:40Sid Lowe:yeah I mean I'm tending towards a draw myself in this one and then Sunday night football big game at the bottom it's Valencia against Alaves Valencia
22:54Phil Kitromilides:And I realise I was very, very direct there, but I feel like Valencia have... I suppose the reason why they might not win is it feels to me like they've done it now. You know, it's four wins in the last seven weeks. And I don't think they're good. And I do think they've been pretty lucky in those wins. You know, 1-0 against Getafe, a 3-2 against Espanyol. It feels to me like they're getting slightly questionable penalties quite late in quite a lot of games. So I don't know if that's a perception rather than a reality, but it sort of feels a little bit that way to me. The 1-0 against Valencia, 2-0 against Levante makes it sound better than it was.
23:29Phil Kitromilides:I think both those goals came pretty late. And I think they've signed well, and I think they've added players in every part of the pitch. I think they've got a manager that finally seems to have realised that Javi Guerra is his best player. Or maybe alternatively, a fairer way of saying it is to say that Javi Guerra is starting occasionally to look like the player he should be. So, yeah, I've actually, this doesn't really vex me that much. It feels like a home win. Don't want to vex Sydney. Don't vex me. Do not vex me, bro. And finally, Espanyol against Obiedo. Oh, come on. This is, I mean, do you know what?
24:08Phil Kitromilides:What? Espanyol have not won this year.
24:12Sid Lowe:It'll be a draw. It'll be a draw.
24:13Phil Kitromilides:And they've been beaten a lot as well, though. They've not just been drawing. I know they drew last week and I know they drew a couple of weeks ago, a couple of two-twos, wasn't it? Who was it? Espanol against Elche, I think. And the other one was, was it Celta? I think the other one might have been Celta. But they're getting beaten a lot. Do you know what I think is going to happen?
24:29Sid Lowe:Are we able to take the lead and end up drawing?
24:31Phil Kitromilides:Yeah, that's what I think is going to happen. But then the alternative is, let me be incredibly selfish and self-absorbed here and say that I can't get to this game because of the Champions League previews. Not just because it's a Monday night. As you know, I actually quite like Monday nights because normally my weekend's work is finished and I can go. I can't get to this game because of Champions League previews with the two games in Madrid this week. Why do I feel like now that it's too late and it won't even help us, we'll win this? I don't know. What does the rabbit think? Does the rabbit support Oviedo?
25:02Phil Kitromilides:Well, I don't think the rabbit... I mean, no, I don't think the rabbit...
25:05Sid Lowe:You haven't got a little rabbit? The dog does.
25:08Phil Kitromilides:The dog has a girl Oviedo, what do you call it, harness. this um oh shit come on i mean this is this is a draw isn't it yes it's got a draw in all over it this is a this is a draw yeah go on this is a draw and you're right i'll be at a school first
25:24Sid Lowe:okay those are our predictions combined predictions little bit of input from me little bit of input from the rabbit sydney giving his views as well match day 27 in la liga ea sports Looking forward to it. It's going to be a big one and we'll see what happens after those games. And we'll be back on Monday to discuss it. As we said, patreon.com forward slash DSF for all your Spanish footballing needs. And we'll speak soon, amigos. Adios. Cheerio.
26:07Thank you.
From the publisher
Phil Kitromilides & Sid Lowe look ahead to Matchday 27 in LALIGA including Celta Vigo v Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid v Real Sociedad and Athletic Club v Barcelona.
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