Matchday 5 Preview

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1:33Hello everyone and welcome to this week's preview podcast. Every Friday we look ahead to what's coming up in La Liga EA Sports and we try and predict what's going to happen. And when I say we, it means Sid. And when I say predict, it's usually not very accurate. it. Sidney, how did you do last week?

1:55Phil Kitromilides:Well, you did say the word try, you didn't say succeed. Last week, I got absolutely none right at all on the Saturday. And so I was fighting an uphill battle from there. Luckily, a little bit of good fortune on Monday, including a 90th minute goal, slightly rescued me, but four out of 10 is still pretty pathetic. Well, let's try and improve. Let's try and improve. We are putting the Friday preview podcast on YouTube for the first time. So if you are watching us, welcome along. Great. Yeah. So now I get to look really, really, really stupid in front of even more people. Well, I mean, we've been doing it for years.

2:29You know, a few more. A few more shouldn't hurt. I am recording at a slight angle because I've got my foot up. I was going to ask you why you were sitting like that. I've got my foot up because, you know, obviously I've injured my ankle playing football this morning. Not my fault. It was the fault of someone else with a tackle, which was unnecessary. But anyway, that's why I'm at an angle, if you want.

2:54Phil Kitromilides:Did you get a red card and a free game ban? Was it really bad? It was up to me, yes. But no, I hobbled off and the game continued. Anyway, woe is me. Let's kick off with the Friday night game. I think we called this fixture last season the we used to be big derby, which is perhaps a bit unfair. But it's Sevilla against Valencia. Obviously, two sides have had tremendous success in the 21st century, but not much recently. They've been involved in relegation battles rather than European success in the last two years. Three years ago, Sevilla won the Europa League. Anyway, what's going to happen in this one, Sydney?

3:33Sevilla at home. They've had a decent, very decent start to the season. Valencia have not. They're bottom and there's big pressure on Carlos Borberan.

3:40Phil Kitromilides:Yeah, there is. Luis Garcia kind of did the we used to be big derby thing during his pre-match press quarantine, which he said, however good or bad we are, we're still Sevilla and Valencia. And it's like, well, yeah, I mean, sort of. I mean, you are literally Sevilla and Valencia. Yeah, obviously the context of this is that, or at least the big kind of public context of this is that last week when he went off, Rodri sat on the bench, the Barcelona midfielder, and turned to a teammate alongside him, which was, was it Casadoa? I can't remember who it was. It was Paco Barsi. It was Paco Barsi. Paco Barsi plays at Deportivo La Coruña now.

4:14Phil Kitromilides:Yeah, yeah, yeah. So it wouldn't have been him, you know. I mean, and he basically said, God, this lot are terrible. This lot are really, really bad. Now, Corboran yesterday said that this was totally out of place. It's a lack of respect. It doesn't come from a place of respect for footballers. And I have to say, I completely disagree with him. And I realise we're here to predict and to talk about what the game will be. But this does play into this. I don't think this was a comment that was either dismissive or sneering or laughing at. I think it was a complete opposite. It was a sense of, this is Valencia.

4:45Yeah, that's it.

4:46Phil Kitromilides:It was shock, wasn't it? It was like they shouldn't be this awful. Now, in terms of the analysis, and I also think actually it suits Corboran a little bit to hide behind a lack of respect and say, well, how about we talk about your team and the fact that what he was saying was fundamentally true. Now, in Corboran's defence, and he did a lot of this yesterday, he talked about the players missing, and that's true. It's another six players absent from this week. I think it was seven last week. He said that Guido's still not fit. Javier Elliott, of course, has turned up at the very end of the transfer window and may well be a really useful player to them.

5:20Phil Kitromilides:Sadiq got injured. They changed a lot last year, midway through the season, when Sadiq and Guido came back and they're not available. But I think there is a broader question. I do think he's right, Corbadan, to at least have the optimism that this will be better when everyone's fit. That's not to say it will happen for sure, but to have the optimism that everyone's better. I think this is a stronger squad than it looks like at the moment. I think they shouldn't be as terrible as they were against Barstona. And I think, of course, that Barstona scored five against everyone except Athletic so far this season.

5:52Phil Kitromilides:So there's a little bit of context for you. I think the other part of the context of this is to say that Sevilla's good start, which contrasts markedly from what Valencia have done. Valencia have only scored one goal and have only got one point. Sevilla a seventh, I think it is. I think their part's good start is partly explained by happenstance and circumstance as well, in that they were fortunate, certainly against Athletic and they haven't maybe played as well as their results but I think they are competitive so I think this is harder to call than it looks because I suppose I would say that considering my ability to call has been called into question so I think although this is at the P1 although Valencia looked terrible I don't think this is a guaranteed home victory I'm going to go for I am going to go for a home victory but I'm going to go for a very narrow home victory.

6:45Yeah, I would agree. I would agree. All right, then on Saturday, we've got Rassing against a surprise package of the season so far. Deportivo a la vez. Best ever start to La Liga season flying.

6:58Phil Kitromilides:Yeah, amazing, isn't it? And a hat-trick from Lucas Boyer last weekend. Of course, we see Mariano doing things that he hadn't done for eight years. And when I say he hadn't done them for eight years, he hasn't done it for the last eight years, put together what he's already done this season. Not just in any of those eight years, but all of them put together. I mean, I actually think that mid and long term, he probably won't be their key striker. I think Boye probably will be, unless Kike decides to play both of them, which I think he probably won't. I think Rating at home are actually quite a decent side.

7:28Phil Kitromilides:I think they want the ball. I think they make themselves vulnerable as a result of that. I can see a 2-2 draw in this one. Oh, that's exciting. I watched Rating at Raya last week and I thought they were miles inferior to Raheo. Yes, and away they are really not very good. But at home, I think they're all right. Okay. But it's early to say that. Obviously, you know, we're talking about a sample size of only four games in total, you know, so... A wee bit early, Sid. Yeah. Okay. But you're going for a draw there. What about El Sadar? It's Osasuna against Espanol. Should we say it? Should we say Budimir wins penalty, scores penalty.

8:08Phil Kitromilides:Osasuna win 1-0? Not again. What? I mean, it won't be 1-0. I'm not sure it'll be 1-0 because I think Espanyol will probably score, actually.

8:19Phil Kitromilides:I find this quite a difficult one to call as well. Am I going to sit on the fence and say a draw? I think I probably am. Maybe a little 1-1. Yeah, a little 1-1. Okay. Game that I'm commentating on Saturday is Athletic Club against Elche. Well, I think this has, of all of this weekend's games, maybe not of all of them because there's a couple coming up which maybe will fill this criteria. I think this might be almost the easiest to call on the face of it. But of course, what makes football great is it is unexpected. And I think this is a home win and a relatively clear one. Yeah, it's a nice little run of games, actually, for Athletic.

8:56After their two defeats at the start of the season, they had a little run where they could build up momentum. They've won their last two. This is a very winnable game as well at home against an Elche side with just at one point, they're starting to play well. Their big players are starting to play well as well. So, yeah, a home win on the cards in Bilbao. And at the Bernabeu seat, Real Madrid against Rayo?

9:18Phil Kitromilides:Yeah, I mean, I was thinking of this game, I must confess, when I said that there are relatively clear results, just because I just can't see at the Bernabeu Rayo getting something from Real Madrid. But there's been glimpses of good things from Rayo this year. We've talked about this as Sergio Cameo suddenly becoming great again. Again, I'm not sure if he was ever. He's always been a player. I think when he first came through, he was a player quite light. He's got something quite exciting about him. But this is the first time we're seeing a degree of consistency from him. So I think I can probably see a scenario in which maybe for a while Real Madrid don't find it that easy.

9:58Phil Kitromilides:But I just can't see a scenario, I'm afraid, in which Real Madrid do not win this. regular listeners to the podcast will know that I'm a Raya Vallecano fan so that's why I will be supporting them on Saturday do you remember this game last season? do you remember what happened to this game last? is this the game that Real Madrid didn't score in? is this the only game they didn't score in all season? no that was two seasons ago no it can't be that long this where Real Madrid won 2-1 with a penalty in the 100th minute Yeah. Yeah. So, I mean, even if it happens that way and I'm not ruling it out, it happening that way, then...

10:39Phil Kitromilides:Then you'll be right. You know, that's what matters. You don't need to play well, Sid. You just need to get the results. I'm like Mourinho. I don't care how I play. Just, you know, my justifications can be up the spout completely. Do I get results? Last weekend, I did not. So I can't be happy with that. But of course, when I don't get results, I'll then make excuses. And I'll say, you know, it was tough. I played well. I played well. Played really well. You know, there was logic in these predictions. Nationwide is so much more than a great insurance company. They're one of America's largest financial services companies.

11:10Just like I'm so much more than quarterback Peyton Manning. I'm also Peyton Manning. Insurance and financial services together, it's a masterpiece. Peyton Manning does it again. For your insurance and financial needs, Nationwide is on your side. Nationwide Investment Services Corporation, Ember FINRA, Columbus, Ohio.

11:59Phil Kitromilides:There is so much NFL on ESPN right now. Monday night football, plus pregame and postgame. NFL live, NFL primetime. Everything you need to stay on top of every game, every week. Unbelievable. And now NFL Network is on the ESPN app. More football, more coverage, more ways to watch. Football's on, all season long, on ESPN and streaming on the ESPN app.

12:31There's logic in these predictions. What about Seltzer, if you say so. Seltzer against Malaga. Seltzer, who have had an eye-catchingly bad start to the season. Yes.

12:42Phil Kitromilides:And not playing very well either. It's not just... You see, last year they had that run. Was it seven 1-1s in the first eight or nine games or something crazy? I can't remember exactly the stats, but it was constant 1-1s last year. And you're looking at them thinking, well they're only a little bit away from being a good team and and it did eventually happen I think it's a little bit worse than that now again it's too early again you know they've not had all of their players available yet there's there's a sense of a slight hole I think in the middle of midfield which is never a good thing um but I still think I think this is this is their home win this is this is their this their first win of the season and you're right I think actually is a good way of framing it.

13:23Phil Kitromilides:It has to be. Because if it's not, no disrespect to Malaga, by the way, if it's not, then you start thinking, wow, there is a problem here. Levante against Barcelona. Levante, here's a stat for you. I was waiting for this because actually they have an amazing record. Go on, please tell me. Who's got an amazing record? Levante. Against Barcelona? Well, I always go back to the incredible 5-4 I feel like they've been one of these teams That have been battered by Barcelona But once or twice have got the better over them In really eye-catching ways They've won three times in their history Once in 1964, once in 2018 and once in 2019 There you go, so 2018 and 19 back-to-back Are the ones that stick in their mind 18, I think, was the year that Barcelona I think that's the 5-4, isn't it?

14:14That's the 5-4, yeah

14:15Phil Kitromilides:And 19 was a... I want to say 3-2. Am I inventing that? Last season was a 3-2. Levante were 2-0 up and three goals in the second half from Barcelona, including a deflected 90th minute winner from La Minha. Levante have never kept a clean sheet against Barca, and Barcelona are scoring five goals a game. Yeah, so I think we can probably safely say that there will be some goals in this game. This was one of the ones I was thinking of as this is a fairly clear call. But there's just something about... I don't know why. I don't know why there's something in the back of my mind that says, no, no, don't fall into the trap.

14:52Phil Kitromilides:But of course it's an away win, this one. Yeah, good. Is someone beeping very loudly? Yeah, it must be a car alarm that's just gone off. I didn't think people did car alarms anymore. Oh, they do. Do they? Because I haven't... Yeah, yeah. But I feel like I haven't heard one for years. I think basically because everyone realised that what happens when a car alarm goes off is that the entire world ignores it. It makes no difference whatsoever. It's because you live in a nice neighbourhood, bro. You don't hear no car alarms. What about Getafe against Deportivo La Coruña? I hope you're going to this.

15:27Phil Kitromilides:This is on Sunday, isn't it? Getafe and Deportivo La Coruña, yeah, Sunday. No, I'm not. No, I'm not. You're not? No, because I'm going to Valladolid, aren't I? Oh, goodness me. This Real Oviedo nonsense is continuing as strong as ever with Sydney this season. He's going to Valladolid. Do you know what I was looking at yesterday? I was looking at how on earth you do El Dense to Oviedo. Because Oviedo play against El Dense on a Friday night, the day before. And this is incredibly frustrating that they, you know, they could have had Oviedo at home, obviously, for obvious reasons, they couldn't. The day before Spain play in Oviedo, I thought, could I get from El Dense up to Oviedo?

16:04Phil Kitromilides:Spoiler alert, it's really very, very, very, very difficult. But you're saying there's a chance. I am saying there's a chance, Philip. There's always a chance. There's always a chance. Anyway, so the game that you will not be at and many, many, many people will not be at, Getafe against Deportivo Acorunia. A lot of Deportivo fans, I expect, will come down. Yeah, absolutely, of course. Because, you know, this is, for them, an entire season of trying to get to as many games as you can. Yeah, I've mentioned this briefly in the past, but, you know, you do not want to know how much I paid for my tickets to the Oviedo at Getafe last year, despite it being Getafe, despite it being a ground that I've been to a million times, because this is our year in the first division, so I think the same will be true of Depor.

16:45Phil Kitromilides:I would love to think that Bamiyang scores again. I think what he's doing is extraordinary. You mentioned him earlier. I'd like to see Casado, but I will be in Valle de Leafs. I won't be seeing that. I'm going to go for a home win. Home win. Okay. Yeah. Home win. What about Real Sociedad against Atletico Madrid? That's the Sunday night game. an attractive-looking fixture. Let's see if Julian starts again. Yeah, Al's going to this one. I think this could be quite fun, I think, away from home. I actually think there's not loads wrong with Atletico Madrid. They were beaten at Anfield. They were beaten at Sam Ames.

17:26Phil Kitromilides:I think in both of those games, there were things that were OK. I think about half an hour at Anfield. And I know that's not loads, but it's not like they were completely destroyed by Liverpool. Although I do think they struggled to deal with the intensity of it. Although I still don't think it was... Liverpool like we used to see, at least not yet. I thought away at San Marmess, I thought Atletico Madrid's first half was really quite good. And then as we talked about on Monday's pod, 30 seconds and 19 seconds after the first two kickoffs of the second half. Kickoffs that were their own saw them concede two almost identical goals.

17:57Phil Kitromilides:We talked on Monday a bit about whether Simeone looks at Grimaldo and thinks, maybe this isn't the solution, then Grimaldo didn't start in midweek.

18:08Phil Kitromilides:this is a really difficult call I think this game finished 1-1 in the league this fixture last season and then of course the same result in the Copa del Rey yeah so you're telling me to go 1-1 aren't you you're inducing me towards 1-1-1 and I think it's an absolutely plausible and quite probable answer but I'm not sure about Real Sociedad yet although we've seen one or two nice things from them oh um yeah go on then i'll i'll take your lead one one good i've uh gas gas lit you into you gas lit me into something yeah um and the monday night game is a good one um commentating it via real against bettis that is a good one isn't it and via real who aren't terrible bettis who really aren't one yet yeah exactly that's why I say they aren't terrible because it contradicts the results that we've seen.

19:08Phil Kitromilides:Is this the moment they finally get it? 2-2 draw. Oof, I like that. I like that. Yes, 2-2 draw. Good. I'll go with that as well. I'd be happy if that was that because it would be an entertaining game. It would make it fun for you. Yeah. It should be a fun game, I think. I think it should be reasonably open and some quite nice football on display. First time in a while that I'm not doing a Catafé game this week. Is it? Yes. Poor Catafé. um well poor poor people who watch katafi um i keep forgetting that we're putting this podcast on youtube so i'm sort of looking at my foot and grimacing the why don't you show the the i was gonna say the readers then obviously these are listeners and viewers your foot why don't you lift it up to show the world i will not i will do no no do not uh it is uh it is swollen and beginning to go purple so on that is it oh wow you've heard it's not good sydney is not good is very bad.

20:00Phil Kitromilides:The irony of this is that this is less than 24 hours after you tried to encourage me to go and play, despite the fact that my own ankle is in absolute state. And you said, no, it's not dangerous. It'll be fine. There's lots of people who aren't really playing very seriously. Yes. Yeah. Yes. Isn't that funny? What a hilariously ironic sequence of events. We'll leave it there, amigos. Thanks very much for listening. We'll be back on Monday to review the action as ever, either on YouTube or on Spotify, Apple, wherever you get your podcasts. We're there as well. Spread the word as well about TSFP.

20:33We're growing and it'll be nice to grow the community and tell your friends about these two ridiculous guys who speak about Spanish football every week. Thanks for the support as ever over at patreon.com forward slash TSFP. That's your place for constant, non-stop, relentless Spanish football coverage, daily updates from the TSFP daily, our Q &A podcast, our bonus podcast as well. So come and join us from as little as€4.75 a month. We'll speak on Monday, amigos. Adios.