El Partido

With confirmation of a 'La Liga - Retro Weekend', we've been abuzz with how the weekend will look, as our passion for Spanish football nostalgia reached peak levels. It has been confirmed that all 42 clubs in Primera and Segunda will spend one weekend playing in retro kits from the 90s along with stadium branding, 80s style balls, old school nets, proper scoreboards and so much more. Join Nick and Paul as they truly reminisce and talk about which kits they'd like to see but also, why does nostaliga sell?! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Spanish football is known for its football rivalries - so based on competition, some regional rivalries and some are rivals who are bound by a joint cause. But even the most ardent fans of El Clásico will admit, there is one derby game in Spain that is unmatched for the heat of its rivalry - El Gran Derbí! The games between Sevilla and Real Betis are some of the most hotly contested matches on the Iberian Peninsula and they are born out of so much more than just football. The city divides along the fault lines of class and politics of course but nothing matches the football rivalry. Join Nick and Paul as they explore El Gran Derbí and how it is the most anticipated game in any Sevilliano or Betico diary. Available now wherever you get your podcasts and on YouTube. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Not too many people would have heard of the town of Cambados. A quaint fishing town nestled into the jagged coastline of Galicia, just west of Pontevedra. But for a brief period, the nation began to hear more about this unassuming corner of Spain due to meteoric rise of it's football club - Xuventude de Cambados. They were taking the leagues by storm, rising to the third tier and signing players of high quality and experience. How could a club in a town of just 10,000 people be doing this? Like many whirldwind clubs, it all stems from a wealthy backer - in this case a man called Sito Miñanco. Whilst popular in the town, as a local lad done good in the eyes of some, to others he was a centre figure to the trafficking operations of South American cartels as Galicia, with it's jagged coastline of estuaries and caverns, became a gateway to Europe during the cocaine explosion of the 80's. In this El Partido story, we look at how one club suddenly found itself at the crossroads of football glory and the international drug trade and how Xuventude de Cambados fell just as fast as they rose upon the arrest of their criminal President. Available now wherever you get your podcasts and on YouTube. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We all know Xabi Alonso - Champions League talisman, Galactico and more recently elite football manager. Alonso played at the very pinnacle at football, not redefining the role but becoming the undisputed master of deep-lying playmaker. In this episode, Nick and Paul look over how a small stint in the Basque town of Eibar instilled a belief into Xabi and matured a teenage prospect into an elite world footballer that would go onto win every trophy available to him. Available now wherever you get your podcasts and on YouTube! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In a season where Diego Simeone is finding himself questioned in his hunt for silverware, we take you back to the season where it all started for El Cholo and his Atleti side that would break the two-team dominance of Spanish football. Join Nick and Paul as we look back over the 2013 Copa del Rey winning side that thrived with El Cholismo at it's heart and how that cup winning game at the Santiago Bernabeu, breaking a 14 year hoodoo over their city rivals, was the catalyst for Atleti and Simeone to establish Los Colchoneros as the third dominating force in Spanish football. Available now wherever you get your podcasts and on YouTube! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Classic Shirt boom in the UK and Ireland began around 10 years ago and shows no signs of slowing down, as the demand for the most stunning and often nichest shirts gets larger year on year. That same boom is now happening in Spain and we were delighted to be joined by Luke, owner and founder of Kit Launch - a brilliant football shirt store in Barcelona. Hailing originally from Cork, Luke joins Nick and Paul to tell us about his story and why he decided to open up a classic shirts store in Spain, that is now becoming a corner stone of an evergrowing community and culture in Barcelona. We also talk about Raul, Guinness Sponsors, Spanish Non-League and everything else in between - this isn't one to miss! Available now wherever you get your podcasts and on YouTube! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

During the lates 90s, David Beckham was becoming a star - a Premier League and Champions League winner, an Adidas athlete and even married to a Spice Girl. Everything he touched, turned to gold - hence the nickname. Then, in 2003, the unthinkable - Manchester United transfer list David Beckham... There was only one place for Beckham and that was heading to join the Galacticos of Real Madrid! In this episode, Nick is joined by Luke Chambers to look back over Beckham's move to Real Madrid and how his stint in the Spanish capital propelled him to a global stardom not even he could imagine, whilst still being a player who truly had to earn his Galactico status! Available now wherever you get your podcasts and on YouTube! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The final of the African Cup of Nations was this weekend and it did not fail to live up to the drama and chaos we expect from one of the most underrated footballing competitions on the planet! With Paul back from El Partido Paternity, we thought we'd celebrate our rekindled love of African football by celebrating the stars of the continent who played in La Liga - with our Favourite African XI! Available now wherever you get your podcasts, on our Patreon page and on YouTube! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

For Part Two of this epic Futbol Weekender in Barcelona, Tom takes us to two brilliant games in the Spanish lower leagues. Starting with a pilgramage we should all make at least one in our lifetime, a trip to the Campo Municipal Narcis Sala to watch the ever popular UE Sant Andreu before then heading slightly out of the city to watch surprise Primera RFEF league leaders Sabadell destroy an ailing Marbella side to remain out in front for promotion! Available now wherever you get your podcasts and on YouTube! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Football in Barcelona is world famous and not just for the Blaugrana. Below the headlines of La Liga, the non-league scene in Catalan capital is one of the fastest growing and best support in Spain and probably in Europe. Friend of the podcast spent the weekend in the city and took in 3 games which we are delighted to bring you on EP en Directo. First up, La Liga founders CE Europa had to say goodbye to Nou Sardenya at the weekend as league rules have forced them to find a temporary home with a grass pitch. They welcomed Alcorcon as Europa looked to leave Grazia on a high. Join Tom to find out more! Available now wherever you get your podcasts, on Patreon and on YouTube! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

With Paul on El Partido Paternity Leave, Nick brings you a solo-cast and another installment of El Partido Stories. This week, we take a look at Fernando Morientes, the Forgotten #9. As Real Madrid started their first galacticos era, traditional strikers like Morientes soon found themselves replaced by the idea of striker who brings as much off the pitch than on it - that wasn't how Morientes was built. In this episode, we explore what made Morientes the perfect centre forward and how the role of a striker has evolved so far away from what made #9's the focal point of every team. Available now wherever you get your podcasts, on our Patreon and on YouTube! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Asturias is a hotbed of football with some of the most loyal fanbases in Spain - none more so than the fans of Real Sporting de Gijón. As one of the oldest clubs in Spain, you will struggle to find a club with a richer history and more passionate fanbase than the Asturian club on the coast. From the magic of El Molinón to the legends that have passed through their famed academy, Nick is just by Matt Harrison to talk about this 'Sleeping Giant' in the North of Spain! Available now wherever you get your podcasts, on our Patreon and on YouTube! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's 2026 and we are back with another installment of En Directo with Matt Harrison - this time from the stunning city of Gijon! Malaga have transformed from potential relegation candiates to play off dark horses under Juan Funes, so obviously Matt had to travel across Spain to the colder climes of Asturias to witness them in one of his favourite Estadios! Available now wherever you get your podcasts and on YouTube! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We welcome back Matt Harrison to the podcast as we look to assemble our next 'Favourite XI' and this time, we've flipped it on its head - we're doing our favourite Spanish players who've played in the Premier League! So join Nick, Paul and Matt as we talk about some the greatest but most importantly, our favourite Spaniards to appear in the English top flight! Available now wherever you get your podcasts, on our Patreon and on YouTube! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Join Matt Harrison as he vacates the warmer climes of the Costa del Sol and braves the elements in the northern Spanish city of Vallodolid. Malaga were looking for a second win in a row under Funes but the former La Liga side have made the Jose Zorilla a difficult place to visit. Available now wherever you get your podcasts and on YouTube! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We are delighted to share this week, our first El Partido en Directo from a Copa del Rey game! Torrent CF of the Segunda Federacion had drawn a plum tie against Manuel Pellegrini's Real Betis and for the occasion, got the opportunity to play at the impressive Ciuadad Valencia. Russ Pearce (Seagulls Over Spain) was lucky enough to be there and sent us his report straight from Valencia! If you want to be featured on El Partido en Directo, then don't hesitate getting in touch and sending us your recordings from whatever game of Spanish football you might be at this weekend! Available now wherever you get your podcasts, on Patreon and YouTube! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

10 years ago this week, Peter Lim shocked the footballing world by announcing a former Manchester United right back as manager of Valencia - that man was Gary Neville! As he took his first steps into management, Neville found out that charm and charisma isn't enough when your aim is to impress the crowds at Mestalla. Join Nick & Paul as they recollect the 118 days of his tenure in Valencia and look at the aftermath in Valencia of the Lim custodianship. Available now wherever you get your podcasts, on Patreon and YouTube. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The rivalry between Real Madrid and Barcelona has always been fierce. Whether the undercurrents of political viewpoints, nationalism or class, El Clásico had it's intensity unrivalled elswhere in the world. However, at the turn of the Millenium, that rivalry reached new heights of hostility - when Luis Figo, darling and star of Barcelona, crossed the divide by signing directly for Real Madrid... It would be a transfer that would take El Clásico to new levels of rivalry that completely changed the face of Spanish football and is defined by the scenes we saw in the Nou Camp when emotions reached boiling point and even a pigs head was thrown onto the pitch. This week, Nick & Paul explore the motives of the move, how the dynamics of El Clásico shifted and the aftermath of one of the most controversial transfers in football history. Available now wherever you get your podcasts, on our Patreon page and on YouTube! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The 'Journeyman' in the UK is a mythical beast. You see him rock up at a league rival, knowing that he could potentially pulling on your colours the following season, adding you to the list of badges he's represented. That sentiment isn't as common in Spain - some may even say it's normal for a player to have several clubs across his career in Spanish football due the nature of short term contracts and other varying factors - but we say this stops now! We need Spain to embrace the Journeyman (or Viajero Futbolero) so this week, Nick and Paul have picked out their favourite 5 players from Spanish football who you could label the Spanish Football Journeyman! Available now wherever you get your podcast, over on our Patreon page and on YouTube! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In 2004, a man with the nickname “El Ingeniero” would accept a job in the small town of Villarreal. An ambitious move to appoint the Chilean would be the foundation of Villarreal establishing themselves as a domestic and European force but also sent La Liga on a long term love affair with this man. That man is one Manuel Pellegrini! In this episode, Nick & Paul are joined by Rahul (@laligalondon) to talk about Pellegrini across his 4 stints as a manager in Spain and what the impact and lasting legacy of one of the most interesting, respected and successful managers in La Liga history will be. Available now wherever you get your podcasts, over on our Patreon page on on YouTube! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices