Football Weekly – "Real Madrid Pull Clear, Højlund in Form and Bayern Unbeaten" (Oct 7, 2025)

Host: Max Rushden
Panel: Barry Glendenning (absent), Sid Lowe, Nikki Bandini, Lars Sivertsen
Special Coverage: Premier League, La Liga, Serie A, Bundesliga and more

Episode Overview

This episode features an insightful tour of the key European football stories from the weekend:

• Real Madrid’s resurgence under Xabi Alonso after an unstable spell
• Barcelona’s tactical high line woes
• Napoli and Roma leading Serie A and Rasmus Højlund’s continued goal scoring streak
• Bayern Munich’s relentless Bundesliga dominance and Harry Kane’s spectacular start
• Debates about domestic league matches being played abroad (La Liga and Serie A)
• Notable expatriate Scots and Irish players thriving in Italy
• News and quirks from Europe’s lesser followed leagues

Much of the discussion blends in analysis, tactical interviews, and the show’s typical wit.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. La Liga: Real Madrid’s Structure under Xabi Alonso

Sid Lowe:

• Before their thrashing by Atletico, Madrid were showing “a structure forming, they know what they're doing, there's an idea, there's clarity, they're well organized.” (02:32)

• After the heavy loss, questions rose about Alonso's tactical flexibility—but a return to routine and a standout Vinícius performance has steadied the ship.

• Vinícius Debate:

  • “Huge debate around Vinícius, whose numbers have actually been reasonably good, but whose performance level wasn't anything like it was... his decline kind of starts with that Ballon d'Or that he didn't win.” (02:49)

• Fede Valverde’s Role:

  • Despite resistance, Alonso deployed him at right-back where he excelled: “It was his best game of the season by miles.” (03:52)
  • Anecdote: Valverde protested about playing right-back, but “was put back in... and excelled.”

• Jude Bellingham's Fitness:

  • Rush to return was premature after his shoulder operation: “There was a very clear sense of almost everyone saying, this is too soon.” (04:57)
  • The break is considered a “mini pre-season” for Jude to get back to full readiness.

• Midfield Evolution & Tony Kroos’ Absence:

  • Alonso hasn't replaced Kroos’ dictating presence: “They haven't signed anyone for that position... kind of don't really have it, but they've overcome that a little bit by being a little bit more compact.” (06:23)

• Refereeing Controversy:

  • Villarreal’s red card was “an awful decision... Vinícius massive dive. Pretended to get hit in the face...” sparking debate on whether VAR should intervene on yellows leading to reds. (07:46)
  • Lars: “I really hope you have better things to do than watch Real Madrid TV... It always fascinates me when clubs are trying to sort of spin this conspiracy yarn.” (08:28)

2. Barcelona’s Defensive Woes

Sid Lowe:

• Surprising defeat to Sevilla, conceding goals by holding too high a line defensively: “Barca's high line somewhere in the opposition half... Sevilla just kept running in behind them.” (09:34)
• Sid recounts coach Matthias Almeida’s fiery half-time pep talk: “He says, and I love this, ‘Liquidate this... don’t let them think... touch, return, go.’” (10:11)
• Lewandowski penalty miss and absence of high-line leader Inigo Martinez have compounded Barca’s issues.
• “Yes, we know that there's a risk in the high line and I'm sure Flick knows it as well... It's doing the high line really, really badly.” (11:03)
• Teams now exploiting this flaw: “I think what's happening is other teams are working out ways of getting the timing right at exactly the point at which Barcelona are getting the timing wrong.” (12:46)

Nikki Bandini adds:

• Noted statistically: “There’s not a single team in Spain that has conceded fewer goals than played games... is that just the moment the league is having a little bit that there's not anyone who's defending that well?” (13:18)

3. La Liga & Serie A Matches Abroad: Gimmick or Turning Point?

• Both La Liga and Serie A are sending games overseas (Miami, Perth).
• Sid Lowe:
  • Critiques UEFA’s “reluctant” exceptional permission and doubts the economic value: “How much difference does it actually make taking one game to the US?” (20:11)
  • Reveals club CEOs’ dismissiveness towards domestic fans in favor of foreign audiences: “He was essentially saying, 'You can sod off. You're irrelevant compared to us going to the US.'” (19:50)
• Lars: Compares UEFA’s parenting to letting children break a rule “just this once.” (16:00)
• Nikki notes Italian fans are more resigned and less likely to protest than English ones: “There's almost like this air of resignation about this sort of stuff happening.” (16:29)

Panel’s Core Questions:

• What’s the measurable benefit for development of football at home?
• Will this escalate: “If that's the case, then how many games have to go to make it worth it?” (21:10)
• Sid: “There is a conceptual belief... the fear that the Premier League just runs away with everything and that Premier League becomes a de facto super league.” (26:07)

4. Serie A: The Rise of Napoli, Roma, & Højlund’s Form

• Max Rushden highlights Milan-Juve draw, Christian Pulisic missing a penalty.
• Nikki Bandini:
  • Luka Modric at Milan: “He was absolutely magnificent... he is not done competing.” (27:18)
  • “It very clearly isn't [a farewell tour] at all for him. He's here to try to win something.”
• Napoli, with Rasmus Højlund scoring key goals:
  • Lars: “The key to health and life and happiness is to leave Man United... it's worth trying to go to Man United so that you can leave it and get the post-Man United bounce.” (30:33)
  • On Højlund: “It's tremendous to see Rasmus Højlund smiling again. You know, it's bringing joy to the world.” (30:57)
• Inter: McTominay’s new role at Napoli, adjustment issues with De Bruyne in the squad.
• Scottish, Irish & English Players in Serie A:
  • “There's a network of players who talk to each other and say, hey, life over here is pretty good.” (33:47)
  • “Josh Doig starting every game at Sassuolo... Billy Gilmour isn’t really in the starting XI for Napoli, but... Conte talks about how much he loves him in training.” (33:47)

5. Italy & Norway: The Euro 2024 Qualifying Battle

• Nikki: Dreading a “third missed World Cup in a row.”
  • “My confidence in Gattuso as a tactician is not the highest, but international managers don't necessarily have to be the best tacticians... international football is very vibes based.” (36:28)
• Lars:
  • For Norway, Israel game is awkward due to political context but Norway “should be fine just because Erling Haaland is just back in complete freak mode.” (37:31)

6. Bundesliga: Bayern’s Unchecked Dominance

• Max: “Bayern Munich, top of Bundesliga... six wins in a row.”
• Harry Kane’s Explosive Start
  • Lars:
    • “His goal was brilliant... It's like a punch three iron, with a bit of a fade on it.” (41:52)
    • Asserts Kane is under-appreciated in England since moving: “Maybe he gets enough credit, maybe he doesn’t... calm and uncomplicated guy, perhaps even more appreciated at Bayern, where there's often a lot of chaos.” (42:37)
    • “He’s been surprisingly forthright about how... he had half an eye on maybe coming back to England at some point... but now maybe thinking less about individual awards.” (43:46)
• Title Race Reality:
  • “Can you make a case for anyone to challenge them?” asks Max.
    • Lars flatly: “No.” (43:50)
  • Dortmund and Leipzig: currently not at Bayern’s level; Leverkusen hampered by managerial changes, do not expect to challenge.
  • “You can stabilize things... but [Dortmund] don't look like a team that can challenge Bayern.” (46:25)
• Champions League Outlook:
  • “There’s a case to be made for Bayern being the strongest looking team in Europe right now... but the caveat being they're not being pushed domestically.” (44:48)

7. Wirtz Watch & Bundesliga Transfers

• Max relays fan question about how Wirtz is getting on at Leverkusen.
• Lars: “So much of his best work is relational... you haven't quite gotten used to the pace... it becomes a challenge. I definitely think he needs a goal... but I'm confident that the talent's there and it’ll be okay.” (47:50)

8. Around Europe: Sweden’s Mjällby Miracle & Football Expat Stories

• Lars shines light on Sweden’s underdog club Mjällby, from a town of 14,000 and managed by a former school principal—“Scandinavian footballing fairy tale check mark”—now about to win the league (49:27).
• Quirky Observation: Englishman Brook Norton-Cuffy (Genoa) and a growing trend of lesser-known British and Irish players making a mark abroad.
• Listener's Story: Andros Townsend, now captain, playing as a left-footed winger in Thailand—“the better version of Arjen Robben.” (51:56)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Sid Lowe: “I was thinking, this sounds kind of familiar right now,” on Real Madrid ignoring favorable VAR decisions, alluding to broader politics (09:29)
• Sid Lowe: “He was essentially saying, 'You can sod off. You're irrelevant compared to us going to the US.'” (19:50)
• Lars Sivertsen: “The key to health and life and happiness is to leave Man United... you go there, you go really horrible cold turkey, but you come out of it cleaner.” (30:33)
• Nikki Bandini: “He [Modric] looks like he's a whole different person. Having said that, McTominay hasn't had as great a start to season…” (31:42)
• Lars Sivertsen: “[Harry Kane’s] goal—it’s like a punch three iron, with a bit of a fade on it...” (41:52)
• Lars Sivertsen: “It's almost more interesting ... than [the Bayern game], Dortmund playing Leipzig... but neither of them looked like they're at the same level as Bayern, really.” (44:48)
• Lars Sivertsen: Describing Mjällby: “They've brought in a nerd... with a PhD in visual perception in elite football. Scandinavian footballing fairy tale check mark applied.” (49:33)
• Sid Lowe (humor): “It's absolutely not a handlebar mustache. It's just unfortunately my beard color is that the handlebar bit is darker.” (52:20)

Timestamps for Major Segments

• Real Madrid under Xabi Alonso: 02:05 – 08:28
• Barcelona’s defeat and tactical problems: 09:34 – 13:18
• La Liga & Serie A games abroad, UEFA’s hesitant approval: 14:11 – 22:56
• Serie A focus: Modric, Pulisic, Napoli, and Højlund: 26:46 – 31:42
• Scottish and Irish players thriving in Italy: 33:47 – 36:14
• Italian and Norwegian national team Euro qualification: 36:19 – 39:20
• Bundesliga & Harry Kane’s influence: 41:07 – 44:06
• Title race: Dortmund, Leipzig, and Bundesliga challengers: 44:06 – 47:29
• Florian Wirtz at Leverkusen: 47:33 – 49:27
• Mjällby story, Swedish underdog, and European football quirks: 49:27 – 52:03

Tone & Style

As always, Football Weekly mixes irreverence and depth. The panel blends sharp tactical analysis, economics-and-society-centric debate, and genuine humor. Sid Lowe’s exchanges with Max are especially dry-witted; Nikki adds Italian context and calm reasoning; Lars excels in playful metaphor and Bundesliga coverage.

Final Thoughts

For anyone who missed the episode, this tour de force covers the seismic shifts and slow builds of elite European football this autumn: the ongoing Madrid-Barcelona arms race, Serie A’s renaissance and identity crisis, Premier League envy, and the proliferation of foreign matches. Harry Kane and Rasmus Højlund’s club transformations provide uplifting vignettes. Meanwhile, existential questions about fandom, money, and the future of European football hang over every debate.

In short: Football’s never just about what happens on the pitch—and Football Weekly is as fun a way to keep up as any.