The Rest Is Football – La Liga Roundup: Bellingham's Best Position, Raphinha Back With A Bang & Griezmann’s Brilliant Winner

Date: December 16, 2025
Hosts: Gary Lineker & Alex Aljo

Episode Overview

This episode of The Rest Is Football with Gary Lineker and Alex Aljo delivers a comprehensive debrief of the latest La Liga action before the Spanish winter break. They dissect tense storylines around Real Madrid, Barcelona's steady run, and Atletico’s fight for consistency, blending tactical insight with candid opinions and a few laughs. Key topics include Xabi Alonso’s job security, the impact of injuries, Raphinha’s explosive return, Griezmann’s enduring value, and the relentless pressure on top managers in Spain.

Key Segments & Insights

1. Real Madrid’s Narrow Victory & Xabi Alonso Under Pressure

[03:16 - 13:30]

• Match Recap: Real Madrid secured a much-needed yet unconvincing win over Alaves, temporarily easing pressure on manager Xabi Alonso.
• Standout Performances:
  • Kylian Mbappe scored his 17th goal in 17 La Liga games – “That’s quite the record.” (Gary Lineker, 08:30)
  • Brilliant assist from Jude Bellingham, but “Real Madrid just don’t look convincing as a team. No identity.” (Alex Aljo, 09:20)
• Squad Issues:
  • Real Madrid missing seven defenders; debut for 19-year-old Val de Penas highlighted the injury crisis.
  • Alex Aljo felt Xabi Alonso was unfairly critical of the young defender—“I thought it was more Antonio Rudiger’s fault.” (05:32)
• Tactical Talking Points:
  • Alonso started Bellingham, Vinicius, Rodrigo, and Mbappe together for the first time to keep stars happy, but it’s "impossible to do." (Alex, 06:54)
  • The team remains a “collection of top individuals, not a team.” (Alex, 09:20)
• Fans & Media Mood:
  • The Madrid media is “pretty brutal. Marca’s headline was ‘oxygen’ – Alonso’s been given some to stay alive a little longer. But they don’t think he’ll last beyond the Supercopa.” (Alex, 08:07)
  • Madridista fans remain vocally dissatisfied—“It’s very hard to please those Madridistas; they want perfection, week in, week out.” (Alex, 10:08)

Memorable Quotes:

• “If they were going to get rid of him, I think they’d have done it after the Champions League defeat... it’s the president who’ll decide, isn’t it?” (Gary Lineker, 06:41)
• “Bellingham is a classic box-to-box midfielder. For me, he’s an eight, not just a ten.” (Gary Lineker, 11:54)

2. Barcelona - Raphinha’s Return & Flick’s Attacking Rotation

[13:35 - 19:29]

• Match Recap:
  • Barcelona defeated a stubborn Osasuna with Raphinha netting twice after returning from injury—“Back with a bang.” (Gary, 15:39)
  • A clean sheet and, “for once, they didn’t have to come back from behind!” (Alex, 16:21)
• Tactics & Squad Rotation:
  • Flick started Rashford, Raphinha, Lamine Yamal, and Ferran Torres; Rashford was played centrally—“Didn’t go to plan last time, but now he’s a key part of the team.” (Alex, 17:14)
  • Rashford’s attitude praised: “You don’t have to explain to me, the only thing that matters is the team. That’s a great attitude.” (Gary quoting Flick, 18:01)
• VAR & Disallowed Goals:
  • Controversy over Ferran Torres’ disallowed goal—“It’s like they’re trying to find ways of disallowing goals…sucking the life out the game.” (Gary, 18:50)
• La Liga Context:
  • Barcelona now on seven straight wins, four points clear, and certain to be top at Christmas.

Memorable Quote:

• “It took them a while before the Raphinha brace, but a clean sheet and didn’t have to come from behind – not that ordinary at the moment for Barcelona.” (Alex, 16:21)

3. La Liga Winter Break & English Football Comparison

[19:29 - 20:55]

• Spanish clubs benefit from a proper winter break—"I’m slightly envious. It makes sense if you can fit the football in." (Alex, 19:29)
• Lineker reminisces about rare Christmas breaks while playing abroad—“It was so lovely to have Christmas off.” (Gary, 19:31)

4. Atletico Madrid’s Late Winner & Griezmann’s Role

[22:45 - 28:09]

• Match Recap:
  • Antoine Griezmann, now 34, came off the bench to score the crucial winner against Valencia—"He’s still got that talent. That was a great finish." (Gary, 27:15)
• Performances & MVP/Lingo:
  • Mark Pill shined as “MVP”—a term Alex laments as "so American" but says is now in the Spanish football lexicon.
  • “Man of the match. What’s wrong with that?” (Gary, 25:17)
• Fan Insight:
  • Listener Eric claims coach Simeone listens to The Rest Is Football for selection advice!
  • Griezmann’s bench role seems to suit his current level—5 goals in limited minutes: “Coming off the bench to score is exactly what he’s in that squad for.” (Alex, 27:45)

5. Table Outlook, Villarreal’s Woes, and Transfer Rumors

[22:45 - 27:56]

• Villarreal’s game postponed due to floods, creating a fixture backlog; their UCL failures baffle both hosts: “It’s just one of those anomalies that happen in football.” (Gary, 23:53)
• Speculative fan rumors about signings—Eric calls for right-backs and a striker for Atletico, and jokes Lineker should bring his boots!

6. Other Results & Managerial Sackings

[28:24 - 32:24]

• Key Results:
  • Sevilla smash Oviedo 4-0; Celta Vigo beat Athletic Club; Espanyol notch another win.
  • Girona stun Real Sociedad with a late comeback, while Mallorca continue their form.
• Managerial Merry-Go-Round:
  • Real Oviedo sack their manager “for the second time this season… More sackings than wins.” (Alex, 30:47)
  • Real Sociedad also dismiss their manager after a miserable campaign: “No one expected them down there.” (Gary, 32:22)
• Coaching Pressure:
  • The hosts reflect on the brutal turnover: “Such a difficult job. No one's ever satisfied all the time.” (Gary, 31:22)

Notable Quotes & Moments

| Timestamp | Quote | Speaker | |---|---|---| | 08:07 | “Marca’s headline was ‘oxygen' – [Alonso] has been given some oxygen to stay alive a little longer. But they don’t think he’ll be there after the Super Cup.” | Alex Aljo | | 11:54 | “Bellingham is a classic box-to-box midfielder. For me, he’s an eight, not just a ten.” | Gary Lineker | | 15:39 | “Raphinha was out for much of the season, but he’s come back with a bang, particularly in this game. First goal was terrific.” | Gary Lineker | | 16:21 | “A clean sheet for Barcelona. And another thing, they didn’t have to come back from behind to win, which is not that ordinary at the moment.” | Alex Aljo | | 18:01 | “‘You don’t need to explain to me, the only thing that matters is the team.’ What a great attitude to have.” (quoting Hansi Flick/Rashford) | Gary Lineker | | 25:15 | “MVP is so American… Just call it man of the match!” | Gary & Alex | | 27:15 | “Griezmann… he’s still got that talent. That was a great finish.” | Gary Lineker | | 30:47 | “More sackings than wins. That’s quite a stat.” | Alex Aljo |

Segment Timestamps (HH:MM:SS)

• [03:16] Real Madrid edge Alaves – Alonso’s job, Bellingham’s role, injury crisis
• [13:35] Barcelona v Osasuna – Raphinha’s return, squad rotation, tactical tweaks
• [19:29] Winter break chat – La Liga vs. Premier League
• [22:45] Villarreal’s fixtures, Atletico’s resurgence, fan banter, Griezmann’s winner
• [28:24] Quick-fire results and lower-table news
• [30:06] Managerial sackings: Real Oviedo, Real Sociedad

Tone & Chemistry

The episode is informal, witty, and insightful, balancing technical football chat with behind-the-scenes context and friendly banter. Gary and Alex’s chemistry makes for a lively, easy listen, particularly with their blend of analysis, anecdotes, and gentle ribbing over football lingo and La Liga quirks.

Episode Summary

This episode delivers a snapshot of Spanish football at a critical moment—Real Madrid and Barcelona face different kinds of pressure, Atletico rely on old hands like Griezmann, and the bottom clubs endure the harsh realities of top-flight management. Expect tactical debates, strong opinions, and some humor on the state of La Liga as 2025 winds down.