The Rest Is Football
Episode: Stagnant Real Madrid Bailed Out By Mbappé Again
Date: February 3, 2026
Hosts: Gary Lineker, Alex Aljoe
(Alan Shearer & Micah Richards not present in this episode)
Episode Overview
This episode dives deep into the current state of La Liga’s giants, Real Madrid and Barcelona, with a special focus on Real’s struggles, the role of Kylian Mbappé in papering over the cracks, and the discontent among Madridistas. The hosts dissect recent matches, assess the mood in Madrid and Barca camps, discuss major injuries, and glance at Atlético Madrid’s stagnation under Simeone. The banter, storytelling, and keen analysis make this a compelling listen for football fans craving insight and personality.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Weekend in Review & Spanish Football Vibes
- Alex shares her weekend: attending Chelsea vs. West Ham and Spurs vs. City, highlighting the atmosphere and player interviews.
- Gary recounts his day at QPR vs. Coventry and the civilised football culture experience.
2. Real Madrid: Scraping By but Showing Fault Lines
The Late Win vs. Rayo Vallecano
- Real Madrid secure a dramatic, last-gasp 2-1 win, with Kylian Mbappé converting a penalty deep into stoppage time to keep their league run intact (03:07–04:22).
- Vinicius Jr. scored a stunning opener after suffering jeers from the home crowd, responding by kissing the badge in front of the fans (05:52–06:24).
"Vini Jr. was being jeered before he went and scored that golazo, and I thought he reacted well... after he scored that brilliant goal—the opener—he was sort of kissing the badge, trying to get the fans on his side."
— Alex (05:52)
- Discussion on the tense atmosphere at the Bernabeu: whistles, boos, and a palpable sense of dissatisfaction.
Fan Discontent and Player Critique
- Real fans’ patience is wearing thin—especially with Vinicius Jr. (criticised for work ethic and lack of goals) and even with Jude Bellingham, who was booed while injured on the pitch.
- Past and present player-fan tensions in Spain compared to England (07:29–08:45).
"He [Bellingham] was visibly distraught, in tears, coming off. And he was booed by some of the fan base, which is just awful, isn’t it? ...It doesn't get much worse than that."
— Alex (08:51)
- Gary draws parallels with his own experience at Barcelona and Everton, revealing the psychological toll of fan pressure.
Mbappé: Savior, but Not the Solution
- While Mbappé continues scoring (a league-leading 20th goal), Gary and Alex argue his goals are "papering over the cracks" (10:13), masking deeper issues with squad harmony and performance.
- Notable miss: Mbappé rounded the keeper but hit the bar—highlighting he’s not infallible (10:22–10:37).
"He didn’t play well, but he scored the important pen and... three points. But I just think it’s papering over the cracks."
— Alex (10:13)
Managerial Struggles and Injuries
- Coach Arbeloa's post-match comment: "I'm not Gandalf the White," referencing the need for patience and admitting he can't magically fix the team overnight (11:16–11:37).
"I’ve got no magic wand. I can’t change things here overnight."
— Alex, paraphrasing Arbeloa (11:37)
- Discussion of squad issues: players played out of position, calls for a summer overhaul, and the blow of Bellingham’s hamstring injury (likely out a month, 11:53–12:11).
"They might need to offload a few players in the summer and maybe start again."
— Alex (11:37)
Champions League Fallout
- The midweek defeat to Benfica and failing to secure a top-eight spot looms heavily (13:06–13:18).
- Anxiety over additional playoff fixtures and Benfica’s renewed confidence.
3. Barcelona: Effective but Vulnerable
Win Over Elche
- Barca dispatched Elche (3-1), maintaining top spot amidst a run of 14 wins in 15 games (17:11–19:21).
- Praise for Lamina Yamal and Marcus Rashford’s form, though concern at wastefulness in front of goal.
"Barcelona were really wasteful in front of goal. Hansi Flick came out and said, '...the good thing is we created a lot of chances. The bad thing is we missed them.'"
— Alex (21:07)
- Hansi Flick’s approach prioritises attack but exposes a defensive high line that could be their Achilles’ heel against Europe’s elite (19:21–20:36).
"It makes for fun football... It almost guarantees goals in the game, so keep doing your stuff and keep entertaining us, because ultimately football is entertainment."
— Gary (20:23)
Comparing Barca and Real Squads
- Gary gives Barcelona a slight squad advantage, especially in midfield (Pedri, De Jong) and forward line (Rashford, Rafinha), noting Madrid’s reliance on Mbappé and form issues with Vinicius Jr. (22:04–23:19).
- Both teams considered weak defensively.
"If you’re looking at the Champions League and you had to say one of the teams would win it, I’d say more likely be Barcelona than Real Madrid."
— Gary (23:24)
Champions League Prospects
- Discussion of possible quarterfinal opponents and title race dynamics—Barca favorites for the league, but Champions League is the true target (23:34–24:29).
4. Atlético Madrid: Time Up for Simeone?
Stagnation and Fan Frustration
- Another goalless, uninspired Atletico showing leaves them 10 points off the top, with fans, and even the pod’s Atletico contact Eric, calling the performance a "turd" (24:48–25:34).
- 76% of fans in a poll want Simeone gone—a striking signal after years of loyalty (26:03–26:20).
"So three supporters in every four... want Simeone out."
— Gary (26:20)
- Gary and Alex debate manager longevity and the dangers of change for the sake of change—cautioning fans to remember the club’s prior inconsistency.
5. Elsewhere in La Liga: Results and Standouts
- Brief round-up of weekend results (31:16–32:45)
- Espanyol’s woes, Oviedo’s rare win, Betis’s comeback, and Basque derby drama (including “name of the week” banter: “Luis Rioja,” likened to the wine).
"Name of the week. Gotta be Louis Rihanna."
— Gary (32:45)
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- Gary Lineker on fan pressure in Spain vs England:
"It’s not something you really see happen over here... in Spain they Turned on Sparky in a similar way." (07:29–08:09)
- Alex on Real Madrid’s troubles:
"It hasn't been a great week for Real Madrid. It's not looking good. I think there are a lot of issues, a lot of issues at the club right now." (06:24)
- Gary on Barcelona’s entertainment value:
"Keep doing your stuff and keep entertaining us, because ultimately football is entertainment for paying supporters." (20:23)
- Arbeloa channeling Gandalf:
"I’ve got no magic wand. I can’t change things here overnight." (11:37)
- Atlético fan Eric (via Alex):
"I definitely won't be using 'sick' or 'filth' to describe this latest Atletico Madrid performance, but I would like to use a word beginning with T... turd." (25:34)
- Alex on wine and football:
"I genuinely do. You should try it. It's like... It's super pale. It's nicer than, like, Provence. Honestly, I really like... Rioja rosé." (33:04)
Timestamps for Key Segments
- Real Madrid late win & Bernabeu atmosphere: 03:07–06:44
- Fan discontent & Vinicius/Bellingham booing: 06:44–09:26
- Mbappé—match-winning, but masking problems: 10:09–10:37
- Arbeloa’s ‘no magic wand’ quote: 11:16–11:37
- Bellingham & Trent injuries; implications: 11:53–12:53
- Barcelona's win & high attacking line: 19:21–21:03
- Squad comparison (Barca vs Real): 22:04–23:34
- Atletico’s struggle; Simeone under fire: 24:48–26:20
- La Liga results round-up & wine banter: 31:16–33:16
Summary
The Rest Is Football’s La Liga special exposes the cracks at Real Madrid—even as Mbappé provides short-term salvation—while highlighting Barcelona’s effective, if vulnerable, approach under Hansi Flick. Atlético Madrid is discussed as a club at a crossroads, their fanbase increasingly restless under Simeone’s pragmatic regime. Through vivid anecdotes, sharp analysis, and signature wit, Gary and Alex bring Spanish football’s pulse straight to the listener—reminding us that, in football, the story is always unfinished.