The Rest Is Football – “Xabi Alonso Sacked After Barcelona Win Super Cup”
Goalhanger | January 13, 2026
Hosts: Gary Lineker, Alan Shearer, Micah Richards
Special La Liga Edition with Alex Aljoe
Episode Overview
This dramatic episode delves into two major breaking stories in Spanish football:
- Xabi Alonso’s shock dismissal as Real Madrid manager
- Barcelona's thrilling 3-2 Super Cup win over Real Madrid in El Clásico
The hosts unpack the events behind the sacking, dish out exclusive insights on dressing room unrest, debate Real Madrid’s expectations, and celebrate Hansi Flick’s jaw-dropping attacking football at Barcelona. The show also takes stock of other La Liga matches and zooms in on key players, title races, and league dynamics.
Xabi Alonso's Sudden Dismissal from Real Madrid
Breaking News Segment [01:26–11:53]
Key Points:
- Podcast had to rerecord the episode after Xabi Alonso’s sacking was announced shortly before airing.
- Alonso’s departure came as a major shock to both fans and football insiders.
- Real Madrid cited a “mutual agreement” in their official statement, acknowledging Alonso’s status as a club legend and thanking him for his service [07:42].
- The sacking followed a narrow, hard-fought loss to Barcelona in the Super Cup, not a thrashing.
Behind-the-Scenes Issues:
- Alex Aljoe: “I have been speaking to people in Madrid... they were saying the issue was the respect wasn’t there. So actually, the respect from who to who? The players, the players, towards Xabi Alonso as a manager.” [03:24]
- Reports of video session walkouts and players disregarding Alonso’s authority, particularly during the trip to Jeddah.
- Example cited: Vinicius Jr.’s public discontent for being benched earlier in the season, with hints Alonso was overruled by club president Florentino Pérez. “I'm sure [Alonso] wanted to bench Vinicius... but from what I heard, these talks were already happening prior to the trip to Jeddah before the new year.” [05:13]
Discussion on Real Madrid's Ruthlessness:
- Gary Lineker reads Alonso’s impressive record: 34 matches, 24 wins, 4 draws, 6 defeats, and 2nd in La Liga—yet not enough for Madrid’s standards [07:42].
- “It’s turmoil, isn’t it?” – Gary Lineker [07:21]
- Lineker and Aljoe question the wisdom of sacking a young, promising coach so soon, noting the immense pressure and egos at Real Madrid.
Possible Replacements:
- Alvaro Arbeloa steps in as interim.
- Rumored names: Zinedine Zidane, Jürgen Klopp, Carlo Ancelotti returning after Brazil.
- “Why not do it a third time?... Let the players have a bit of power, lean into them a little, let them do their magic.” – Gary Lineker advocating Ancelotti’s man-management [11:19]
Broader Trend:
- Growing power of directors undermining managers, with “the suits” increasingly dictating both squad-building and tactical vision [09:47].
Barcelona’s Super Cup Triumph and El Clásico Recap
El Clásico Thriller: Barcelona 3-2 Real Madrid [11:53–25:37]
Match Highlights:
- Barcelona wins Super Cup in Saudi Arabia, beating Real Madrid in a 5-goal thriller.
- The match featured:
- Raphinha’s two goals and Ballon d’Or form [22:54]
- Vinicius Jr. breaking a 16-game goal drought with a stunning solo goal (nutmegging Koundé and finishing in style) [15:16]
- “Breathtaking goal... he took on Koundé... cut inside and then finished it with some style.” – Gary Lineker on Vinicius’ goal [15:32]
- Dramatic swings before halftime with both teams scoring twice in 10 minutes.
Managerial & Tactical Analysis:
- Surprised by Real Madrid’s defensive setup under Alonso—seen as out of character for the club.
- “I was really surprised... they sat back and let Barcelona take it to them.” – Alex Aljoe [17:52]
- Gary Lineker suggests Alonso hoped to counterattack Barcelona’s high line, but it backfired [18:17].
- Praise for Hansi Flick’s all-attack tactics:
- “Barcelona have scored 256 goals under Hansi Flick in just 88 games—2.99 goals per game.” – Gary Lineker [19:36]
- “Boy, [Flick’s approach] doesn’t half bring joy to the game of football. It’s just, ‘We’ll outscore you. We’ll outscore you.’ That’s his attitude.” [20:01]
Comparisons and Superstars:
- Player of the Match: Raphinha, for his brace and continuing his Ballon d’Or form.
- “Since he’s come back from injury, he’s just been so key.” – Alex Aljoe [23:02]
- Lewandowski continues to shine in his late 30s with a clever finish [24:46].
- Gonzalo García and Kylian Mbappé (returning from injury) noted as vital squad members [25:10].
- Barcelona now on ten straight wins; the hosts see them unstoppable in La Liga [25:31].
Other La Liga Highlights [30:03–34:00]
Villarreal’s Rise:
- Villarreal close the gap at the top with a 3-1 win over Alavés, inspired by signings like Alberto Molero.
- Their attacking trio—Molero, Michailadzi, Gerard Moreno—all impressing; Villarreal now four points behind Real Madrid (with a game in hand) [31:50, 32:41].
Tight Relegation Battle:
- Only four points separate 11th and 18th place—plenty of drama to come [33:43].
Quickfire Results Roundup (Paliks):
- Levante 1-1 Espanyol: Espanyol miss opportunity to close gap for Champions League spots [34:08]
- Girona 1-0 Osasuna: Girona move further clear of relegation [34:12]
- Oviedo 1-1 Real Betis: Late drama as Lo Celso rescues Betis [34:17]
- Rayo Vallecano 2-1 Mallorca: Rayo’s first league win since October
- Valencia 1-1 Elche: Pepelu saves Valencia with a late penalty
- Getafe 1-2 Real Sociedad: 96th-minute winner for Sociedad
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- On Real Madrid’s Politics:
- “You’ve got no say, but as soon as it goes wrong, you are the one that gets the sack.” – Gary Lineker [09:47]
- On El Clásico:
- “Breathtaking... the mental 10 minutes before halftime where both teams scored twice, including a wonder goal from Vinicius Junior.” – Gary Lineker [15:16]
- On Flick’s Barcelona:
- “256 goals under Hansi Flick in just 88 games. 2.99 goals per game... that is a crazy stat, isn’t it?” – Alex Aljoe [19:58]
- On jury for Ballon d'Or:
- “A lot of people thought that [Raphinha] should have won it.” – Gary Lineker [23:12]
- On Football’s Ruthlessness:
- “It’s a ruthless football club. Seems a strange timing though... I think personally it’s premature.” – Gary Lineker [08:05, 08:49]
Final Reflections & Tone
The episode mixes gravity (Alonso’s firing, football politics) with playful pod banter (wine with Shearer, fruity name jokes, inside dressing-room tales).
The hosts are baffled by Real Madrid’s impatience and laud Barcelona’s swashbuckling approach, while always offering the grounded, dry wit and deep insight fans expect.
Useful Timestamps
- Xabi Alonso Sacking – Breaking News & Analysis: 01:26–11:53
- El Clásico / Super Cup Recap: 11:53–25:37
- La Liga Week’s Results: 30:03–34:00
Summary
A can’t-miss episode dissecting football’s most dramatic managerial sacking of 2026 and an epic El Clásico. The hosts illuminate the dysfunctional power dynamics at Real Madrid, celebrate Barcelona’s attacking revolution, and savor the ongoing intrigue of La Liga’s title and relegation battles, all with signature candor and humor.