Ruairidh Barlow

YouTube video by All Villa No Filler - An Aston Villa Podcast TRANSFER NEWS! Aston Villa Want Betis Star Jesus Rodriguez? Guest: Ruairidh Barlow, Football España

New episode! Aston Villa linked to Real Betis star Jesus Rodriguez. To find out more, we're joined by @ruribarlow.bsky.social of @footballespana.bsky.social

🟣 One of Spain's best young talents?
🔵 Breakthrough season

🎙️ linktr.ee/allvillanofi...

🎥 youtu.be/dX3_ouQyDNk?...

#avfc #utv #astonvilla

Osasuna and Vicente Moreno runaway leaders in the most handsome manager in La Liga table. Weak year mind.

If Rodrygo is indeed fit.... Incredible he didn't coming on. Know Ancelotti said he had a fever but... And it was Victor Muñoz that the big chance fell to.

Araújo behind Christensen. Some large decisions.

Given where they were, and the lack of changes, Hansi Flick is one win away from a masterpiece of a season.

The best season Barcelona have had for a decade. Since Messi, Neymar, Suárez, Luis Enrique and the treble. No small thing.

It's quite the demonstration of Eric García's improvement that Jules Koundé's injury is not being talked about more ahead of tonight.

Ahhhh Isco-Gio Lo Celso, you're too generous La Liga.

Diomande... Open goal, two players with him, sclaffs it wide... That was the moment. Borja Jiménez beyond words. Desperate for Leganés. That just can't happen if you want to stay up.

Not that García Pimienta's Sevilla filled me with emotion, but Caparrós' version leaves even colder (good Spanglish I know).

The return of Suso is fine, but it just makes it harder for Lukebakio to shoot, which is ultimately their quickest route to goal.

Very bad news as it happens.

Duk, Raba, Munir and Juan Cruz all in for Borja Jiménez and Leganés - not good news for Sevilla I reckon.

Mbappé and Vinícius aren't perfect either, but compared to earlier in the season, they're the best they've been as a pair.

This is the first time all season Real Madrid have had time to rest, and midweek to work on their gameplans.

And finally, Barcelona are not at their best. It's true they've come up with the goods, but they're restricted to 30-45 minutes at their earlier level.

Coming off the game in Milan, the legs will be heavy, and two of the three Clásicos have been decided in the final half hour.

They also defended well in the first half of the Copa final, even if they offered little. Güler is currently the best player to release the ball for their front three (Inc. Bellingham).

Tchouaméni; Valverde, Ceballos; Bellingham gives them routes out of pressure.

As absurd as the ending was, I think Real Madrid have some reasons for optimism against Barcelona next week - if they play four midfielders.

They're not brilliant defensively, but those are the only two La Liga goals they've conceded in four, and they weren't as open early👇

It's a bit of a shame that Celta have no money, because Giráldez is probably one or two really good signings away from taking them to the next level and getting those results against Barça/Real Madrid

Maybe a midfielder + defender that could really impose themselves on the game.

All good points - feel like Olmo needs a performance to play the Clásico mind.

Barcelona get out of dodge with a win, and seemingly no injuries (Gavi?). Ronald Araújo probably their best player, which explains a good deal.

Héctor Fort won't be at right-back v Inter, you'd imagine if Fermín was going to start, he would've come off for Olmo.

Ayoze Pérez up to 19 goals this season, 16 in La Liga. That moves him into 4th in the Pichichi rankings and top of the Zarra rankings.

Such a neat and smart player, and at €4m maybe the best value for money signing in Spain (Europe?).

COLUMN: Lamine Yamal has earned a comparison that isn't Lionel Messi Lamine Yamal is frequently compared to Lionel Messi, but if there is one former Barcelona star to compare him to, it isn't the Argentine.

🗞️COLUMN: Lamine Yamal has earned a comparison that isn't with Lionel Messi

🔎The Lamine Yamal impact is felt as much in his team as it is in the game. Here's why👇

✍️ @ruribarlow.bsky.social

www.football-espana.net/2025/04/29/m...

It was a frustrating evening for #AthleticClub in Glasgow.

It's the thing they're least suited to, attacking a team sat on the edge of their box.

Surprised they didn't take more risks too, but to be fair Valverde will feel they created enough to win it.

Athletic Club made hard work of that. Credit to Rangers who defended well, but Athletic really didn't lift the tempo enough, or stretch wide. Missed Yuri at left-back a good bit.

Not a disaster, but if they go out, that second half will be the bit they wonder about.

On the one hand, Barcelona are leaving goals on the table - none of the front three are especially sharp.

On the other hand, it's pretty impressive that this is what they look like without being sharp.

Barça lucky to be in front by the end of that half.

Midfield struggling to lock things down, forwards sloppy in space and Guirassy beating the offside trap.

Declan Rice: Not fkn about.

Torre, Gavi, Fermín is very vertical - and I think he wants Fermín to believe he is ahead of Torre in the pecking order.

I'd have liked to have seen him though.

Valladolid take all of 55 seconds to concede to the second-worst attack in La Liga, with a defender slide-tackling the ball into the net. The worst attack in La Liga is theirs.

Their title hopes are still slim! But having taken so many sucker punches lately, and especially at the death, that has to feel good for Atleti.

Can really start to see the toll that this run of games is taking on Barcelona now. Sloppy touches, one too many touches, one few passes.

Not a big drama for Hansi Flick, but a major missed opportunity in terms of the title race. Defensively, more and more proof of concept.

Terrific from Betis - outside of the big two, the last side you want to face in La Liga right now. And that was without Isco.

Weren't even at their best, but few sides have restricted Barcelona to so few opportunities. Bartra controlling the backline, brilliant.