E484: Barça cut off Madrid's power to win Copa del Rey

Send us a textFirst of all, an apology: we were desperate to get this podcast out on Monday after Barcelona's exhilarating Copa del Rey triumph over Real Madrid at the weekend. However, mid-record, there was a blackout in Spain and we have not been able to finish the podcast and upload it until now.So, here it is: Rik, Toni and Sam on Madrid's refereeing pressure, Barça Copa champions and Inter to come.Support the showFor bonus content, including additional podcasts, Q&As, special collections and Discord access to join the discussion with other Barça fans, join our Patreon: patreon.com/siemprepod

Send us a textSam and Rik discuss Barca's nerve-racking 4-3 win over Celta Vigo on Saturday, with a three-goal remontada in the final 30 minutes. Plus a segment on Barca Femeni's 4-1 win over Chelsea in the UWCL first leg!Support the showFor bonus content, including additional podcasts, Q&As, special collections and Discord access to join the discussion with other Barça fans, join our Patreon: patreon.com/siemprepod

Send us a textBarcelona's narrow 1-0 win at Leganés on Saturday was not the prettiest, but it was three points nonetheless and another step towards the LaLiga title.Sam and Rik reflect on that hard-fought win at Butarque, losing Alejandro Balde, Wojciech Szczesny's unbelievable record and a midweek trip to Borussia Dortmund.Support the showFor bonus content, including additional podcasts, Q&As, special collections and Discord access to join the discussion with other Barça fans, join our Patreon: patreon.com/siemprepod

Send us a textBarcelona could not take full advantage of Real Madrid's loss to Valencia, but a draw against Real Betis still extended their advantage at the top of LaLiga to four points.Barça are now unbeaten in 22 games in 2025 and turn their attention to Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League on Wednesday.Sam and Toni discuss Saturday's 1-1 draw against Betis, the desire to get a result after Madrid's surprise defeat, fatigue and Wednesday night at the Lluis Companys.SP!Support the showFor bonus content, including additional podcasts, Q&As, special collections and Discord access to join the discussion with other Barça fans, join our Patreon: patreon.com/siemprepod

Send us a textSam, Rik and Toni discuss Barcelona's 4-1 win over Girona and ask if it's now a two-horse race in LaLiga? Atlético Madrid are the team to have fallen away and they welcome Barça to the Spanish capital on Wednesday for the second leg of the Copa del Rey semifinal. The first leg ended 4-4. Also: Why doesn't Lamine Yamal need more rest? And what does Marc-Andre ter Stegen's return to training mean?Support the showFor bonus content, including additional podcasts, Q&As, special collections and Discord access to join the discussion with other Barça fans, join our Patreon: patreon.com/siemprepod

Send us a textBarcelona came from 2-0 down against Atlético Madrid for the second time in three weeks... but this time they held on to win 4-2 and return to the top of LaLiga. What does the result mean in the scheme of the title race?Sam, Rik and Toni analyse Barça's latest win as Hansi Flick's go into the international break unbeaten in 18 games. Also: The journey or the destination? Marc Casadó and Iñigo Martínez injury updates and the latest on when Barça-Osasuna will be re-scheduled.SP!Support the showFor bonus content, including additional podcasts, Q&As, special collections and Discord access to join the discussion with other Barça fans, join our Patreon: patreon.com/siemprepod

Send us a textBarcelona's weekend game against Osasuna was suspended following the unexpected death of team doctor Carles Miñarro García in the hours before the match. Sam, Rik and Toni discuss the sad news and back the decision to call off the game in the circumstances.Despite not playing, Barça remain top of LaLiga after Atlético Madrid lost at Getafe, while Hansi Flick must now prepare his side for Tuesday's Champions League round of 16 second leg match against Benfica.SP.  Support the showFor bonus content, including additional podcasts, Q&As, special collections and Discord access to join the discussion with other Barça fans, join our Patreon: patreon.com/siemprepod

Send us a textBarcelona warmed up for this week's Champions League trip to Benfica with a Sunday stroll against Real Sociedad at the Olympic Stadium. It was one way traffic once La Real were reduced to 10 men in the first half, with Gerard Martín, Marc Casadó, Ronald Araújo and Robert Lewandowski helping themselves to goals in a 4-0 win.Sam, Rik and Tonu discuss the win, Hansi Flick's faith in Martín and the one unknown ahead of that Benfica game on Wednesday in Lisbon: who will partner Pedri in midfield?To finish, the pod respond to the unanswered questions from last week's Q&A.SP!Support the showFor bonus content, including additional podcasts, Q&As, special collections and Discord access to join the discussion with other Barça fans, join our Patreon: patreon.com/siemprepod

Send us a textSam, Rik and Toni talk about Barca's win in the Canary Islands. Not a superb display but little trouble at the back means another Tek clean, and big games are approaching with the squad almost all fit.Support the showFor bonus content, including additional podcasts, Q&As, special collections and Discord access to join the discussion with other Barça fans, join our Patreon: patreon.com/siemprepod

Send us a textF--- off, Barça are top of LaLiga? Weren't they seven points behind two weeks ago?Sam and Toni lead the podcast this week as Barcelona beat Rayo Vallecano 1-0 to return to the top of LaLiga... and there are still 14 games to go. Hansi Flick's side took advantage of Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid slip ups on a weekend which saw English swearing become the big talking point in Spain.Rik, in Budapest, also chimes in with his ratings, but first Sam and Toni discuss Jude Bellingham's language, Barça's narrow win (of champions!?), Jules Kounde's tardiness and whether Marc Casadó has done anything wrong.We're back on Thursday on Patreon ranking Barça's best left-backs in the next part of the series which sees us build the best Barça XI of our lifetimes.Until then, SP!Support the showFor bonus content, including additional podcasts, Q&As, special collections and Discord access to join the discussion with other Barça fans, join our Patreon: patreon.com/siemprepod