La Pausa La Pausa

Robbie Dunne and Jamie Kemp have trawled through this season's stats and compiled a list of alternative LaLiga awards. Forget your player or coach of the year trophy, these awards are for players who don't always get the headlines. For example, The ‘you can’t pick Jude Bellingham’ POTY Award goes to an incredible young talent who has been lighting up the league since he first took to the field last August. There's also the ‘Jamie Kemp Statistical Anomaly’ Award, the ‘Glue Guy’ Award and lots more.



In reality, it's just a chance for Jamie and Robbie to look back through the year and pick out some players, managers and teams who have caught their eye. They also cast their eye on next season and which teams might be in need of an overhaul, where there are a few contenders for who needs to look at this the most.

Robbie Dunne and Jamie Kemp discuss Real Madrid's incredible season, one that even Carlo Ancelotti says he didn't imagine was possible. They have already sealed LaLiga and are in another Champions League final after beating Bayern Munich at the Santiago Bernabéu on Wednesday night in typical Madrid fashion.



They chat about the team's improved balance and the team's defensive mentality. They also wax lyrical about Toni Kroos’ effect. He completed the most passes (173), long passes (24) and created the most chances (7) of any player across the four teams in the semi-finals. 



They also discuss Vinicius and his overall production this season, which has reached a new pinnacle. His 156 minutes per non-penalty goal this season is best mark of his Real Madrid career. They also discuss how Kylian Mbappé's arrival could affect the squad and tactical balance. 

On this week’s episode, Robbie Dunne and Jamie Kemp welcome Abel Meszaros onto the podcast to discuss the logic-defying Girona's season. They are on the brink of Champions League football next season and are already playing some of the most attacking football in Europe, despite not having a star-laden squad. 



Together with Abel, they discuss Girona's adaptive build-up and the role of Miguel Gutierrez as part of that. They also discuss Savio's emergence as one of the best wingers in the world but also reflect upon the defensive side of the ball where Girona struggle.



They wrap things up by discussing the summer and what will, no doubt, be a busy summer for Michel and Girona's recruitment team. 

On this week’s episode, Robbie Dunne and Jamie Kemp look back over the Clásico after Real Madrid beat Barcelona to almost settle the LaLiga title race. Jamie dug deep into the stats vault with some gems about Celta Vigo's big win over Las Palmas, Girona's demoltion of Cádiz and Real Betis getting back on track against over Valencia.



Then Robbie has a chat with Barcelona expert Domagoj Kostanjšak, discussing the Real Madrid game, where Barcelona went wrong, who should replace Xavi and a lot more. 

On this week’s episode, Robbie Dunne and Jamie Kemp go back through an existential crisis-inducing Champions League week. It feels like the end of an era for Barcelona, who succumbed to PSG with their lowest percentage of possession in the Champions League since Opta started recording this stat. Robbie and Jamie talk about Xavi and Luis Enrique's approaches and where Barcelona go from here. On the same night, Atlético Madrid lost to Borussia Dortmund and are also looking at the end of an era with a massive summer planned to rebuild their squad.



And then Real Madrid come out and beat Manchester City on penalties in one of the most bizarre games in recent Champions League history. Man City’s field tilt in the game was 89% - the highest Opta have on record for a Champions League KO stage game without any red cards and they had 88 touches in the opposition box, compared to 12 for Real Madrid. This was utter domination on a statistical level but Robbie and Jamie try their best to explain the inexplicable as Real Madrid march on.

On the latest episode, Robbie Dunne and Jamie Kemp are joined by Jon Mackenzie of the Athletic to discuss the Champions League quarter-finals (of course, with a heavy focus on the Spanish sides involved).



Starting with Real Madrid’s 3-3 draw with Manchester City, the guys discuss how chaos emerged from a match-up that pits together control versus transitions, the role of Vinicius Jr and Rodrygo in that, as well as what might change for the second leg in Manchester.



After that, attentions turned to the game in Paris where Barcelona registered one of their most memorable victories of the Xavi era. They analyse why his side seem to be at their best in more dynamic games, and highlight some of the key players from Barcelona’s upturn in form since Xavi announced he would step down.



Finally, they finish off with a briefer nod to Atletico Madrid’s win at home to Borussia Dortmund. Although as we know with Diego Simeone’s side, their difficulties on the road this season mean it’s a tie that’s certainly not done yet.