Siempre Positivo

E377: Bellingham's Kessie moment ends Barça's LaLiga title hopes

It will be a trophy-less season for Barcelona after they were beaten 3-2 in El Clásico on Sunday by Real Madrid to fall 11 points off the pace in LaLiga.

Sam and Rik, later joined by Toni, reflect on the game, the Lamine Yamal ghost goal, Joao Cancelo's role in the Madrid goals and what it all means for Xavi's future. The poker game is just getting started.

E376: Snatching defeat from the jaws of victory

Sam, Toni and later on Rik discuss Barcelona's Champions League defeat by PSG (4-1 on the night, 6-4 on aggregate). Araujo's red card conditioned the game, Xavi blamed the ref, mistakes were made at the back and Mbappe struck twice. We get into it.

E375: Luis Enrique back in Barna, Barca beat Cadiz

Sam and Rik talk Barca's 1-0 win at Cadiz on the weekend and then look ahead to the mouthwatering Champions League second leg clash with PSG.

E374: Toni returns from Paris victorious

Barcelona's win in Paris was so good it gets two podcasts! Toni is back and he talks to Sam about Barça's 3-2 win at the Parc des Princes in the Champions League on Wednesday. The mental strength myth? Competing in Europe. Raphinha the European plug adaptor. Missing Christensen's goal! Something about saving petrol when Barça play Cádiz on Saturday...?

E373: Xavi beats Luis Enrique in Paris in the Barça DNA battle

Raphinha scored twice on a memorable European night for Barcelona as Xavi Hernández's side recorded an impressive and significant 3-2 win over Luis Enrique's Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League quarterfinal first leg on Wednesday. The two teams meet again in Montjuic on Tuesday.

Sam and Rik look back at a game which saw good performances from several Barça players. They ask if this was the biggest win of the Xavi era? Barça's best European away day in almost a decade? They a...

E372: Paris Saint-Germain vs. Barcelona first leg preview

Sam, Rik and Toni look ahead to this week's huge Champions League quarterfinal first leg between Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona at Parc des Princes. They also pick their combined PSG/Barça XI, with AFP journalist Arno Tarrini joining the podcast later on to give an (only slightly) more French view.

E371: Q&A on the best DM and LW signings, Xavi future and more

Rik, Sam and Toni tackle your questions on transfers in key positions, Fermin as a 10, Barca's best set-up, who can be sold, whether Toni's grandmother has wheels or not and is in fact a bicycle, and more...

Questions?

Fluid situation on the next Q&A, could be recorded Wednesday, could be later in the week. Get them in quick to avoid disappointment!

E370: Barça 11 unbeaten after Las Palmas win with PSG in sight

Raphinha was the match winner as Barcelona beat 10-man Las Palmas 1-0 on Saturday to stretch their unbeaten run to 11 games in all competitions.

Sam, Rik and Toni reflect on that win and discuss Raphinha's role and future. They also look ahead to Paris Saint-Germain in nine days in the Champions League, Barça's extra rest and Iñigo Martínez's clash with a TikTok-er outside the training ground.

E369: Barca Femeni ease past Brann into UWCL semis

Sam and Rik discuss Barcelona's 3-1 (5-2 aggregate) win over Norwegian side Brann that saw Jonatan Giraldez's team set up a repeat of last year's semi-final against Chelsea.

E368: The confirmation of Lamine Yamal

Rik and Toni talk in depth on Lamine Yamal after his fine display for Spain against Brazil, plus Nico Williams links, Champions League predictions and more.

NOTE: Toni's audio was inexplicably awful at the start so have edited a bit out/amplified parts and even got him to re-record one thing he said. In the end think the final product turns out OK beyond the first minute - after that all back to normal.

E367: Q&A on Cubarsi as DM, Barca better without FDJ, the No 10

Rik, Sam and Toni tackle all your questions on all sorts, from Barca's form without Frenkie and Pedri, how much longer can Joan Laporta last? Money, money, money and more...

Questions! Preguntas!

Hit us up with your most wacky and wonderful questions for what we hope will be super fun, bumper Q&A to get over the international break boredom... Comment on this post or on the discord to ensure the question(s) is seen. Thanks!

E366: Barça batter Atlético Madrid as Champions League draw opens up

One, two, three. Atlético Madrid had not lost at home in LaLiga in 25 games, but Barcelona smashed them 3-0 on Saturday to extend their own unbeaten streak to 10 matches and become the first team to beat Atlético at the Metropolitano in the league since... Barcelona in January 2023.

Sam and Toni reflect on Barça's good run, which has now included wins over Napoli and Atlético, Robert Lewandowski's form, players stepping up with others injured and increased intensity in training. Rik...

E365: Barcelona into first Champions League quarterfinal since 2020!

Drink it in: Barcelona are back in the big time! Xavi Hernández's side are back among Europe's elite after beating Napoli 3-1 on Tuesday to reach the last eight of the Champions League. They managed to knock the Italian champions out without the injured Frenkie de Jong, Pedri, Gavi, Alejandro Balde and Ferran Torres, with Fermín López, Joao Cancelo and Robert Lewandowski getting the goals. The MVP, though? Pau Cubarsí, the 17-year-old centre-back making his Champions League debut.

S...

E364: Baby Barça beat Mallorca, Aguirre's rats & Napoli next up

Barcelona warmed up for Napoli in the Champions League on Tuesday by beating Mallorca 1-0 on Friday. Lamine Yamal struck the winner and Pau Cubarsí excelled at the back as Barça's youngsters stepped up once again. 

Sam and Toni reflect on that game at the Olympic Stadium and look ahead to Napoli, pondering what Xavi Hernández will do in midfield with so many players injured. A possible Champions League quarterfinal -- Barça's first since 2020 -- is the reward up for grabs in mi...

E363: Barça miss opportunity in Bilbao as De Jong & Pedri injured

With Toni back from Bilbao, he looks back on Barcelona's goalless draw against Athletic Club on Sunday with Sam. How bad was it? What was the ambition comment that so irked Marc-Andre ter Stegen? How long will De Jong be out? Will Pedri ever get back to his best? Who plays in midfield now? Plus: Late refereeing controversy as Real Madrid held by Valencia. 

E362: Q&A on the chances of Xavi staying, Barça's next No.9 & more

Sam and Toni take your questions in the latest podcast. It doesn't take Toni long to get angry as he talks about Barça's ideals in the modern game. There is also plenty of manager talk. What next for Xavi? Could he stay? Are Barça having problems finding a replacement? 

PLUS: Scouting under Deco, Eric García's future, Barça's No.9 in four years (another leap year!?), Camp Nou revenue and football fandom. 

Questions?

We will catch up with some of the questions owed answers this week... and will also welcome any new questions, so send them in. Comment below, write on Discord, send via pigeon carrier... 

E361: Barça smash Getafe with Pau Cubarsí here to stay

Sam and Toni look back on Barça's best performance of 2024 (?) and the consequences it could have for the rest of the season in LaLiga and the Champions League. They discuss Barça's battle of styles, a much-needed confidence boost, the brilliance of Pau Cubarsí and more joy for Barça Atlètic. 

E360: Napoli draw, Xavi's (no) subs & De Jong's explosion

Sam and Toni look back on Barcelona's return to the Champions League knockout phase for the first time since 2021, a 1-1 draw away at Napoli. With the second leg back at the Olympic Stadium, Barça have to get through, right? RIGHT? 

They discuss a game Barça should have won, Xavi's positivity but lack of reactiveness, a possible foul on Iñigo Martínez and, rewinding to Tuesday, Frenkie de Jong's sensational press conference. The Dutchman held nothing back. 

E359: Napoli crisis 48 hours before Barça Champions League tie

Come for Rik's "unfounded positivity," stay for Henry Bell from the Shadow of Vesuvio podcast giving us the lowdown on all that's been going on at Napoli: three managers since winning Serie A, Mazzarri sacked 48 hours before the Barça game, Osimhen fitness doubts and a president living in his own world. 

The Italian champions are giving the Spanish champions a run for their money this season. 

All that and more, with Sam and Toni also in tow, as Barça return to the Cha...

E358: Lewandowski, not a fan of cinema

Sam, Rik and Toni discuss Barcelona's narrow 2-1 win at Celta Vigo, talking about Xavi's comments, the 'performance', Barca's late goals and more. Back tomorrow with a Napoli bonus preview pod!

E357: Frenkie de Jong special as transfer machines click into gear

Sam, Rik and Toni go to town on the Frenkie de Jong debate in a week where rumours are starting to fly about the Dutchman. Plus a couple of other bits and pieces towards the end. Have a great weekend and stay positive... if you can

E356: Lamine Yamal dazzles but Barça pantomime continues vs. Granada

Lamine Yamal scored twice but his performance was overshadowed by more comical defending as Barcelona were to a 3-3 draw at home to struggling Granada at the Olympic Stadium. 

Sam, Rik and Toni reflect on another crazy game in Montjuic after a weekend which also saw Real Madrid move closer to the title by beating their nearest challengers, Girona, 4-0 at the Santiago Bernabéu. 

E355: Rafa Marquez, Xabi Alonso, Xavi’s future and the Nou Camp Nou

Rik, Toni and Sam return with the latest Q&A on Champions League money, top four positivity, Xavi and Pep Guardiola's possible Barça returns, the pressure for Barça coaches, player reaction to Xavi exit, Rafa Marquez's chances, Xabi Alonso reaction, Dani Rodriguez, an alternate Ilaix Moriba timeline, blocking youngsters' paths, Marc Casado, Marc Bernal, nou Camp Nou... 

Apologies if your question is not answered, a couple came in after recording -- we will include them in Mon...

Questions call

Hey everyone! Next Q&A due soon so fire away with any questions you want answered, on the Discord channel or below here, as usual. Sam and Rik will go through them, Toni a fitness doubt tbd (depending on if he goes on holiday)

E354: Barça beat Alavés with memorable Vitor Roque cameo

Vitor Roque scored his second goal in a week but was also sent off in a 13-minute cameo as Barcelona beat Alavés 3-1 to make it back-to-back wins since Xavi Hernández announced he will step down at the end of the season. 

Are we seeing a reaction from the players? How did Andreas Christensen do in midfield? Was Roque's red payback for the Negreira case? Where can Toni go on holiday? Sam, Rik and Toni discuss all that and more in the latest Siempre Positivo podcast. 

E353: Barca edge Osasuna as Xavi's encore begins

Sam, Rik and Toni discuss Barca's somewhat dull 1-0 win over Osasuna, luckily the pod is far more entertaining (we hope). Quick bit of transfer market chat to start, followed by a look at a "much improved" performance by Barca -- according to Xavi at least.

E352: Xavi walks, part II...

A couple of days on, Sam, Rik and Toni resume discussion of the hottest topic in town, Xavi's decision to walk away from Barca in June. We talk about Laporta's reaction, a little about the straw that broke the camel's back in the Villarreal game, and more.