The Athletic FC Podcast

Adam Leventhal hosts Luke Bosher, Tim Spiers, and Nick Miller to preview matchweek 14 in the Premier League. First on the docket is the Man City vs Tottenham, with the away side looking to live up to their reputation as the champion's 'bogey team', with Spurs having won 5 of the last 7 matchups. Then it's a trip to Tyneside for Newcastle vs Man United. With both teams having had emotionally exhausting midweek games, who will come out on top?And there's also time for a discussion of basement battle Burnley vs Sheffield United, league leaders Arsenal vs Wolves, and Chelsea vs Brighton. Producer: John Rogers Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bottom of the group having conceded 14 goals in only 5 group stage games, Man United now stand on the brink of Champions League elimination...But despite some costly individual errors, is it really all goalkeeper Andre Onana’s fault?  Ayo Akinwolere is joined by The Athletic’s Adam Crafton, Man United writer Carl Anka and our Italian football writer James Horncastle.Produced by Adonis PratsidesExecutive Producer: Adey Moorhead Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The lure of Real Madrid has proven almost irresistible to the world’s best players and coaches for decades...Success feels like a virtual guarantee these days with Jude Bellingham at the heart of one of the most exciting young teams on earth - So why would anyone want to leave?The Soap Opera of ‘Don’ Carlo Ancelotti’s future continues…Ayo Akinwolere is joined by he Athletic’s Real Madrid correspondent Mario Cortegana Santos and La Liga writer Dermot CorriganProduced by Adonis PratsidesAdditional Production: Mike StavrouExecutive Producer: Adey Moorhead Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Eddie Howe has questioned why all the focus seemed to be on Newcastle, following the Premier Leagues effort to block ‘related-party loans’…So are they actually going to sign Ruben Neves in January? Or anyone else from the Saudi Pro League for that matter? And why is the richest club in the world, turning to a 17 year-old midfielder amid an injury crisis? Ayo Akinwolere is joined by The Athletic’s David Ornstein, plus Jacob Whitehead & Chris Waugh.Produced by Adonis Pratsides & Mike StavrouExecutive Producer: Adey Moorhead Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kai Havertz hasn’t exactly hit the ground running but could his late-winner at Brentford mean lift-off for his Arsenal career? And with the best defence in the division - are Arsenal a better team than last season - if not quite as fun to watch? Ayo Akinwolere is joined by The Athletic’s David Ornstein, Arsenal writer Amy Lawrence and German football writer Raphael Honigstein. Produced by Adonis PratsidesExecutive Producer: Adey Moorhead Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Manchester City host title rivals Liverpool in the first game of the weekend, as the Premier League returns from the final international break of the year, with the visitors looking to lay down a marker.Sunday sees Everton welcome Manchester United to Goodison Park fresh from their 10-point deduction while Tottenham take on Aston Villa in a battle of fourth versus fifth.Newcastle welcome Chelsea to Tyneside to round off the heavyweight clashes, while Sheffield United and Bournemouth play out a relegation 6-pointer. All that and more, as Adam Leventhal hosts Colin Millar, Thom Harris, and Reuben Pinder.Produced by John RogersExecutive Producer: Adey Moorhead***• Get Coors Light delivered straight to your door with Drizly or Instacart by going to coorslight.com/athleticfootball Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After seven consecutive Ligue 1 titles in the early 2000s, we’d forgive you for thinking Lyon are still firmly a part of European football’s aristocracy But after 11 games this season - they’re bottom of the table, their world-famous pool of academy talent seems to have dried up, and after losing one of the most influential football executives of this century could a genuine 'legacy club' soon be a second-division side?Ayo Akinwolere is joined one final time this week by The Athletic’s Matt Slater & Adam Crafton, plus our German football writer Raphael Honigstein joins in to connect the dots with our fifth club, Hertha Berlin.Produced by Adonis PratsidesAdditional Production: Mike StavrouExecutive Producer: Adey Moorhead**• Get Coors Light delivered straight to your door with Drizly or Instacart by going to coorslight.com/athleticfootball Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s been a pretty good start to the season for Inter Milan. Ticking along nicely in the Champions League and top of Serie A as they chase silverware for a fourth consecutive season… Behind the scenes however, the picture isn’t quite as rosy. Despite increased revenues, profits are low and debts are sky-high. Add to that an outdated stadium, an ageing squad and some high-profile departures.So, is it enough for them to just be successful on the pitch and if a takeover is the solution, are they, or any Italian club, attractive enough to buy? Ayo Akinwolere is joined by The Athletic’s Senior football news reporter Matt Slater & our Italian football writer James Horncastle.Produced by Adonis Pratsides and Jay BealeExecutive Producer: Adey Moorhead**• Get Coors Light delivered straight to your door with Drizly or Instacart by going to coorslight.com/athleticfootball Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It doesn’t seem that long ago, that Pep’s Barcelona were the epitome of a well-run football club.Moving on from Messi & co was always going to be difficult, but a series of failings on and off the pitch, led to a fall from grace. Only last month however, President Joan Laporta proclaimed the crisis he ‘inherited’ was over.But, as the reigning La Liga Champions’, net debt climbs to almost £1.2bn - is everything quite as it seems at Barca? In the second part of our series ‘Crisis Clubs’, examining the financial states of five European football clubs, Ayo Akinwolere, Matt Slater & Dermot Corrigan dig into the numbers and plot a potential way out for Barcelona.Produced by Adonis Pratsides and Mike StavrouExecutive Producer: Adey Moorhead• Get Coors Light delivered straight to your door with Drizly or Instacart by going to coorslight.com/athleticfootball Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Friday came the news that Everton have been hit with an unprecedented 10-point deduction for breaching the Premier League’s profitability and sustainability rules.Leaving Everton with only four points, and in the relegation zone, despite an up-turn in recent form on the pitch… So today, we’ll explain why Everton have been punished, what happens next & what it might mean for clubs like Manchester City and Chelsea.Ayo Akinwolere is joined by The Athletic’s Senior football news reporter Matt Slater, Football Correspondent David Ornstein & Everton writer Patrick Boyland.Produced by Adonis PratsidesAdditional Production: Jay BealeExecutive Producer: Adey Moorhead***Get Coors Light delivered straight to your door with Drizly or Instacart by going to coorslight.com/athleticfootball Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.