A Week for the History Books

Was Atléti o Madrid's 25/26 Season progress or another missed opportunity?

In this episode, Emmanuel and Kelvyn take a deep dive into a season that ended with a 4th place finish in La Liga, a Copa del Rey final, and a Champions League semi-final appearance but still left many Atlético fans with mixed feelings. We discuss how Diego Simeone's team evolved throughout the campaign, moving towards a more possession-based and attacking style, and whether those changes came at the cost of some of the defensive solidity that defined Atlético for so many years. We also look at the recurring issues that hurt the team in key moments, including defending transitions, set-piece problems, and the tendency to lose control of games after taking the lead. The episode also highlights the players who shaped the season. From Antoine Griezmann's final campaign in red and white to Julián Alvarez's growing influence, the importance of Marcos Llorente and Juan Musso, the impact of David Hancko and Marc Pubill, and the injuries that disrupted Pablo Barrios and Johnny Cardoso's seasons. We finish by looking ahead to the future. How do Atlético replace a player like Griezmann? Which areas of the squad still need strengthening? Which young players are ready to take on bigger roles? And can this team take the final step and become genuine title contenders again in 2026/27?

Finals, Frustration & Griezmann’s Legacy

On this episode, Kelvyn Brown and Emmanuel Lavogez broke down Atlético Madrid’s biggest games and talking points from the final stretch of the campaign. We review the Copa del Rey Final in detail and also analyse the Champions League Semi-Final against Arsenal, including Diego Simeone’s game management and the substitutions that saw Atleti lose control after a strong start to the second half. The episode also covers the recent LaLiga run against Elche, Athletic Club, Valencia, Celta, Osasuna and Girona, with discussion on the youngsters who impressed during this period. We also take time to discuss Antoine Griezmann’s legacy at Atlético Madrid and in LaLiga, as well as his importance to France’s recent success on the international stage. Finally, we preview the last game of the season away at Villarreal in the battle for third place before ending with another edition of The PaPPod Quiz..

A Week for the History Books

History has been written at the Metropolitano! In this packed episode of Partido a Partido, we break down a week that Atlético Madrid fans will be talking about for decades. Emmanuel (@laligalavo) and Kelvin (@kelvynbrown19) are joined by a very special guest, Rahul (@laligalondon), co-host of the Tiki Tapas podcast, to dissect how Diego Simeone’s men have officially returned to the European and domestic elite. In this episode: * Champions League Magic: We dive into the midweek masterclass against Barcelona. How did Atleti break the 9-year drought to reach the UCL Semi-Finals? * Player Spotlight: Who were the heroes? We pick out the individual performances that silenced the critics and dominated the pitch. * The Magic of the Copa: A deep dive into the Copa del Rey. We discuss why this competition has been so special this season and analyze the journey to Atleti’s first final in 13 years. * The Finalists: A tactical look at both teams heading into the grand finale. What are the keys to lifting the trophy? * ThePaPPodQuiz: Stick around for the finish! as Kelvyn put Rahul and Emmanuel to the test in our signature quiz. Follow the crew on X: * Emmanuel: @laligalavo * Kelvin: @kelvynbrown19 * Rahul: @laligalondon

Sentimiento Atlético: 2013 Chronicles

On the premiere episode of our summer series, we travel back to the most pivotal moment in modern Atlético Madrid history: the 2013 Copa del Rey run. After 14 years of heartbreak, Diego Pablo Simeone led a group of rebels into the Santiago Bernabéu to reclaim the soul of the club. Joining us is Ashwin Ballal, author of Made in Argentina, Mastered in Madrid, for a deep-dive into the tactical and emotional architecture of that triumph. * Tactical Blueprint: How the narrow 4-4-2 mid-block strangled Mourinho’s Real Madrid. * The "Costa" Catalyst: Analyzing how Diego Costa’s 8 goals in the tournament changed the profile of the Atleti striker. * Mastering the Set-Piece: The Burgos-Simeone dead-ball philosophy that delivered the Miranda winner. As Atleti prepares for another Cup final, we look back at the victory that made everything else possible. Love the tactical insights in today’s show? Dive deeper into the Cholo revolution and get your copy of Ashwin's book here: 👉 Made in Argentina, Mastered in Madrid on Amazon [https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B98R7ZDR?ref=cm_sw_r_ffobk_cso_cp_apin_dp_6TY9VJWD510HZC0MCH0A&ref_=cm_sw_r_ffobk_cso_cp_apin_dp_6TY9VJWD510HZC0MCH0A&social_share=cm_sw_r_ffobk_cso_cp_apin_dp_6TY9VJWD510HZC0MCH0A&bestFormat=true]

Asalto al Camp Nou: ¿Se Repite lo del 2-1?

Emmanuel (@laligalavo) and Kelvyn Brown (@kelvynbrown19) break down the 1-2 league defeat at the Metropolitano and what it means for the massive UCL 1st Leg at the Camp Nou. In this episode, we conduct a tactical breakdown of the league loss to Barça, identifying exactly how the team exploited Barca weaknesses and where the team struggled. We discuss the specific elements from that performance that will carry over into the Champions League, focusing on the tactical keys needed to handle Barça’s intense pressure and maintain midfield compactness away from home. Finally, we debate whether Atleti’s tendency to drop deep is a tactical choice by Simeone or a mental block within the squad. We outline the blueprint for how Atletico should approach the game.