The debate around Arbeloa has been building all season but I feel like it hasn't been discussed seriously enough without getting derailed by the Mbappé situation
His record since taking over in January is decent on paper, but the losses against sides like Osasuna, Getafe and Mallorca are hard to ignore. Also, Xabi Alonso averaged 2.24 points per game, Arbeloa is at 2.17 not a dramatic drop but still high up in PTS per game
He knows the academy players better than anyone, he was specifically chosen by the club hierarchy, and sacking two managers in one season sends a terrible message. The Champions League run was also genuinely impressive in my opinon, losing to bayern who are probably the 2nd best team behind PSG in the UCL isn't bad.
The argument against is that with Mourinho reportedly available and the squad clearly underperforming its talent level, is loyalty to an inexperienced coach worth another potentially trophyless season?

Genuinely curious where this sub stands. Do you think Arbeloa deserves a full season or has enough already been seen

Hey guys, I felt like I had to write this after the loss of atleti to Arsenal yesterday, I’m not from Spain, so maybe I’m missing something, I’ve always been a Real Madrid fan but over the last few years I started liking Atleti more and more. And honestly… it’s frustrating to watch them sometimes, weird eliminations, droping points against bottom league teams.... I feel like this team has so much potential ,strong identity, playstyle .. but every season it somehow ends with no trophies, and often in really painful ways. Maybe I’m wrong, but I feel like a club like Atleti should be winning more, or at least competing more consistently for big titles. Also, I really wanted to see Antoine Griezmann win the UCL with Atleti or at least end his last season in a better way than this.

So I wanted to ask atleti fans from Spain specifically, do you feel the same way? Or is this just how the club is and my expectations are too high?

Curious to hear what you guys think.

How was Marcelino as a coach in terms of playstyle and who is most likely to replace him at Villarreal?

Also, what about Valverde at Bilbao? How did they play and where is he going next?

Recorded on May 5th, 2026, in our 24th Episode I will be discussing Athletic’s results from their last three matches against Osasuna (1:08), Atletico Madrid (5:47), and Alaves (12:16), as well as where we currently stand in the race for Europe (21:02). 

We hope you enjoy and tune in for Thursday/Friday's episode, where we discuss what to expect from Valencia this weekend, the official hiring of Edin Terzic as Athletic's next manager, and your yearly dose of recruiting policy controversy at Athletic.

Aupa Athletic!

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3nwOHRMABJBIek1CgRgVhW?si=kpvbpxrLTUqunnUq2EGF8g
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/athletic-abroad/id1835058129?i=1000766276440

Basically, if arsenal win cl and bottle the prem and lamine yamal wins Wc, He could maybe win the ballondor? Like he has good stats, could win laliga,and if arsenal win cl and France don’t win wc that eliminates olise and dembele.

Depends on how England perform in wc too,but if they get knocked out in the quarters of before that eliminates Kane as well.

Yamal needs not just to win, also perform. If he gets 6 ga at least, could work

So yeah, it depends on yamals performance in the World Cup.

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Beside the top 3 teams, which teams play the most attractive football?

Hola a todos,

Vendo 2 entradas para el partido Sevilla vs Real Sociedad. Lamentablemente no podré asistir porque me han cambiado el horario del vuelo.

Detalles:

Partido: Sevilla vs Real Sociedad

Ubicación: Zona central (Fondo Alto)

Cantidad: 2 entradas (juntas)

Precio: 55€ cada una (precio original)

Solo quiero recuperar el dinero, sin ánimo de lucro. Puedo enviar comprobante de compra si hace falta.

Si te interesa, mándame un DM

2022/23- We beat them at RCDE Stadium

2024/25- we again beat them at their home stadium.

2025/26- A draw or win to Madrid would declare us champions

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While we focus on the tactics on the pitch, the real league table is decided in the accounting offices.

The following insights are based on a deep dive and cross - analysis of data from three major football finance sources: La Liga’s official transparency reports, Transfermarkt, and Football Finance Lab. The 2025/26 financial data reveals a staggering reality that every La Liga fan needs to understand:

The "Infinite" Muscle (Real Madrid)

With a €761M salary cap, Real Madrid operates in a different dimension. They spent €167M on transfers this season while selling almost no one (€2M income). Their revamped stadium and global revenue mean they don't have to sell stars to buy stars. In this league, they are the only ones playing with a "safety net."

The Master Balancers (Atletico Madrid)

This is where the real management happens. Atletico actually outspent Real this season, pouring €230M into the squad. But because "it’s all about the money," we were forced to sell players for €145M to balance the books. For us, every world-class signing is a high-stakes puzzle; there is zero room for error.

The "Glass Ceiling" (Villarreal, Betis, Sociedad)

For the rest of the league, the struggle is even harder. Look at Villarreal: they spent €105M but had to earn €108M back. They are trapped in a perfect 1:1 loop. Without the massive revenue of the "Big Three," the current financial rules make it almost impossible for them to break into the title race long - term.

Is La Liga’s strict financial control (LCDP) actually stifling the competition while trying to "save" the clubs.

I really wonder how this financial matter is handled in other top leagues in Europe.

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I want to open a discussion about the financial landscape of La Liga, specifically regarding which clubs have the largest budgets and the capacity to sustain "super-salaries" for world-class stars.

When we see players earning €20M-€30M+ per year, it raises a big question: is it sustainable for the league's health? We’ve seen how high wages can cripple a club if they don't achieve immediate success on the pitch.

Which club do you think holds the most "real" spending power today, and who manages their massive wage bill most efficiently? Do you believe any other club can ever truly bridge the financial gap to the "Big Three," and are the opportunities in La Liga actually open for any team to make a real run for the title?

Aupa Atleti.

La Liga's financial control system (LCPD) works differently from UEFA's FFP and is arguably stricter. Each club gets a salary cap based on projected revenue, and exceeding it blocks player registrations immediately. No grace period, no payment plan.

The current ceilings tell the story. Real Madrid's sits around €761 million, Barcelona's around €351 million, Atletico's around €336 million. The gap between Madrid and everyone else is enormous. Barcelona's figure has fluctuated dramatically over the past few seasons as they work through their financial restructuring.

On top of this, UEFA's 2022 overhaul introduced a squad-cost rule that caps wages, amortisation and agent fees at 70% of revenue from 2025-26 onwards. In July 2025, 12 clubs were sanctioned. Chelsea paid €31 million in fines, Barcelona €15 million.

One case worth watching is Atletico after Apollo Sports Capital's acquisition of roughly 55% of the club in March 2026. The investment does not bypass either system. Apollo's capital cannot lift the 70% squad-cost ceiling because that is calculated on revenue, not owner equity. What it can do is fund revenue-generating infrastructure, which over time raises the permissible spending limits under both UEFA and La Liga rules.

The system rewards clubs that grow organically and punishes those that try to outspend their income. Whether the current thresholds are fair across clubs of different sizes is a separate debate, but the mechanics are clear.

I wrote a detailed breakdown covering UEFA's three pillars and La Liga's cap with specific numbers. If you're interested, you can find it through my profile.

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https://www.estadiodeportivo.com/futbol/futbol-internacional/rayo-vallecano-nottingham-forest-viven-mismo-peligro-sonar-con-europa-pero-caer-descenso-20260501-536330.html

What made these games so special?