It’s the international break but Jimbo has a stellar cast of Rory Smith, Duncan Alexander and Charlie Eccleshare to accompany him through it.

The headlines this week have been dominated by the suspension of Premier League referee David Coote after the release of several videos online. We discuss how VAR culture and social media have led to referees becoming main characters in the football soap opera.

Harry Kane is upset at England players for pulling out of this Nations League squad. Will he see him as an executive at Bayern in 20 years continuing to call players out?

Claudio Ranieri comes out of retirement to take charge at Roma for a 3rd time. Is he the most universally popular manager out there?

Gary Lineker is leaving the BBC’s flagship football programme. Hear what people misunderstand about Match of the Day.

Plus was Klopp holding Liverpool back and Diego Forlan’s tennis debut.

*** We’ve been nominated for Podcast of the Year at the 2024 Football Supporters’ Association Awards! Voting closes at midday on Monday 18th November… you know what to do! https://thefsa.org.uk/news/fsa-awards-2024-vote-now/ ***

Produced by Charlie Jones.

RUNNING ORDER: 

• PART 1: Nations League and other international affairs (05.30)

• PART 2a: The David Coote affair (16.00)

• PART 2b: The Bentancur ban (33.00) 

• PART 3: Ranieri returns to Roma (36.00)

• PART 4a: Your questions (44.00)

• PART 4b: Lineker leaves Match of The Day (50.00)

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Jimbo’s got Julien Laurens, Seb Stafford-Bloor, Pol Ballús and James Horncastle alongside him for a deep dive into a fascinating weekend of action across the continent. 

It’s fair to say the Serie A title race is hotting up, with just two points separating Napoli in first and Juventus in sixth! That’s after Inter and Napoli shared the spoils in a 1-1 draw at the San Siro, while Atalanta, Fiorentina, Lazio and Juve all picked up big wins. 

Real Madrid clawed back some ground in the La Liga title race after their 4-0 win over Osasuna which included a hat-trick for Vinicius, a first goal of the season for Jude Bellingham - and a devastating injury for Eder Militao. They’re now six points behind Barcelona with a game in hand after Hansi Flick’s side fell to only their second league defeat of the season at Real Sociedad in controversial circumstances...

Bayern Munich find themselves five points clear at the top of the Bundesliga table after their 1-0 win over St Pauli courtesy of Jamal Musiala's sensational strike. Meanwhile, Dortmund’s horror start to the season rumbled on with a 3-1 defeat at Mainz - and Leverkusen’s week to forget continued as they were held by Bochum. 

And in Ligue 1, it’s business as usual for PSG who continued their unbeaten start to the season in a 4-2 win over Angers. Not such smooth sailing for Roberto De Zerbi’s Marseille, beaten 3-1 by newly promoted Auxerre at the Velodrome which prompted the former Brighton boss to say he’ll ‘leave the money and hand back my contract’.

*** We’ve been nominated for Podcast of the Year at the 2024 Football Supporters’ Association Awards! Voting closes at midday on Monday 18th November… you know what to do! https://thefsa.org.uk/news/fsa-awards-2024-vote-now/ ***

Produced by Lucy Oliva. 

RUNNING ORDER: 

• PART 1: Moments of the weekend (0.45)

• PART 2: Serie A review - Thrilling title race emerging as Inter and Napoli draw (09.15)

• PART 3: La Liga review - Real close the gap after VAR costs Barca (25.20)

• PART 4: Ligue 1 review - De Zerbi's Marseille meltdown (40.30)

• PART 5: Bundesliga review - Bayern move five points clear as rivals falter (55.15)

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Jimbo has Daniel Storey, Adrian Clarke and Matt Davies-Adams for company after another sensational Premier League weekend.

Good times at Anfield with Liverpool extending their lead at the top after victory over Villa. Is Mo Salah better than ever?

Man City lose for the 4th game in a row, as Brighton win 2-1 at the Amex. Hear why the champions are lacking in legs and goals.

Arsenal slip 9 points off the lead after drawing at Chelsea, for whom Enzo Maresca has assembled a team in not much time at all.

Wolves win for the first time this season, as do Ipswich at Spurs on Sunday. Jay Harris fills in on a historic day for Ed Sheeran’s Tractor Boys.

Plus Iwobi’s passing into the area and the best piece of tracking back of the season.

*** We’ve been nominated for Podcast of the Year at the 2024 Football Supporters’ Association Awards! Voting closes at midday on Monday 18th November… you know what to do! https://thefsa.org.uk/news/fsa-awards-2024-vote-now/ ***

Produced by Charlie Jones.

RUNNING ORDER: 

• PART 1: Chelsea 1-1 Arsenal (06.00)

• PART 2a: Spurs 1-2 Ipswich with Jay Harris (18.00)

• PART 2b: The rest of Sunday’s football (27.00) 

• PART 3a: Brighton 2-1 Man City (34.00)

• PART 3b: Liverpool 2-0 Aston Villa (43.00)

• PART 4: The rest of the Premier League weekend (50.00)

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Jimbo, Duncan Alexander, Natalie Gedra and Tom Williams gorge on a feast of football in the Champions League and Premier League.

Liverpool are the only Champions League team on 4 wins out of 4 after Luis Diaz’s hat-trick in the 4-0 win over Leverkusen. Next up Aston Villa at Anfield. Jacob Tanswell’s in Bruges to tell us about the worst performance of the Emery era.

Viktor Gyokeres monsters Man City in Lisbon, as Pep’s side suffer their 3rd straight defeat. When did they become so vulnerable to the counter?

Arsenal are also beaten again at Inter - next up a trip to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.

Plus Jimbo’s neighbour Noel, is Mbappe the new Asprilla and Tom’s amazing stat that may no longer be true.

*** We’ve been nominated for Podcast of the Year at the 2024 Football Supporters’ Association Awards! Voting closes at midday on Monday 18th November… you know what to do! https://thefsa.org.uk/news/fsa-awards-2024-vote-now/ ***

Produced by Charlie Jones.

RUNNING ORDER: 

• PART 1a: Liverpool 4-0 Leverkusen (07.00)

• PART 1b: Brugge 1-0 Villa with Jacob Tanswell (12.30)

• PART 2: Sporting 4-1 Man City (22.00) 

• PART 3a: Inter 1-0 Arsenal (36.00)

• PART 3b: Other Champions League highlights (45.00)

• PART 4: The rest of the Premier League weekend (55.00)

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Pol Ballús, Julien Laurens, Seb Stafford Bloor and James Horncastle are alongside Jimbo for your weekly dose of action from across the continent. 

We’ve reached the halfway stage of the Champions League league phase, with some tasty matchday four ties to preview including Inter v Arsenal, Liverpool v Leverkusen and PSG v Atléti.

Domestically, it was a reduced schedule in Spain following the devastating flash floods in Valencia. We discuss the reaction to any football at all being played following the natural disaster - which included Barcelona's derby win over Espanyol.

Napoli were stunned in their own backyard, handed a 3-0 defeat by Atalanta in Antonio Conte’s first defeat since his first game in charge. It means Inter are just a point off top spot in Serie A as they closed the gap thanks to a 1-0 victory over strugglers Venezia. 

In Ligue 1, PSG extended their lead to six points thanks to a narrow 1-0 win over Lens to maintain their unbeaten start to the campaign. After being unbeaten since April, it’s now back-to-back defeats for Monaco as Adi Hütter’s men slipped to third following their 1-0 defeat by Angers. 

And in the Bundesliga, Dortmund picked up a precious three points for beleaguered manager Nuri Şahin as they inflicted a first league defeat of the season on Leipzig. Bayern took full advantage, scoring goals for fun to move three points clear at the summit - while Leverkusen find themselves seven points off the pace after their goalless draw with Stuttgart. 

Plus, are Ajax finally back?! Michiel Jongsma joins us to reflect on Saturday’s 3-2 win over PSV - which moves Francesco Farioli’s side five points behind Eredivisie leaders Eindhoven with a game in hand. 

*** We’ve been nominated for Podcast of the Year at the 2024 Football Supporters’ Association Awards! Voting closes at midday on Monday 18th November… you know what to do!  https://thefsa.org.uk/news/fsa-awards-2024-vote-now/ ***

Produced by Lucy Oliva. 

• PART 1: Moments of the weekend (00.45)

• PART 2: Serie A review - Atalanta stun Napoli (08.15)

• PART 3: La Liga review - Barcelona beat rivals Espanyol (26.40)

• PART 4: Eredivisie review - Are Ajax back?! (40.30)

• PART 5: Ligue 1 review - Pressure on PSG to perform in the UCL (49.40)

• PART 5: Bundesliga review - Leipzig taste defeat in the league (59.00)

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Jimbo is joined in the studio by Daniel Storey, Jay Harris and Mark Carey after a Premier League weekend full of cats and pigeons.

Man City are beaten for the first time in almost a year. Sam Davis from the Back of the Net podcast tells us about the best result in Bournemouth’s history.

Nottingham Forest are in dreamland, also known as 3rd in the table after hammering the Hammers. Just how long does Julen Lopetegui have left?

It’s a wonderful weekend for Liverpool who go top while Arsenal also lose at Newcastle. Is it time to be critical of the Gunners’ transfer business?

Plus The Athletic’s Simon Johnson reports on Chelsea’s draw at Old Trafford while Tottenham come from behind again to take apart top 4 rivals Villa.

Produced by Charlie Jones.

RUNNING ORDER: 

• PART 1a: Spurs 4-1 Aston Villa (05.45)

• PART 1b: Man Utd 1-1 Chelsea with Simon Johnson (15.00)

• PART 2a: Bournemouth 2-1 Man City with Sam Davis (24.00) 

• PART 2b: Newcastle 1-0 Arsenal (35.00)

• PART 2c: Liverpool 2-1 Brighton (40.00)

• PART 3: Nottingham Forest 3-0 West Ham (44.00)

• PART 4: The rest of the Premier League weekend (55.00)

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Jimbo has Duncan Alexander, Adrian Clarke and Liam Tharme in tow to break down a massive week of football.

The Carabao Cup quarter-finals are set after Spurs knock out Man City, while holders Liverpool and Arsenal also progress. Hear about 17-year-old Ethan Nwaneri’s virtuoso performance.

Ruud van Nistelrooy’s Man United also let loose, putting five past Leicester at Old Trafford. Laurie Whitwell has the latest on how long it will be before Ruben Amorim is in the dugout.

The Red Devils host Chelsea in the Premier League on Sunday, while Arsenal travel to Newcastle and Bournemouth try to record their first ever win over injury-hit Man City.

Plus Preston 1888, sleep scores and when you should eat crumpets.

Produced by Charlie Jones.

RUNNING ORDER: 

• PART 1: Carabao Cup Last 16 roundup (02.00)

• PART 2: Amorim / Man Utd v Chelsea with Laurie Whitwell (21.00)

• PART 3a: Bournemouth v Man City preview (34.00) 

• PART 3b: Liverpool v Brighton preview (38.00)

• PART 3c: Newcastle v Arsenal preview (40.00)

• PART 4: The rest of the Premier League weekend (48.00)

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Jimbo’s joined by his continental crew - Pol Ballús, James Horncastle, Julien Laurens and Seb Stafford-Bloor - to look back on a seismic week of European action - and all the fallout from Monday night’s Ballon d’Or ceremony which has left Real Madrid rather unhappy…

We dive into the big news coming out of Old Trafford - that Manchester United are working on a deal to appoint Sporting Lisbon’s Ruben Amorim as their new head coach. Portuguese journalist David Novo brings us the latest.

There was pandemonium at the Santiago Bernabéu on Saturday night as La Liga leaders Barcelona thrashed their fierce rivals in El Clasico to move six points clear at the top of the table. It was also a week to forget for Atléti, beaten 1-0 at Betis which means they’re 10 points off the pace despite their record summer spending. 

There was also chaos in Serie A, with the Derby d'Italia finishing 4-4 between Juventus and Inter. Napoli took advantage to extend their lead at the top to 4 points after their narrow 1-0 win over Lecce. 

Bayern Munich responded to their midweek mauling by Barcelona by dishing out a 5-0 defeat to Bochum, while Dortmund were condemned to their third straight away Bundesliga defeat at the hands of Augsburg AND Leverkusen got Leverkusened - conceding a 90th minute equaliser in a 2-2 draw with Werder Bremen. 

And in Ligue 1, PSG are now the only unbeaten side in the division as they comfortably disposed of Marseille 3-0, while Monaco and Lens both tasted defeat for the first time this season. 

Produced by Lucy Oliva. 

RUNNING ORDER: 

• PART 1: Moment of the weekend & Ballon d’Or fallout (00.35)

• PART 2: Rúben Amorim to Man United? The latest with Record’s David Novo (12.40)  

• PART 3: La Liga review - Barcelona batter Real on bad week for Madrid sides (26.00)

• PART 4: Serie A review - Derby d’Italia stunner as Napoli win again (36.40)

• PART 5: Ligue 1 review - PSG cruise to victory in Le Classique (49.40)

• PART 6: Bundesliga review - Concerns for Bayern despite big win as Leverkusen drop late points (59.00)

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Jimbo welcomes Carl Anka, JJ Bull and Matt Davies-Adams into the studio after a bumper weekend full of late drama.

Liverpool lose top spot to Man City but they come from behind twice to salvage a point at the Emirates. Are Arsenal’s players dropping like flies after playing too much football?

Man United are beaten at West Ham for the 3rd year in a row. Will Erik ten Hag be denying this game as well after a very controversial late penalty?

Chelsea edge past Newcastle with Cole Palmer in scintillating form once again. Who would the panel rather have in their team? Palmer or Haaland?

And it’s a first win of the season for Palace over Spurs at Selhurst Park. Reuben Pinder tells us why the fans have stuck with Oliver Glasner.

Plus Welbeck, Barkley and Bryan Mbeumo’s brand awareness.

Produced by Charlie Jones.

RUNNING ORDER: 

• PART 1: Arsenal 2-2 Liverpool with James Pearce (05.30)

• PART 2a: Man City 1-0 Southampton (20.00)

• PART 2b: West Ham 2-1 Man United (23.00) 

• PART 2b: Chelsea 2-1 Newcastle (30.00)

• PART 2c: Crystal Palace 1-0 Tottenham with Reuben Pinder (40.00)

• PART 3: Saturday’s action in the Premier League (44.00)

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Jimbo welcomes Duncan Alexander, Charlie Eccleshare and Colin Millar into The Athletic’s studios amid an epic week of football.

Hansi Flick’s young Barcelona banish some Bayern demons with a 4-1 win in Catalunya. And Real Madrid come from 2-0 down to thrash Dortmund 5-2. Vinicius Junior takes the match ball. Next the Ballon d’Or?

Elsewhere in Europe, high-spending Atletico are under pressure but it’s Unai Emery’s Aston Villa who are top of the Champions League.

Arne Slot has made the best start by any Liverpool manager ever. He takes the Premier League leaders to face a depleted Arsenal on Sunday.

Plus Viktor Gyokeres, Papiss Cisse and the Battle of the Buffet 20 years on.

Produced by Charlie Jones.

RUNNING ORDER: 

• PART 1a: Barcelona 4-1 Bayern with Pol Ballus (06.30)

• PART 1b: Real Madrid 5-2 Dortmund (16.30)

• PART 2a: Arsenal v Liverpool preview (25.00) 

• PART 2b: The rest of the Champions League midweek (35.00)

• PART 3a: On This Day - the Battle of the Buffet (45.00)

• PART 3b: The rest of the Premier League weekend (53.00)

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Julien Laurens, Seb Stafford-Bloor, Pol Ballús and James Horncastle are back with Jimbo to reflect on another busy weekend of European action - and look ahead to matchday three in the Champions League. 

In La Liga, Barcelona put five past Sevilla while Real Madrid extended their unbeaten league run to 42 games ahead of a tantalising El Clásico coming up on Saturday night when Los Blancos could equal the record - set by Barca no less! But there’s a stern test for Hansi Flick to navigate in midweek first - with their nemesis and his former side Bayern Munich in town… 

Speaking of, Harry Kane was back to scoring ways (after a whole three games without a goal) as he bagged a hat-trick in Bayern’s 4-0 win over Stuttgart to warm up for the trip to Spain in style. There were also Bundesliga wins for Leverkusen and Dortmund - who continue to bewilder with their mixed form under Nuri Sahin as they prepare to face Real Madrid in a rematch of this summer’s Champions League final. 

It was a weekend of fine margins over in Italy, with Napoli, Inter, Milan and Juventus all winning 1-0. It’s Antonio Conte’s men who lead the way at the top of the Serie A table - while Roma’s frustrating start under Ivan Juric continues. 

And in France, PSG are beginning to purr with Bradley Barcola starring once again in their 4-2 win over Strasbourg - taking full advantage after early leaders Monaco were held to a goalless draw by Lille. 

RUNNING ORDER: 

• PART 1: Moments of the weekend (0.45)

• PART 2: La Liga review - Barcelona & Real Madrid win ahead of big UCL midweek (12.45)

• PART 3: Bundesliga review - Bayern put 5 past Sevilla ahead of trip to Spain (25.30)

• PART 4: Ligue 1 review - PSG take back top spot after Monaco draw (38.55)

• PART 5: Serie A review - 1-0’s across the board for the big boys (49.40)

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