Summary: Joining Anto for another late night discussion from Madrid is Spanish football correspondent and commentator Sid Lowe who not only helps us probe and point out some interesting early trends in the domestic season, but also we take a look at his exciting new book in which he explores in great detail the often intertwined and often controversial history between Real Madrid and Barcelona. As always these episodes are often reserved for exploring the history, politics, and culture, while never forgetting the drama on the pitch, which sets the stage for an historical context once we dig into the post-war period. We begin this episode on the heels a largely controversial win away a Elche where the always explosive Pepe earned the visitors a dubious penalty deep into stoppage time denying their hosts even one point, which in turn begins our first look at Madrid under Carlo Ancelotti and what we discover is a team sheet that is designed to be different that the one last submitted by Jose Mourinho yet still has the same symbolic problem of leaving it to late for its danger men and thus far has been able to find an escape. We also look at the truly key arrival in Isco this summer from Malaga who clearly is benefitting from the rich shade provided by Gareth Bale and appears to by on a course with history as a fundamental player for Real Madrid in the years ahead. We also examine the many facets of the Tata Martino era at Barcelona which includes the perception of a more direct style that may just be overdue, but ultimately facing the same questions as capable defensive players have yet to be acquired and look to further derail Barcelona in the biggest stages of the Champions League. We also explore Atletico Madrid under Diego Simeone ahead of El Derbi Madrileño, what are some reasonable expectations for this team, and whether the David Villa sale holds the key to some of its best young players in the years ahead. Then we turn our attention to the matter of Real Sociedad as the added influence of Champions League football seems to have delivered the kind of weight that doomed Villarreal a couple of seasons ago when the club was relegated and we consider the real possibility that a key player sale in concert with offensive injuries and a new manager could spell trouble. In the last section we examine the new book and of particular note is the role of history and the margins through which the vast cross-section of football history is often written, which in the case of La Liga traces back to the majestic player and often told tale of Alfredo Di Stéfano, whose one signature changed the course of not only Spanish football history, but that of European football history as well.
