Can Trent’s Real win back La Liga? And will Napoli retain their title?

The Totally Football Show with James Richardson

The Athletic

Soccer, Unknown, Soccer,, Sports, Football

4.6 • 4.2K Ratings

🗓️ 19 August 2025

⏱️ 73 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Jimbo’s got the Euro gang back together as Julien Laurens, Pol Ballús, Seb Stafford-Bloor and James Horncastle return for a new season of hijinx and drama across the continent.

We begin in France, where underdogs PSG got their title defence underway with a 1-0 win away at Nantes on Sunday night. But is there anyone who can close the 19-point gap? And are Marseille already in self-destruct mode?

The Liga season is well and truly underway, with holders Barcelona getting their campaign off to a winning start against the nine men of Mallorca. Real don’t play until Tuesday night - but how equipped are Xavi Alonso’s new-look side to topple Barca?

Over in Italy, we’re in store for yet another fascinating title race. The news that Romelu Lukaku is set to miss the first three months of the season with a muscle strain could open the door for a challenger to Napoli’s crown. So will it be a resurgent Milan or perhaps Gasperini’s Roma that put up the greatest fight?

And in Germany, Harry Kane’s won another trophy! Bayern take home the Supercup. While there are still some areas of concern for Vincent Kompany’s side - have the teams around them done enough over the summer to produce a title race?

Produced by Lucy Oliva.

RUNNING ORDER:

• PART 1: Welcome back! Just not in French… And moments of the weekend (00.50)

• PART 2: Ligue 1 review - PSG off to winning start - Marseille are not (08.55)

• PART 3: La Liga review - Barca the favourites ahead of new-look Madrid? (21.00)

• PART 4: Serie A review - Lukaku injury blow opens up the title race? (37.00)

• PART 5: Bundesliga review - Who can challenge Bayern’s crown? (56.30)

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