
The Real Deal: A Real Madrid Podcast
A Real Madrid Podcast that offers film room-themed shows breaking down the greatest football club in history. It goes beyond the noise with tactics, strategy, and analytics.
Episodes
Why Arsenal Plays Like an NFL Team | OKC, PSG & The Future of Football
Jarod Hector and Siddharth Ramsundar dive into a big picture episode about the Champions League Final, the aesthetics of Arsenal and OKC as adopters of ultra-physical play in their sports, legislating those things out of the game, how PSG have gamed the footballing calendar, processing speed and decision making in sports, why early season results are more misleading than ever, why Luka Doncic and
Real Madrid's Strange Elections
Jarod Hector and Siddharth Ramsundar discuss Real Madrid's elections, the announcements of signings by both parties, Florentino Perez's strategy with the election, the pushback against the sale of part of the club, the flaws in Riquelme's campaign, why all the big names feel like a distraction tactic, the potential upsides to Perez's signings, and the risks with Jose Mourinho going
The State of Real Madrid
Sid and Jarod Hector return after a hiatus to discuss the state of Real Madrid. Florentino, Riquelme and elections? Jose Mourinho returning? Is there any hope going forward? Plus some updates on the new show.
Real Madrid 2-1 Rayo Vallecano Postgame Reaction: Horrid Performance Bailed Out By Rayo
Jarod Hector and Sid react to the win against Vallecano at the Bernabeu.
Vinícius Contract, Guler Sub Controversy, Endrick’s Rise, Perez Losing It? Real Madrid Roundup
Sid and Xavier dive into the growing tension inside Real Madrid.We discuss Enzo Alves signing his first professional contract, Endrick exploding on loan in Lyon, and why his form is forcing uncomfortable questions about Madrid’s attacking hierarchy. From there, the conversation turns serious: Vinícius Jr.’s contract standoff, declining influence on the pitch, and how player power is beginning to f
Benfica 4-2 Real Madrid Postgame Reaction: Mourinho Beats Arbeloa, Real Madrid In Crisis
Sid reacts to Real Madrid's Champions League loss against Jose Mourinho's Benfica. How we saw this coming, etc.
Villarreal 0-2 Real Madrid Postgame Reaction
Jarod Hector and Taalib react to the Villarreal game.
Real Madrid 6-1 Monaco Postgame Reaction: Vinicius Unleashed
Sid and Xavier review the win over Monaco, Vinicius' dominant performance and more.
Accessing Real Madrid's Inner Circle
Jarod Hector and Sid R. discuss the world of influencers and how clubs 'launder influence' by finding people who need their sourcing or paying them to push their messaging. Florentino Perez maintains an iron grip around information around Real Madrid. We discuss how we intend on building sources near Real Madrid, and the inherent limitations of press credentials because they often only go
Real Madrid 2-0 Levante Postgame Breakdown: Arda Guler Saves The Day
Sid and Taalib break down the win over Levante, the whistles at the Bernabeu, the poor 1st half, the Guler impact substitution, what we're seeing from Arbeloa, and more.
The Future of Sports Fandom
Sports have never been more available, and yet, many will tell you something feels a bit off about the entire ecosystem.In this episode of The Real Deal, Joel Adejola joins Sid R. to question whether the way modern sports demand attention is actually sustainable. Coaches themselves don't have time to change things from game to game, but many fans watch addictively and expect more and more. Not
Albacete 3-2 Real Madrid: Arbeloa Loses First Game As Coach
Sid and Xavier react to Real Madrid's disastrous loss to Albacete. Vinicius might have put in one of his worst performances in a long time after getting setup to succeed. Xavier walks us through the media factions and leaks behind the scenes and rumors about the changing ownership at Real Madrid, Louis Vitton, Pepe Alvarez, the Arbeloa-Alonso rift and more
Xabi Alonso Sacked: Real Madrid In Crisis
Jarod Hector and Sid break down Xabi Alonso's sacking, how it's part of a larger trend of decline and mismanagement at the club, Florentino Perez's flaws and the way forward at Real Madrid.
Tiki Taka With Steph Curry's Warriors? Guardiola's Tactics in The NBA?
Jarod Hector and Siddharth Ramsundar discuss the true origins of Golden State Warriors' motion offense (hint: within basketball, and not from Barcelona as many would have you imagine) and discuss both the real parallels and the more mythical PR elements behind this marketing campaign. We also discuss how the Celtics offense in 2024 with Joe Mazzulla was a more direct translation of the tiki ta
Barcelona 3-2 Real Madrid Postgame Breakdown
Jarod Hector and Sid react to the Supercup final. Real Madrid played surprisingly well despite the result and obvious limitations in the squad: what can we take away from this game and going forward?
Barcelona vs Real Madrid Supercup Preview, Premier League Title Race
Jarod Hector and Sid R. briefly preview the big game against Barcelona, why pressing high will be necessary, and why beating Joan Garcia will be so difficult (his advanced stats are through the roof). They also discuss the Premier League title race, how Arsenal are similar to the OKC Thunder stylistically, and the end of Pep's time at Manchester City.
Atletico Madrid 1-2 Real Madrid Supercup Reaction
Sid reacts to the win against Atletico Madrid in Saudi Arabia, key takeaways, Xabi Alonso's substitutions and more.
Real Madrid 5-1 Real Betis Postgame Reaction
Jarod Hector reacts to Real Madrid's first game of the 2026 calendar year.
In Defense of Xabi Alonso, Mbappe & Vinicius
Mazin Mukhtar joins Siddharth Ramsundar to discuss the tactical nuances surrounding Real Madrid, Arda Guler, the lack of Gonzalo Garcia, the general weaknesses of the profiles at the club, and why Vinicius-Mbappe dynamics are not the issue. Audio issues from earlier episodes have been sorted, so we released this bonus episode early. Tell your friends and share this episode if you want more content
Luka Doncic's Lakers & Parallels To Mbappe & Real Madrid
Jarod Hector and Siddharth Ramsundar discuss the similarities and differences between Luka Doncic's Lakers and Mbappe at Real Madrid. Squads filled with one way players where the (admittedly flawed) star is scapegoated for not doing enough.
Real Madrid New Year's Resolutions
Jarod Hector and Siddharth Ramsundar discuss the major details Real Madrid must resolve to get right next season.
Winter Break In Spanish Football: Negreira, Barcelona, Bellingham, Pausa
Ruri Barlow of Football Espana and Siddharth Ramsundar catch up on football over the break. We discuss why Real Madrid fans seem to be in a bubble when it comes to the Negreira conversation, Barcelona's approximate 98 point pace in La Liga, and then we ponder what differentiates Spanish football culture from the rest of Europe and compare it to Great Britain, Germany and Italy.
Rationality in an Irrational Real Madrid Media Ecosystem
Jarod Hector and Siddharth Ramsundar lay out the click-baity sports media landscape and explain why Real Madrid coverage needs a different approach.We talk about why Real Madrid attracts distorted narratives, how PR and media incentives shape what fans see, and why emotion matters but cannot be the endpoint. From tactics and data to power dynamics, language barriers, and institutional decision-mak
Real Madrid 2-0 Sevilla Postgame Reaction
Jarod and Sid react to Real Madrid's last game of the calendar year. We discuss the "blame scale" between Xabi Alonso, Kylian Mbappe and Florentino Perez for how Real Madrid's season has unfolded, and discuss expectations for the team going forward.
Real Madrid's Medical Mafia: Itziar González Report Reaction
Sid reacts to the Marca report about Real Madrid's medical situation, confirming many suspicions we had on the podcast about the incompetence of the injury prevention crew. Florentino Perez has dropped the ball. Sid explains with firsthand experience why this is causing issues at the club, and why someone like Itziar Gonzalez is crucial to any successful organization.
Talavera 2-3 Real Madrid Postgame Reaction
Sid breaks down the Copa Del Rey win in Real Madrid's penultimate fixture of the calendar year. Dean Huijsen, Endrick, Mbappe, the new right back Jimenez, and more.
Alaves 1-2 Real Madrid Postgame Reaction
Sid and Jarod react to Xabi Alonso's men winning at Alaves. Vinicius, Jude, Mbappe, Rodrygo, Valdepenas' debut and more.
Real Madrid 1-2 Manchester City Postgame Reaction
Sid and Jarod Hector discuss the loss to Manchester City. Is Xabi Alonso done at Real Madrid? We react to Endrick finally getting game time, Gonzalo Garcia, the lack of press resistance in the team outside Carreras, Vinicius up front, Rodrygo's goal and more.
Real Madrid 0-2 Celta Vigo Postgame Reaction
Jarod and Sid discuss the disappointing loss to Celta, Vini/Mbappe on defense, Tchouameni's lapse, Alonso's tactics and more.
Futbol In America & The Death of Monoculture
Jarod Hector and Sid discuss how the death of monoculture and pressure on corporations to grow profits has led to "crossover" style sports events related to America, a place where the game is not a traditional stronghold. We discuss the NFL at the Bernabeu, Ronaldo at the White House, Messi in the MLS, and how it all relates to new methods of audience capture. The Beautiful Game is embracing moder
The Crisis At Real Madrid
Jarod Hector and Sid discuss Xabi Alonso's tactics, Florentino Perez and the dressing room, Arda Guler, Vinicius and more.
Rayo Vallecano 0-0 Real Madrid Postgame Reaction
Loconte and Taalib break discuss the disappointing draw to Rayo, Alonso's lack of successful adjustments off the bench, the team's struggles in buildup play and more.
Rayo Vallecano v Real Madrid Preview
Loconte and Jarod Hector preview the Rayo Vallecano game with keys for Xabi Alonso's side and things to watch out for.
Liverpool 1-0 Real Madrid Postgame Breakdown
Loconte and Sid breakdown Real Madrid's defeat at Anfield.
Vinicius Jr, Xabi Alonso and Evolving Dynamics at Real Madrid
Loconte and Jarod Hector discuss the Vinicius situation, evolving dynamics at Real Madrid with Mbappe's arrival and changes to the team's playing style from the Carlo Ancelotti days, Vinicius' career trajectory and desire for the Ballon d'Or and more.
Real Madrid 4-0 Valencia Postgame Reaction
Jarod Hector, Loconte and Taalib break down the win over Valencia, Real Madrid's goals, Mbappe, Bellingham, Vinicius, Endrick and more.
Drama In Madrid? Alonso’s Squad Management + Mailbag
Jarod Hector and Loconte discuss the Real Madrid news of the week and take mailbag questions.
Real Madrid vs Valencia Preview
Loconte and Cerebrone preview Real Madrid v Valencia: what to expect from Valencia, Mbappe, Xabi Alonso's tactics and more.
Liverpool v Real Madrid Preview, Trent's Return To Anfield
Josh Williams (as seen on Anfield Wrap, LFC TV et al) joins Siddharth Ramsundar to discuss Liverpool v Real Madrid from a tactical perspective. What went wrong with Liverpool's rebuild after signing Wirtz, Isak, Kerkez and Frimpong? Was the 'galactico' approach from Michael Edwards, RIchard Hughes and FSG a bad fit for Liverpool? How much do Liverpool miss Trent and what about his shy
Can Vinicius & Xabi Alonso Coexist? Apology Reaction
Jarod Hector joins Siddharth to discuss VInicius' apologies and the contract situation. Can he and Xabi Alonso coexist?
Inside Xabi Alonso's Tactical Upgrades
Loconte and Jarod Hector discuss the tactical keys to Xabi Alonso overhauling Real Madrid so quickly without a preseason. After an El Clasico that was in complete contrast to the Atletico Madrid and PSG games earlier in the year, Alonso has clearly implemented many new wrinkles that are starting to come off.
El Clasico Postgame Breakdown: Real Madrid 2-1 Barcelona
Loconte, Jarod Hector and Sid break down Real Madrid's win over Barcelona. Xabi Alonso's tactical masterclass, Bellingham's role, Carreras locking up Yamal, and the mid block and high press, and more.
Mailbag, Endrick Situation, Xabi Alonso's Tactical Plans
Loconte, Jarod Hector and Xavier discuss El Clasico from more of Real Madrid's perspective, the Endrick situation, Yamal's comments and more.Note: due to a temporary copyright issue, our intro music and reel will not be available on audio platforms. We are diligently working to fix this. Find us on YouTube if you want the complete experience in the meantime, we will update as soon as the situation
El Clasico Preview: Real Madrid v Barcelona
Ruri Barlow joins Sid to preview the biggest fixture in club football and discuss the first matchup between coaches Xabi Alonso and Hansi Flick.Barcelona have looked plenty vulnerable to start this season without Inigo Martinez. Lewandowski is injured. However, their style of play remains extremely potent against a Real Madrid team that has struggled to defend deep and prefers to defend with the b
Real Madrid 1-0 Juventus Postgame Reaction
Sid and Loconte react to Real Madrid's win over Juventus. The slow first half, chemistry between Brahim Diaz, Jude Bellingham and Kylian Mbappe, another dominant Arda Guler performance, Vinicius breaking the deadlock and the wasteful finishing.Note: due to a temporary copyright issue, our intro music and reel will not be available on audio platforms. We are diligently working to fix this. Find us
Getafe 0-1 Real Madrid Postgame Reaction
Jarod Hector and Taalib (joined by Loconte briefly) discuss Real Madrid's victory over Getafe, Mbappe's goal, Rodrygo's performance, Tchouameni and Camavinga in midfield, and more.Note: due to a temporary copyright issue, our intro music and reel will not be available on audio platforms. We are diligently working to fix this. Find us on YouTube if you want the complete experience in the meantime,
Getafe v Real Madrid Preview, Perez Restructuring Real Madrid Ownership + Mailbag
Loconte, Jarod Hector and Xavier discuss the Real Madrid news of the week such as Florentino Perez's restructuring of the club to compete with PSG/Man City and oil clubs (as well as his fears of a Bartomeu style situation), preview the tactics Xabi Alonso may deploy to get through the Getafe game with Jose Bordalas on the horizon, and take mailbag questions.Note: due to a temporary copyright issue
Xabi Alonso's First 10 Games Reviewed Tactically
Loconte, Sid and Xavier sit down to review Xabi Alonso's first 10 games in charge of Real Madrid, the expectations, the performances, and the general trends of the team. With the lack of a preseason, things have been more challenging. We discuss Arda Guler's role, the usage and freedom of Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior's performances, the need for Franco Mastantuano, navigating Fede Va
Real Madrid's International Break + Mailbag
Loconte, Jarod Hector and Xavier discuss the international break in the context of Real Madrid, Vinicius, Mbappe's interview, Villarreal's game against Barcelona in Miami, and more. We also take mailbag questions covering subjects like Arda Guler, Brahim Diaz, Nico Paz and more.
Real Madrid 3-1 Villarreal Postgame Breakdown
Loconte and Jarod break down the big win over Villarreal, Vinicius' performance and more.
Villarreal v Real Madrid Preview, Valverde Drama
Loconte and Xavier hang out and discuss the Villarreal game, the fans being toxic to a tired Federico Valverde, and more.
Kairat Almaty 0-5 Real Madrid Postgame Reaction
Loconte & Siddharth break down the win over Kairat. Alonso's selections, Ceballos and Alaba in buildup, Asencio and Fran and Courtois' pains on the ball, Mbappe's devastating performance, and more.
Carvajal Injury + Derby Aftermath
Loconte and Jarod Hector break down the implications of Dani Carvajal's injury and more in the aftermath of the defeat to Atletico Madrid.
Atletico Madrid 5-2 Real Madrid Postgame Breakdown
Siddharth and Jarod Hector break down Atletico Madrid's dominant win over Real Madrid. Simeone outclassing Xabi Alonso, tactical mistakes, the decision to start Jude Bellingham, what this says about Real Madrid's floor and ceiling going forward, what Xabi Alonso can learn and more.
Madrid Derby Preview: Atletico Madrid v Real Madrid
Loconte, Jarod Hector and new guest Xavier are here to preview the Madrid derby and Diego Simeone vs Xabi Alonso. We also take mailbag questions.
Real Madrid 4-1 Levante Postgame Reaction
Loconte and Siddharth react to Real Madrid's win over Levante: Alonso's rotations, Carreras at center back, Asencio at right back, Franco's performance, Vini's performance, rumors about the Alonso-Vinicius rift and more.
Real Madrid 2-0 Espanyol Postgame Reaction
Loconte, Jarod Hector & Taalib react to Real Madrid's comfortable win over Espanyol. On our chosen attacking dynamics with Gonzalo Garcia joining Vinicius & Mbappe, counterpressing changes to preserve energy and more.
This Week In Real Madrid: Mailbag, Injuries & Suspensions
Loconte and Jarod Hector discuss the Real Madrid news of the week including Huijsen and Carvajal's suspensions, Trent's injury, tensions between Xabi Alonso and Vinicius Jr, then take mailbag questions.
Real Madrid 2-1 Marseille Postgame Reaction
Loconte and Sid break down the win over Marseille: Vinicius' benching, dealing with De Zerbi's tactics, and more.
Champions League Contenders Ranked With StatsBomb's Ali Elfakharany
Ali Elfakharany of StatsBomb joins Siddharth to rank the Champions League Contenders this season.
Real Madrid 2-1 Real Sociedad Postgame Reaction
Loconte, Jarod Hector and Taalib break down Real Madrid's win over Real Sociedad: Mbappe's performance, Xabi Alonso's lineup and defensive substitutions, the terrible referee showing, and more.
Rudiger Injury & Real Madrid Concerns After International Break
Loconte and Jarod Hector discuss the Real Madrid news of the week, Antonio Rudiger's injury, major concerns after the international break, and what to expect from Xabi Alonso's boys tactically, physically and mentally going forward.
Toni Kroos' Career In Review
During this international break we bring to you a special throwback edition of the Real Deal. This was Jarod Hector and Siddharth's first episode recording together on the Real Deal on May 21st, 2024, back before the show was a completely independent podcast. We dove deep into Kroos’ immense impact on Real Madrid and the German National Team’s tactical identity, as he brought control to teams
Real Madrid 2-1 Mallorca Postgame Reaction
Jarod Hector, Loconte, and Taalib break down Madrid's 2-1 win over Mallorca ahead of the international break.
Nico Paz's Real Madrid Future
Amidst Nico Paz cooking for Cesc Fabregas' Como and the news about Tottenham's bid for him, Loconte and Jarod Hector discuss what they like from him at Como, and what they expect the club to do with him going forward.
Real Madrid 3-0 Oviedo Postgame Analysis
Loconte & Jarod Hector and a new guest are back to break down Xabi Alonso's tactics and Real Madrid's win over Oviedo in La Liga.
Why Xabi Alonso Is Choosing Defense First
Jarod Hector and Loconte discuss major talking points around Real Madrid this week, including Xabi Alonso's defensive approach in his first game in charge, attacking dynamics, the importance of the international break for Real Madrid's health, and more.
Real Madrid 1-0 Osasuna Postgame Reaction
Loconte and Siddharth review Real Madrid's win over Osasuna. We discuss Xabi Alonso's new system, Mbappe's dribbling, Rodrygo's absence, Franco off the bench, and more.
Realistic Real Madrid Expectations 2025/26
Loconte, Jarod and Siddharth are here to discuss expectations for Real Madrid 2025/26. Which injuries are the biggest bottlenecks? Will Mbappe and Vinicius coexist? What if Militao or Gonzalo Garcia get hurt? How will Xabi Alonso approach big games? What trophies can we win?
Is Camavinga's Career In Trouble?
Loconte is joined by Cerebrone to discuss Eduardo Camavinga: his time in Ligue 1, his career trajectory, and his injury issues at Real Madrid. What will his future at Real Madrid look like? Will he ever get to the point of being a starter? Does Real Madrid now need more midfield depth given his injuries?
Barcelona's Obsession With Real Madrid
Loconte & Jarod Hector hop on to discuss the recent comments by Gavi and Olmo about summer transfers and squad strength, and generally break down FC Barcelona's overall obsession with Real Madrid.
Who Will Win La Liga? Ft. Real Madrid, Barcelona, Atletico
Siddharth is joined by Ruri Barlow the editor of Football Espana to predict and project the best teams in La Liga. Who will win the league? How do Atletico Madrid and Barcelona look? What about Betis, Celta Vigo, Valencia and Sociedad? Tune into hear Ruri's fantastic insight!
How Will Xabi Alonso Use Kylian Mbappe?
Loconte is joined by first time guest Cerebrone to discuss how Xabi Alonso will utilize Kylian Mbappe. What are Mbappe's preferences, what will Alonso need for the team, and how can he synergize best with Vinicius?
Vinícius Jr Contract Drama
Jarod Hector and Loconte are here to discuss the heated controversial subject of Vinicius Junior's next contract. How much is he worth? Is he using Saudi Arabia as leverage? What's his trajectory like as a winger, a position that traditionally peaks young? What should Florentiono Perez do? How much would we renew him for? Where would you be comfortable selling him if it came down to it?
Is Real Madrid Doing Its Best To Prevent Injuries? Ft. Ballistic Author Henry Abbott
TrueHoop creator Henry Abbott joins Jarod Hector to dig into the science behind the club’s never-ending fitness setbacks. From ACL blows to soft-tissue strains, we look at what’s happening inside Valdebebas, why so many players go down at the worst possible time, the evolution of this space from Henry's book "Ballistic" and what the data says Real Madrid must change going forward.
Real Madrid's Summer Trajectory
Loconte is joined by Mazin to review Real Madrid's status after the Club World Cup. What can we takeaway from what we saw at the tournament, versus what was just a result of the heat and circumstances in which the games were played? What major points of emphasis should Xabi Alonso have going forward and what profiles were missing?
Can Mbappe & Vinicius Coexist?
Loconte and Jarod Hector discuss the Vinicius-Mbappe dynamics, which were put in the spotlight once again during the loss to PSG at the Club World Cup. Is their lack of defensive execution overplayed? Will they coexist offensively?
Alvaro Carreras' Journey Back to Real Madrid
Joel Adejola joins Siddharth to talk about Alvaro Carreras' time at Manchester United. We project his time at Real Madrid, discuss the politics behind his time at Manchester United the Rashford-Barcelona situation, and more.
Real Madrid 0-4 PSG Postgame Reaction
Jarod Hector, Loconte and Sid react to PSG's victory over Real Madrid. What are the long term concerns for this team after a game like this?
Real Madrid v PSG Match Preview
Jarod Hector and Loconte preview the FIFA Club World Cup semifinal clash between the two most talented squads in world football: Real Madrid & PSG.
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