This episode of the Managing Madrid Podcast is brought to you by Royal Sonesta Washington DC, where you should be booking your stay when you come to the live show we're doing in DC! Tickets here.

This episode of the Managing Madrid Podcast comes in two parts.

Part One: Kiyan Sobhani and Matt Wiltse break down Real Madrid's 5 - 2 win over Real Betis

Lots of goals, bad defense, high entertainment

Karim Benzema reliance

Carlo Ancelotti's post-game quotes about Real Madrid's defense

The team's press and defensive gambles

Vinicius Jr's performance

Karim Benzema's performance

Eden Hazard's performance

Miguel Gutierrez's performance

A breakdown of the goals

Luka Modric's performance

Interesting tactical wrinkles

How worried are we about burn out?

Thibaut Courtois's long balls

Carlo's subs

Santiago Bernabeu atmosphere

ESPN issues

And more

Part Two (): Grant Little and Om Arvind break down Real Madrid Femenino's 0 - 2 loss to Atletico Madrid

Thoughts on the starting lineup and Nahikari García as a right-winger

Breaking down the mistakes on the first goal

The physical demands on the players

Were Real Madrid Femenino that good in the first half?

Atlético Madrid managing game state

Claudia Zornoza’s passing issues

The intro and background to the Esther González vs. Nahikari García debate, where every single angle gets covered (seriously)

The need for a heavily nuanced discussion around Esther and Nahikari

Explaining who Nahikari and Esther are as players and how their strengths match (or don’t) with their stylistic tendencies

Why there is some incompatibility between Nahikari and Esther

Whether we can really argue that all of Nahikari’s problems are because of Esther

Esther’s box movement vs. Nahikari’s

How playing Nahikari as a right-winger made everything worse

Why Esther and Caroline Møller Hansen’s compatibility was the bigger issue vs. Atleti rather than Esther and Nahikari’s

The two ways to solve the Esther vs. Nahikari issue and which one is better

Esther playing differently with Spain and how that informs this discussion

Which key individuals have the dressing room power

The need to set biases aside as fans

Om being the Esther of the podcast and Grant being the most portable co-host of all time

Back to the game! Oscar Fernández’s substitution masterclass in the second half

Thembi Kgatlana’s terrifying impact

Maitane’s tactical fouling

How Maitane’s brilliant tackling created Atleti’s second goal

On Las Blancas’ schedule, fixture congestion, and the injury situation not set to get any easier in the future

Explaining the TV rights mess in detail and why we might not be able to watch certain games

Spain’s women footballers fighting against all obstacles to grow the sport

Why women’s football will win

Book your tickets to these cities on the Managing Madrid Podcast world tour:Los Angeles, SeptemberToronto, OctoberDallas, NovemberNew York, DecemberMiami, JanuaryLondon, FebruaryWashington DC, MarchChicago, AprilMumbai, MayLearn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices