ACROSS THE CONTINENT returns with our 4th league preview – and this time we're heading over to Germany to take a look at the BUNDESLIGA.

We begin by getting the Bayern and Dortmund plaudits out of the way, including complimenting Dortmund's summer business, before delving into teams we like and dislike.

In the segment, we ask the hard questions. Can new coaches in Leipzig and Leverkusen put the pieces together in time to challenge for Champions League? Is Mainz's attack really this good? And is Gadblach destined for a relegation battle (recorded before the sacking of their coach)?

Naturally, we're aligned on two of our favorites German clubs of late, Stuttgart and Freiburg. What makes them such models of consistency?

Then we discuss the three promoted teams, including Elversberg's dream start to their first ever top flight campaign and Paderborn and Schalke's chances of survival. We also debate which established sides might find themselves in trouble come next spring.

Finally, we reveal our official table predictions for the year and wonder who the hell Vincent Kompany's stylist is.

Cheers to Vincent Kompany and Miron Muslić!

Chapters:

00:00 – the start

06:16 – Bayern & Dortmund

10:41 – teams we're out on

22:40 – teams we're in on

31:57 – promoted teams & relegation candidates

43:04 – official table predictions

It's time for our annual Conference League league phase preview!

We begin by going through our power rankings and identifying the primary contenders in the tournament. We explain why we think Brighton, Monaco, and Freiburg are a cut above the rest and why Atalanta has a lot of work to do.

We also identify some of our favorite teams outside of the top echelon, including Copenhagen and Frankfurt, and some teams that have a lot to prove, like Trabzonspor.

We move on to some of our favorites mixtures through the six match days, including blockbuster matchups between contenders, and discuss the hardest and easiest schedules. We also select some of our favorite upset candidates who could surprise.

Next, we draft our top contenders to make the top 8 in the final table, thus securing the all-important bye to the round of 16, and finish the episode with another edition of New Fun Kids To Watch (In A Sporting & Not Creepy Way). Which Conference League youngsters are destined for stardom?

Cheers to everyone (who's morally deserving)!

Chapters:

00:00 – the start

24:52 – betting favorites

26:29 – fixtures, hardest + easiest schedules

33:14 – top 8 draft

40:48 – youngsters to watch

Our sister show, ACROSS THE CONTINENT, is back with a preview of LA LIGA.

We begin with Jose Mourinho's return to Real Madrid. The early signs are positive – particularly his relationship with the likes of Mbappe and Bellingham – but can they sustain elite play? We debate whether they can keep pace with Rodri, Yamal, and Barcelona.

We also discuss Atlético's chances of keeping pace after a summer of big business, as well as drama with star striker Julian Alvarez. Can they mend that relationship in time to threaten Barca and Madrid?

Next, we make our predictions for the rest of the European spots, including why we're high on Real Betis, a little skeptical of Real Sociedad, and why Villarreal might need a little time to gel.

Finally, we spotlight the three promoted clubs, take a stab at the relegation battle, and identify some clubs that might surprise and delight.

Cheers to Hansi Flick and José Alberto López!

Chapters:

00:00 – the start

01:58 – Madrid + Barcelona

11:23 – Atlético

14:01 – Champions League + European spots

22:32 – surprise teams

25:54 – promoted teams + relegation fight

32:19 – table predictions

It's time for our annual Europa League league phase preview!

We start by discussing Italy's offering – Milan and Juventus – who should be tournament favorites. How good are they, and how much pressure should Italy feel to win the competition this year?

We also spotlight a few clubs who have had notable summers. Leverkusen and Besiktas have spent lots of money to bring in attacking talent. How close are they to breaking through to contender status? Celtic have completed compelling business during the window, as well. Can they make noise under stalwart Martin O'Neill?

Then we introduce our new, poorly-named segment: New Fun Kids To Watch (not creepy). Max picks 5 youngsters across the tournament loaded with promise and destined for big things. Keep the receipts!

Next, David selects his favorite match-day 1 fixtures before we run through our league phase power rankings. Who lands in the top 8? Who falls outside knockouts qualification? Along the way, we touch on the unusual grouping of English sides, Bournemouth, Sunderland, and Palace, Benfica's claim as a tournament frontrunner, Union St Gilloise's ability to make a run, and Portuguese 2nd-tier Torreense's chances at competing.

Finally, we make some bold predictions, including our winners of the whole competition.

Cheers to everyone (except the French)!

Timecodes:

00:00 – the start

02:13 – Italian favorites | Milan & Juventus

10:07 – teams to watch | Leverkusen, Besiktas, Celtic

22:17 – teams that might surprise | Union St Gilloise

24:31 – youngsters to watch

32:11 – best match-day 1 fixtures

37:15 – power rankings

50:24 – table surprise & we pick our winners

It's the second episode of ACROSS THE CONTINENT, our sister show where we discuss subjects outside of our usual Europa and Conference League bubble.

Today, we're doing a preview of Italy's SERIE A.

We begin by examining the state of the league's annual coaching carousel. Who got it right and who got it terribly wrong? And what fresh faces have a chance to be successful?

Next, we discuss the league's recent youth movement after many years of prioritizing veteran players. We share some of our favorite transfer business and forecast which youngsters could make the biggest impact.

Then David and Maxwell go through their table predictions, debating which relegation contenders will stay up, whether Lazio can remain intact, if Fiorentina's youth movement will be successful, and who will grab the precious Champions League Spots. We also share some hot on whether anyone can challenge Inter for the title.

Cheers to Cristian Chivu & Giovanni Stroppa!

Chapters:

00:00 – the start

01:52 – manager carousel

10:41 – youth movement

20:58 – relegation contenders

22:57 – mid-table predictions

29:01 – top 7

34:09 – title condenders

42:02 – rapid-fire takes

The Europa and Conference League playoff qualifying came to a scintillating conclusion this week, and we're breaking it all down for you.

Beginning in Europa, Ferencvaros completed its 2-leg humiliation of Mo Salah's Trabzonspor – a game so bad the coach tried to quit and the club wouldn't let him. It's all very Turkish football. What's going on over there?

We also discuss Viktoria Plzen's massive comeback from a 3-goal deficit to beat Red Star Belgrade. But is there VAR controversy involved?

Then we tackle a host of drama in the Conference League, where 8 ties when to extra time and/or penalties and a number of others were decided in added time. It was a horrible week for Scottish teams, with only Hearts emerging triumphant, while Rangers and Hibs fell in heartbreaking fashion. Twente and Panathinaikos both pulled off extra time victories on the road, while Lincoln Red Imps shocked Larne, coming from 2 goals down with just 10 minutes to go. Finally, Inter Club d'Escaldes became the first Andorran side to qualify for a European group stage/league phase!

Next, we do the Big Boy Check-In, where all 5 clubs qualified for the league phase. Brighton, Monaco, and Freiburg all did so with style, while Atalanta and Getafe scraped through. What does this mean moving forward? And does Ajax's scintillating attacking football qualify them for this group?

Finally, we share our initial reactions about the draws in both competitions, and we're welcomed back into David's Coefficient Corner.

Cheers to Felip Ortiz!

Chapters:

00:00 – the start

02:07 – UEL main stories | Trabzonspor, Viktoria Plzen

10:05 – UEL whip-around

14:55 – crazy drama in UECL | Rangers is out

19:17 – Twente + Panathinaikos

24:36 – Inter Club d'Escaldes

28:16 – Lincoln Red Imps

32:49 – Hearts + Hibs

40:00 – Brann vs PAOK

43:15 – Big Boy Check-In

52:16 – Ajax

56:46 – draw reactions

01:01:14 – David's Coefficient Corner

It's the very first episode of our spinoff show, AROUND THE CONTINENT, where we will discuss subjects in European football outside our usual Europa & Conference League bubble!

To kick things off, we're doing six weeks of league previews, and first up is England's PREMIER LEAGUE.

We dig into our table predictions, starting with the likely relegation contenders. Can any of the promoted sides survive the drop? And why are we worried about Fulham and Crystal Palace?

Next, we look at the mid table, full of teams either in Europe this season or with strong European ambitions. Can Bournemouth and Brighton manage the extra slate of games? Can new-look Newcastle cope with a first-year coach and a much younger squad? Is Glasner the perfect man to lead Nottingham Forest? And will Brentford's stability lead them to the top of this group?

We then discuss Champions League contenders. Arsenal is the heavy favorite to repeat, but how will it shake out behind them in a messy field?

Finally, we do some quick hits, including who will get the sack first, golden boot winner, and more.

Cheers to Frank Lampard!

Chapters:

00:00 – the start

06:35 – relegation contenders

16:49 – mid-table

24:47 – top 7

40:28 – rapid fire

We're back to talk first legs of the final qualifying round!

We begin by complaining about streaming availability for these matches. Why does Paramount license the competitions and not show any of the qualifying games?

Then we move to Europa League, which was marked by a couple of startling results. First, we investigate Thun's humiliating 7-0 defeat at the hands of Lech Poznan. What's going wrong with the Swiss champions? Then we head over to Mo Salah's European debut with Trabzonspor, which ended in a narrow defeat to Ferencvaros. How long will it take for the Turk's new signings to click? We also take a look at Benfica's vibrant squad and ask if they should be among the tournament favorites.

Over in the Conference League, we begin with the Big Boy Check-In. Both Brighton and Atalanta came away with 0-0 results. Brighton put in an okay performance in Tromsø despite conceding the biggest chance of the game, while Atalanta laid a major egg while hosting Hapoel Tel Aviv. What do both clubs have to do to ensure qualifying for the league phase? Getafe and Monaco also faced stiff challenges from Partizan Belgrade and Górnik Zabrze respectively, but each came out winners. And finally, Freiburg saw off a pesky Motherwell in Scotland, thanks to a bland of the old and the new.

Elsewhere, we check in on Ajax, who seems to be turning a new leaf under recent hire Míchel, Panathinaikos, who blew a 2-goal lead late, an entertaining Hearts-Rapid match, and much more.

Cheers to Felip Ortiz!

Chapters:

00:00 – the start

04:37 – Europa League | Main Stories

15:34 – Europa League | Whip-Around

24:36 – Conference League | Big Boy Check-In

41:50 – Conference League | Whip-Around