Hand Of Pod

In the three hundred and thirty-ninth episode of Hand Of Pod, Sam is joined by English Dan and Andrés to discuss the first legs of the Copa Superliga, which saw Tigre all but book their place in the final ... only for CONMEBOL to bafflingly announce a couple of days later that even if they win the cup, they won't be allowed in to next year's Copa Libertadores. We also have the Copa América final squad to run the rule over, and plenty more besides.

In the three hundred and thirty-eighth episode of Hand Of Pod, Sam, English Dan and Andrés discuss three quarters of the Copa Superliga quarter-finals ... but not three quarters in *that* way; three quarters in the other way. Two of the ties conclude after this episode goes online, so previewing the semi-finals is tricky, but we are able to look at Argentina's preliminary squad lists for the Women's World Cup and the men's Copa América, among other things.

In the three hundred and thirty-seventh episode of Hand Of Pod, Sam and Andrés look back on an action-packed weekend of Copa Superliga action which saw River Plate eviscerate Aldosivi, Boca Juniors breeze past Godoy Cruz on a sodden Bombonera pitch, and a hilarious – if distinctly amateur-hour – kit mixup at San Lorenzo v Argentinos Juniors, among plenty more. We also look forward to a weekend which contains the first legs of the quarter-finals and a last-weekend title decider in the women's Primera, as River Plate host UAI Urquiza on the final day knowing one team will emerge from the match as champions.

In the three hundred and thirty-sixth episode of Hand Of Pod, Sam, English Dan and Andrés discuss last weekend's Copa Superliga action, with the stakes heightening as the top six from the Superliga season just gone enter the competition. There's also a quick roundup of happenings in the women's league and the second division, as well as the shortest listeners' questions section in HOP history, because no one sent us any.

In the three hundred and fifty-fifth episode of Hand Of Pod, Sam, English Dan and Andrés look back on the second legs of the Copa Superliga first round, which saw a few more interesting matches than the first legs had produced, and look forward to this weekend, when the quality of the competition should improve markedly as the teams who finished first to sixth in the league enter the fray. We also take a look at next season, and the Superliga's spectacular lack of communication surrounding it, and give you the latest on the battle for promotion from the second division, broken regulations and all.

In the three-hundred-and-thirty-fourth episode of Hand Of Pod, Sam, English Dan and Andrés discuss the first ever weekend of Copa Superliga action, which was ... less than thrilling, it's probably fair to say, although there were a couple of decent matches. We also give you the latest on the women's Primera, and the boys' Under-17 and Under-15 national teams, who've had successes in recent days.

In the three-hundred-and-thirty-third episode of Hand Of Pod, Sam and Andrés look back on the final weekend of Superliga action of the season, and tie up the loose ends that were left after Racing's title win a week earlier: who won out in the battle to not get relegated? Which teams prevailed in the struggle to qualify for the Copa Sudamericana? Did Atlético Tucumán get the 13-goal swing (plus close the points gap) they needed to qualify for the Libertadores ahead of River Plate? There's only one way to find out, and it's by listening to this episode! Well, okay, you could check a large number of websites or apps, I suppose. But please listen.

In the three-hundred-and-thirty-second episode of Hand Of Pod, Sam, English Dan and Andrés look back on a weekend of Superliga action which saw Racing crowned champions of Argentina in spite of late goals for both Tigre and Defensa y Justicia. They also look at what's left in the final weekend of the campaign coming up: the relegation battle, the race to finish in the Copa Sudamericana spots, and whether Boca Junors can leapfrog Defensa to claim second place.

In the three-hundred-and-thirty-first episode of Hand Of Pod, Sam, Andrés and English Dan look back on two woeful friendly performances by Lionel Scaloni's Argentina – a second-ever defeat to Venezuela and a narrow win over Morocco – which did absolutely nothing to breed optimism ahead of the Copa América. We also preview the last two weeks of the Superliga season, with the title run-in and the Copa Sudamericana qualification battle taking centre stage.

In the three hundred and thirtieth episode of Hand Of Pod, Sam, Andrés and English Dan meet to discuss a weekend of Superliga action which saw the title race and relegation battle become abruptly less tense with two games to go – although the only thing confirmed so far is San Martín de Tucumán's relegation – and to preview the international friendlies of the next few days, which see Lionel Messi return as Argentina face Venezuela and Morocco.

In episode three hundred and twenty-nine of Hand Of Pod, Sam, English Dan and Andrés discuss the title and relegation battles in the Superliga, which have both tightened up considerably with three matches to go, and look at the interesting decision by CONMEBOL to award hosting of the 2020 Copa América (yes, there will be a 2020 Copa América) to Argentina and Colombia.

The three-hundred-and-twenty-eighth episode of Hand Of Pod sees Sam joined by Andrés and English Dan to review a weekend on which the gap at the top remained at three points, with Racing and Defensa y Justicia the only realistic title hopefuls (and likely to be the only ones with even a mathematical chance by the end of the coming round). We also look back on Tuesday's Copa Libertadores matches involving Argentine sides, and consider Lionel Scaloni's Argentina squad – which was named after the pod was recorded, but which as expected marks the return of Lionel Messi to international football.

In three hundred and twenty seventh episode of Hand Of Pod sees Sam joined by Andrés and Andy Jacobs of TalkSPORT's Hawksbee and Jacobs to discuss a weekend which saw Racing pull three points clear at the top of the Superliga thanks to a 3-1 victory away to Independiente in the clásico de Avellaneda and Defensa's defeat the following day to Boca Juniors in spite of dominating the match – which is becoming a familiar story.

In the three hundred and twenty-sixth episode of Hand Of Pod, Sam, English Dan and Andrés discuss an interesting weekend of action which saw Tigre win their first game under Néstor Gorosito, and victories for both of the top two (Racing and Defensa y Justicia), who remain neck and neck with six games to go and that tantalising clash between them in the Cilindro on the final weekend. River were held and Boca Juniors won and then lost, and we announce the lucky winner of the six-month free Fanatiz subscription prize draw.

In the three hundred and twenty-fifth episode of Hand Of Pod, Sam, Andrés, Tony and English Dan have some exciting news: HOP is now sponsored by Fanatiz, and as well offering HOP listener 20% off their first three months with the code 'hopfz' if you go to www.fntz.co/hop, they're also giving you the chance to win a six-month subscription entirely free! One lucky listener will win the prize, but you'll have to listen to the episode to find out how. We look back on a weekend which saw River beat Racing with a stonking Juanfer Quintero free kick, allowing Defensa y Justicia's 95th-minute winner over Argentinos Juniors to send them joint top. We also look at Argentina's overall Sudamericano Sub 20 performance, and answer some listeners' questions.

The three hundred and twenty-fourth episode of Hand Of Pod sees Sam joined by English Dan, Andrés and Tony to discuss a low-scoring weekend of Superliga action in which the title race remained much the same (Racing and Defensa y Justicia both won), Saturday was about as exciting as we told you last week it was going to be, and Patronato got their second win in a row (and fourth of the season). We also discuss Argentina's Sudamericano Sub 20 performances, and answer listeners' questions.

In the three hundred and twenty-third episode of Hand Of Pod, Sam, Dan and Andrés are joined by Jon Arnold, who tells us a bit about his impressions of football in Argentina and Uruguay during his holiday. We discuss the first full weekend of Superliga action in 2019, which saw Racing maintain their three-point lead over Defensa y Justicia at the top, and River lose yet again. And we have a few words on new Newcastle United record signing Miguel Almirón, who we saw during his time at Lanús and who Jon has been enjoying for the last two years in MLS.

The three hundred and twenty-second episode of Hand Of Pod sees Sam joined by English Dan, Andrés and Tony to look back on the first two Superliga matches of 2019, as River Plate lost at home to Defensa y Justicia and ten-man San Lorenzo ground out a 0-0 draw at home to Huracán. We have a few words on Emiliano Sala after the news that his aircraft disappeared on Monday night, and discuss a developing disagreement between clubs, league and players in the Argentine women's game which has seen appeals to make women's football in Argentina professional.

There's not much actual football to discuss on this week's Hand Of Pod, but episode 321 sees Sam, Andrés and Tony run the rule over Marcelo Bielsa's hilarious/heinous (delete as you see fit) headline-grabbing in the English Championship, as well as a bit more transfer talk with Boca Juniors captain Pablo Pérez on his way to Independiente.

Hand Of Pod is back for 2019, and in episode 320 Sam is joined by English Dan, Andrés, Tony and Mariano to review ... well, no football at all, obviously. But we do have talk of some of the early moves in the transfer window, including the shocking news of Luis Rodríguez's move from Atlético Tucumán to Colón (Colón!), as well as discussion of the possibility of Lionel Messi returning for Argentina, and a look at Argentina's squad for the upcoming Sudamericano Sub 20.