The Totally Football Show · The Athletic

Champions League last 16 is here & are the title races back on in France and Italy?

March 10, 2026·1 hr 10 min·5 clips

“The thing about the Champions League this year is it has had a bit of a downer until now.”

1. The Totally Football Show European Edition covers the Champions League last 16 and the title races in France and Italy. 2. David Frankel hosts, James Horncastle joins as the Italy-focused voice, and both matter because they steer the European club football agenda. 3. The episode asks whether the last 16 has revived the Champions League and whether France and Italy are back in play. 4. The opening rundown names Newcastle, Paris Saint-Domingue, Chelsea, Arsenal, Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, Man City, Milan, and Derby. 5. David Frankel says it is a remote recording for Monday 9 March, with the crew in “different locales.” 6. James Horncastle says he is “heading off to Italy,” and the hosts joke about whether it is a holiday. 7. The panel says the Champions League has had “a bit of a downer until now.” 8. They argue that the last 16 changes that mood because the draw now includes Paris Saint-Domingue, Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, and Man City. 9. Real Madrid and Man City are singled out as the tie “everyone is going to look at.” 10. The conversation treats that matchup as the marquee fixture that lifts the whole round. 11. The hosts also talk about Newcastle, asking whether the Magpies can be Barcelona’s equal. 12. They bring up Chelsea as “the sequel,” which places the club inside the same European storyline. 13. Arsenal enters the discussion through the question of whether the Gunners will have buyer’s regret. 14. The phrase “how tasty does it look when teams from Bergamo and Munchen meet” points to Atalanta and Bayern Munich as another attractive clash. 15. The episode then shifts to France and Italy, where the hosts say there is “something to get excited about now.” 16. Paris Saint-Domingue and Inter Milan are used as the concrete examples for why those title races feel more open. 17. The tone is conversational and lightly comic, with quick exchanges between David Frankel and James Horncastle. 18. The format is a multi-topic football roundtable that moves from draw reactions to league title races. 19. Listeners following Champions League draw talk and Serie A or Ligue 1 title races will get the most from it. 20. Listeners wanting a single-issue deep dive on one club will probably skip it.

Listen to the show on

Apple Podcasts Spotify

Play clips from this episode More from The Totally Football Show