How to catch and handle Server 500 error in Laravel

Hi guys I have been struggling finding a way to catch and handle my 500 errors. I am trying to write data to a MySql database. The method in my controller receives all the data with no problem The following is the code in the method

public function new_league(Request $request)
    {

        $venueIDAR = \App\Venue::where('name',$request->venue_name)->get();
        $venueID = \App\Venue::find($venueIDAR[0]->id);
        $venueID = $venueID->id;
        

        $venueName = ($request->venue_name);
        $venueName = str_replace(' ', '_', $venueName);
        $lDate = ($request->date);
        $dateDay = date('D', strtotime($lDate));
        $lDate = str_replace('-', '_', $lDate);
        
        $leagueName = $venueName . '_' . $dateDay . '_' . $lDate;
        $lDate = str_replace('_', '-', $lDate);

        $new_league = \App\Leagues::create([
            'LeagueName' => $leagueName,
            'venueId' => $venueID,
            'date' => $request->date . ":00",
        ]);

        return $new_league;
        //$TheLeague->save();
        
        return redirect()->back();
    }

Everything works up until the following code

$new_league = \App\Leagues::create([
            'LeagueName' => $leagueName,
            'venueId' => $venueID,
            'date' => $request->date,
        ]);

Then I receive a 500 error, I have tried checking the log file but its not logging this problem. How do I catch this exception to get a more detailed response than just 500. This will greatly help me with future problems as well

Thank you