Football is not only a sport, but also a passion for millions of people. La Liga, the Spanish national football championship. This tournament is always mentioned as one of the top playgrounds. This is the birthplace of legendary clubs such as Real Madrid, Barcelona, Atlético Madrid, and the best football stars of all time. Let’s learn more about this exciting football tournament with SLOTVIP!
What is La Liga?
Concept and role of this football tournament
La Liga (Campeonato Nacional de Liga de Primera División) is the Spanish national football championship and the highest level of the country’s football system. This tournament is organized by Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional (LFP) and is now known by the commercial name LaLiga EA SPORTS for sponsorship reasons.
La Liga is not only a national tournament but also one of the top football tournaments in the world. With a long history dating back to 1929, this tournament has tradition. The appeal of La Liga comes from the participation of top clubs such as Real Madrid, Barcelona, Atletico Madrid, Sevilla, along with many other teams with histories.
The Importance of the League
La Liga is not only important in Spanish football but also has a strong influence on European and world football. This tournament is where the best players gather, produce football legends, and is a playground for top football tactics.
According to UEFA rankings, La Liga regularly tops the achievements in European competitions, with more clubs winning the Champions League and Europa League than any other league. Spanish teams such as Real Madrid and Barcelona have created periods of dominance in the continental arena. Sevilla and Atletico Madrid have also made contributions to La Liga’s overall achievements.
La Liga also has a strong presence in the commercial and media sectors, with a large audience in Asia and the Americas.
History of La Liga’s formation and development
Early period (1929 – 1950): Birth and early years
La Liga was founded in 1929, with 10 teams participating in the first season. The first champion of the tournament was Barcelona, but in this early period, Spanish football did not have a dominant force.
The 1930s saw the rise of Athletic Bilbao, which won many titles during this period. However, the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939) interrupted the tournament, and it was not until 1939 that La Liga could return to normal.
Real Madrid’s golden age (1950 – 1980)
The period 1950 – 1980 marked the strong rise of Real Madrid under the leadership of the legendary Alfredo Di Stéfano. With a stellar squad that included Di Stéfano, Puskás, and Gento, Real Madrid was a dynasty of dominance, not only in La Liga but also in Europe.
Meanwhile, Barcelona were no slouches either, with stars like László Kubala and Johan Cruyff. Although Real Madrid dominated, Barcelona maintained a strong rivalry, creating a historic confrontation between the two biggest clubs in Spain.
21st Century: The Era of Domination between Real Madrid and Barcelona
Entering the 21st century, La Liga witnessed a fierce competition between Barcelona and Real Madrid. Under the leadership of Pep Guardiola, Barcelona applied the Tiki-Taka philosophy, winning a historic treble in 2009 and continuing to dominate the tournament in the following period.
Real Madrid, with Cristiano Ronaldo, enjoyed a period of great success under Zinedine Zidane, winning multiple La Liga and Champions League titles, helping La Liga cement its position as Europe’s top league.
What is the competition format of La Liga?
La Liga is one of the most attractive tournaments in the world, with a clear, harsh, and highly competitive format. The tournament not only determines the champion but also decides the places in European tournaments as well as the teams that are relegated. Below are the specific regulations on the competition format of La Liga.
Number of teams and tournament structure
La Liga has 20 teams participating in each season. The teams will compete in a round-robin format (home and away), meaning that each team will face the other 19 teams twice – once at home and once away.
In total, each team will play 38 rounds, equivalent to 380 matches throughout the season. The season lasts from August to May of the following year, with a break around Christmas and New Year.
How to calculate points and rank
The scoring system of La Liga is applied according to FIFA international standards:
Win: 3 points
Draw: 1 point
Loss: 0 points
The total number of points accumulated after 38 rounds will determine the position of each team on the ranking table. In case two teams have the same number of points, the ranking will be determined in the following order of priority:
- Head-to-head record: The team with the better result in the two matches will be ranked higher.
- Goal difference: If two teams are still equal in terms of points and head-to-head results, the goal difference (number of goals scored minus the number of goals conceded) will be considered.
- Total scored: If the goal difference is also equal, the team with more goals will be ranked higher.
- Fair-Play index: All three criteria above cannot be determined; the number of penalty cards of each team will be taken into account. The team with the least number of cards will be ranked higher.
- Play-off match (if necessary): If the ranking cannot be determined by the above criteria. A match on neutral ground may be held to determine the position between the two teams.
La Liga’s Impressive Records
Most Winning Teams
Real Madrid: 36
Barcelona: 27
Atletico Madrid: 11
Athletic Bilbao: 8
La Liga’s Top Scorers
Lionel Messi: 474 goals (Barcelona)
Cristiano Ronaldo: 311 goals (Real Madrid)
Telmo Zarra: 251 goals (Athletic Bilbao)
Most Appearances
Andoni Zubizarreta – 622 games
Joaquín – 622 games
Raúl García – 609 games
