ROUND · every league

RUND LALIGA

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History

LALIGA · FOUNDED 1929

Spain’s league was designed around a question nobody could answer: which of the regional champions was actually the best. Ten clubs were invited to settle it in 1929, and three of them — Real Madrid, Barcelona and Athletic Club — have never been relegated since.

The moments

1. 1929

   Ten clubs, one table

   The first Campeonato Nacional de Liga was played by six previous cup winners, three cup finalists and one qualifier. Barcelona won it by two points.

2. 1953

   Di Stéfano

   Both Barcelona and Real Madrid believed they had signed Alfredo Di Stéfano. A federation ruling sent him to Madrid, who then won five consecutive European Cups. It is the transfer Spanish football still argues about.

3. 1974

   Cruyff, and five at the Bernabéu

   Johan Cruyff joined Barcelona in the summer and they won at Real Madrid 5–0 in February, on the way to a first title in fourteen years. Cruyff returned as manager and built the side that changed how Spain plays.

4. 1994

   The penalty

   Deportivo La Coruña needed to beat Valencia on the final day and were awarded a penalty in the last minute at 0–0. Miroslav Đukić missed it, and the title went to Barcelona on goal difference.

5. 2010

   Ninety-nine points

   Barcelona finished on ninety-nine points and still only won the league by three, because Real Madrid finished on ninety-six. Both totals were beyond anything Spain had seen before.

6. 2012

   One hundred

   Real Madrid took a hundred points and scored a hundred and twenty-one goals, the most in a Spanish season. Barcelona, second, finished on ninety-one.

7. 2014

   A point at the Camp Nou

   Atlético Madrid went to Barcelona on the last day needing a draw, lost Diego Costa and then Arda Turan to injury inside half an hour, went a goal down, and drew 1–1. It was their first title in eighteen years.

8. 2018

   Messi’s sixth Pichichi

   Lionel Messi finished as the league’s top scorer for the fifth season in six, on the way to a career total nobody in Spain has been near.

9. 2021

   Atlético again

   Atlético led by ten points in January, were caught by both Madrid rivals in May, and won the title on the final day at Valladolid after going a goal down at half time.

10. 2024

    Thirty-six

    Real Madrid won a thirty-sixth Spanish title, four games before the end. No other club in Spain has more than twenty-eight.

Records that stand

Roll of honour

Barcelona and Real Madrid have both added titles since these counts were written; the years given are when each figure was reached.