EYAKOOWA ON THE SPORT: Why La Liga Is World’s Best League
A fortnight a go my friend and show co-host Dave a.k.a DJ King drew me into a contest of opinion about which of the English premier league and the Spanish La Liga was the better competition.
While we dived back into that argument last week on a sports show I attend with him, the battle for the best domestic league in the world has been contested for years. In the past, Italy and England have each claimed the title in previous eras but currently, La Liga is the best in the world – End Of Story
According to DJ King, the contest in Spain is a two man’s race between Barcelona and Real Madrid with Atletico Madrid a distant third. While Barcelona and Real Madrid easily come to mind, the league is littered with talent up and down the table.
I also need to mention that there has always been an allure to Spain even when Italy was dominating in the past but now more than ever the hype is now more than justified.
In order to put this to its logical conclusion, we will have to agree on what makes a league the best around. In my opinion we need to examine the Goals in that league, The Stars playing in the league, The type of players it imports and exports out of the league and how they perform, Victories abroad, and balanced competition in that league.
If you agree with me on what makes a league better as stated above, the case for La Liga will almost be hard to even put into any debate with the Premier League.
More Goals
Last season, La Liga games produced 1045 goals the previous year the same leagues had yielded an astonishing 1091 goals. that is an average of 2.87 per game. That tally makes La Liga the most prolific of the top divisions in Europe. England was a close second with 1032 and 1063 for the two campaigns with Serie A in third place with an average of 1003 goals per season.
Football is entertainment, after all, and there is no better way to please a crowd than with loads of scoring.Goals are what the fans want to see. Goals decide the games, make heroes out of our favorite players and can transform entire seasons and Nobody scores more than the Spanish top flight.
Champions League Performance
The best way for me to tell you how far the Italian Seria A has sank is to tell you only Juventus managed to make it to the knockout stages this year. The Champions League is the real equalizer for run away teams. The best of the best from around Europe square off in mouthwatering matchups each year, providing us with elite competition and the world’s greatest stars.
But in recent years, which league has had the most success? La Liga. Since 2000, a Spanish side has won the title six times, followed by England and Italy with three apiece, and Germany twice. Spain has had nine finalists in that same era, England with eight, Germany six and Italy four.
The statistics don’t lie do they? Over 35 percent of semi-finalists in the same period have been from Spain. England has 30.4, Germany 14.3, Italy 12.5.
From Champion’s League to Europa and Super cup, When it comes to international success in the world’s greatest club competition, Spain is without a doubt the most significant contributor.
The Europa Cup
To put away the myth that only Barcelona and Real Madrid are strong sides in Spain, I will make my case even stronger with European second tier Europa Cup and show you how Spain performs. If you thought Spain dominates Champions’ league, it is in Europa that Spain continues to reign supreme.
Out of the last 11 winners, Six have been Spanish sides. Valencia, Sevilla and Atletico Madrid have all claimed the crown in the last decade. Yes untill last year non of them had seriously mounted a challenge for the tittle in spain but that does not mean they were weak. It means the top two are just too strong but when the would be smaller teams go to Europa they simply start schooling others on how trophies are won.
The Exports
The success of La Liga’s exports on foreign soil underlies how good the league is. The list is very long. David Silva, was a moderate star at Valencia. He was decent but was hardly considered the best midfielder in the division. Look what happened once he moved to England?
His arrival in England instantly transformed Manchester City’s attacking portent! City instantly became legitimate title contenders and eventual champion. He was named Manchester City’s player of the year in just his second season in England!
Silva is not an isolated case of instant success from La Liga to other leagues. Santi Cazorla was just an OK player at Malaga helping them get into champions league three seasons ago but guess what, he was named Arsenal’s player of the year his first season in the Premier League.
Michu, a relatively unknown player in La Liga went on to enjoy tremendous success with Swansea since his modest £2 million transfer in 2012.
Of the top 10 players in the Premier League last season, three played in La Liga before arriving in England while 4 of the top 10 passers in the division ranked by pass accuracy, had come from Spain.
Last Season’s Best Passers in the EPL
When Atletico Madrid went on a selling spree we imagined they were done with, but it seems that every summer La Liga empties its talent into new leagues, only to miraculously replenish with new ones the next season!
The Imports
When La Liga isn’t shipping out elite talents to the rest of the globe, it is quickly bringing the best of the best to Spain. The reputation to attract the very best at Real Madrid and Barcelona is unmatched by even the most enticing English sides in Manchester United, and lately the financial dopers in Chelsea and Man City.
The allure is nothing new, but has proven itself time and time again in recent times. Currently, Cristiano Ronaldo offers a prime example. The Portuguese winger had won everything at a very respectable Manchester United but he seemed to outgrow Old Trafford and the only destination – La Liga. Gareth Bale, Lous Suarez, Luka Modrić are just examples of players who were doing very well and were still needed by a couple of clubs in England yet non could prize them but La Liga.
The appeal of La Liga is one reason we may never see Messi in another division because after La Liga there seems to be no other better destination unless its driven by greed not football. This league has something special to it, and the world’s best players seem to agree.
The El Classico
Granted very country has great rivalries, In England they are a handful but none compares to Real Madrid and Barcelona. El Clasico is always the most anticipated match in world club football. It has always been like that for ages but in recent years the contest has even reached new and higher heights.
The fearsome personal duel between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo adds a remarkable bonus to an already scintillating fixture. The pair are simply the best footballers on the planet. At either the Santiago Bernabeu or Camp Nou, the games will draw more than 80,000 spectators, creating a breathtaking atmosphere. This to me is the greatest rivalry in football.
Messi Vs Ronaldo
Hate it or love it, La Liga is the best because it has the best. Ronaldo and Messi have been on another level the past few seasons, and that alone has drawn attention to Spain. Its called Super Branding.
On top of their magical play, sublime skill and lightning pace, the two are scoring goals at a rate never seen before. If you believe that celebrities can create super brands through endorsements then you will respect the power of La Liga where the two turn up every weekend to prove why its better than any other league.
The Rankings
Last but not least are UEFA’s own coefficient rankings. According to UEFA.com:
The associations’ or country coefficient rankings are based on the results of each association’s clubs in the five previous UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League seasons. The rankings determine the number of places allocated to an association in forthcoming UEFA club competition.
Spain sits top of the table, a confident title to be broadcast across all of Europe. No other country produces more successful club teams in international competition.
My Conclusion
La Liga is the pinnacle of club football, with the best talent, the most competitive teams and a proven track record of success. UEFA’s own metrics rank them top dog, but their are numerous other factors that contribute to the success of the Spanish top flight.
That not withstanding, the EPL is still suprime in terms of branding. They have recently unvailed a new sponsorship deal for the top flight which is more than any league has ever dared to dream. The money is flowing to even the last of the 20 clubs in the EPL and not even the mighty La Liga can try to take that away from them.
