The Spanish La Liga is one of the most prestigious leagues in Europe and has played host to many of the world’s greatest teams and players, most notably Real Madrid and Barcelona.
In this guide we will take a look back at the previous winners of La Liga.
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What is La Liga?
La Liga is Spain’s top division of professional football and the quality of the league makes it one of Europe’s top divisions as well.
La Liga is known for it’s high possession, tiki-taka football which sees some of the world’s best players heading there to play for a selection of the biggest teams on the planet.
Historical Overview of La Liga Winners
Early Years and Foundation of La Liga
La Liga’s foundation was decided upon in 1928, with the first season taking place in 1929. 10 teams formed the first La Liga season and these included the likes of Barcelona, Real Madrid and Athletic Bilbao who are the three teams to have never been relegated from the top division. Barcelona were champions of the first ever La Liga season.
La Liga Winners in the 20th Century
Recent La Liga Winners
Notable teams in La Liga’s History
Real Madrid’s Dominance in La Liga
Given that they are one of the biggest, if the not the biggest club in the world, it is no surprise that Real Madrid have the most La Liga titles. These title wins have come through periods of extreme dominance with some of the greatest teams and players the game has ever seen involved in those seasons.
Real have won La Liga a record 35 times with their first title coming in the 1931-32 season, and their most recent success seeing them crowned champions at the end of the 2021-22 season. Their most dominant period came between 1960 and 1980 when they won the title a whopping 14 times in 20 seasons, including five consecutive titles between 1960 and 1965.
Barcelona’s Successes in La Liga
Barcelona join Real Madrid as the top two teams in the La Liga hierarchy, and many would consider these two to be the biggest clubs in the world. However, Barcelona come off second best when it comes to La Liga titles with 27 to their name.
Probably their most dominant period came between 2008 and 2019 with Barca picking up eight of the 11 La Liga titles in that period. This period was one of their most dominant not only in Spanish football but across Europe as they boasted such talents as Xavi, Iniesta, Sergio Busquets, David Villa, and more recently Neymar, Luis Suarez, and throughout that era one man who was always the star, Lionel Messi.
Other Memorable La Liga Champions
Although it can often seem like a two-horse race, many other teams have had success in La Liga over the years – seven to be exact. Atletico Madrid, Athletic Bilbao and Valencia have won a combined 25 of the remaining 30 titles. The others have been swept up by Real Sociedad with two, and Deportivo La Coruña, Sevilla and Real Betis who all have one each.
The most memorable of these title wins may have been Deportivo’s historic victory in 1999/2000, perhaps due to their current status as a team competing in the third tier of Spanish football, just over 20 years on from that La Liga success. Their 1999/2000 campaign truly put them on the European football map and their rise to glory, and eventual fall is one of the most documented in European football history.
Tips for Betting on La Liga Winners
When betting on La Liga winning form can be very important. Make sure to look back at the recent winners and runners-up to decipher who is likely to be challenging for the title again.
It is also important to look at squads as teams may have sold or brought in new players from prior seasons which could affect their chances of being La Liga Champions.
Predictions for the Next La Liga Winners
Real Madrid have started this season with four wins from four games and currently sit two points clear at the top of the league, making them favourites to regain the title at 8/13.
Last years’ champions Barcelona are currently third just two points behind Real, and with last season’s title to defend we think they provide better value than their old rivals at 6/4.
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