Li Liga
La Liga is the top-flight football division in Spain, also known as the Primera Division.
It was founded in 1929 and is regarded today as one of the best leagues in the world. It attracts some of the most talented players on the planet and, according to UEFA's league coefficient, is the strongest league in Europe.
20 teams take part each year and those who finish in the bottom three lose their place, subsequently being demoted down to the Segunda Division. Three promoted clubs from that same division replace them.
The top four teams at the end of the season qualify for the UEFA Champions League. Those who finish first, second, and third go straight into the group stages, whilst the fourth placed side enters a play-off for qualification into the main draw.
There have been 13 Champions League titles won by Spanish teams; Real Madrid have had the most success with nine of those titles to their name.
Spots are also up for grabs in the UEFA Europa League and these are seen as rewards for finishing high in La Liga. Those who secure the fifth and sixth places guarantee themselves entry into the competition, while this is extended to seventh place if the Cup winners have already qualified.
The most successful team in La Liga history is Real Madrid. They have won the title 32 times and have been runners-up on 21 occasions. They won their first title in 1932. From the 1960-1961 campaign, they secured eight consecutive titles. It was their local rivals Atletico Madrid who famously stopped their run in the 1969-1970 season.
Not far behind Real in the standings is Barcelona, who have been champions of Spain 22 times. They were the first ever winners in 1929. Over the last decade or two, the Catalonia club have generally been the team to beat in the league.
Telmo Zarra holds the records for the most goals in La Liga history. The Spaniard scored 251 times in 277 appearances between 1940-1955 when representing Athletic Bilbao. He had previously held the record for the most goals scored in one season but that is now with Lionel Messi, who found the back of the net on 50 occasions during the 2011-2012 campaign.
The last four Ballon d'Or prizes have been won by Barcelona's Messi. He has been with the club since 2000 and is regarded as one of the best players of all time. He is closing in on Zarra's record as he has scored over 200 goals himself, despite being only 26-years-old.
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