Which is Better: La Liga vs Premier League?
In the world of football, there are two leagues that particularly stand out: Spain’s La Liga and England’s Premier League. These leagues have a rich and celebrated history, with numerous legendary footballers having played in both domestic leagues.
A popular debate among football enthusiasts is which of these two leagues is more supreme? In this Elastico article, we evaluate and differentiate the two leagues across various categories including – competitiveness, style of play, performances in Europe and global reach.
Table of Contents
Which is Better: La Liga or the Premier League?
La Liga is the better league when comparing performances in Europe and the technical standard of players. However, the Premier League is more entertaining as it’s more competitive and adopts a faster, direct style of play. It all depends on the type of fan spectating, as both leagues appeal to different audiences.
Competitiveness
The first area we’re looking at when comparing La Liga vs the Premier League is competitiveness. Premier League fans will argue that their league is more competitive than La Liga, and this is why it should be deemed more superior.
Competitiveness refers to the likelihood of smaller sides being able to beat larger sides on any given day. The higher the likelihood of this, the greater the competitiveness of that competition or league.
Competitiveness of La Liga
For many years, La Liga has been a two-horse race between Barcelona and Real Madrid. Real Madrid has won the title 35 times and Barcelona 26 times since the league’s formation in 1928. Here’s a breakdown of La Liga winners since 2000:
| Club | Number of La Liga titles |
| Barcelona | 10 |
| Real Madrid | 8 |
| Atlético Madrid | 2 |
| Valencia | 2 |
These stats demonstrate the prowess that both Barcelona and Real Madrid have had since the turn of the century. In the 2011/12 La Liga season, there was a 30-point gap between 2nd placed Barcelona and 3rd placed Valencia. This would suggest that La Liga is not a particularly competitive league.
Atlético Madrid has somewhat joined the party in recent years with 2 La Liga titles since 2000 as well as coming runner-up in the Champions League on two occasions, losing in all-Madrid finals against Real Madrid. Besides Atlético, no other La Liga sides are mentioned in the same conversation.
English fans like to call leagues that demonstrate a lack of competitiveness “farmers’ leagues”, however it’s important to acknowledge that both these sides were top competitors in the Champions League at the time. In the same period, Real Madrid have won the Champions League 6 times and Barcelona 4 times.
It’s the extreme disparity between the top two or three teams of La Liga and the rest of the league that means there is a lack of competitiveness.
Competitiveness of the Premier League
In comparison, the Premier League is arguably a lot more competitive than La Liga, with a higher number of clubs winning the title since 2000:
| Club | Number of Premier League titles |
| Manchester United | 7 |
| Manchester City | 6 |
| Chelsea | 5 |
| Arsenal | 2 |
| Liverpool | 1 |
| Leicester City | 1 |
In the Premier League, pundits and journalists often refer to the “Top 4” teams, and this is because the top four teams in the league qualify for the Champions League. In recent years, the top four teams have been chopping and changing. The following six teams have been in and out of the top four conversation:
- Manchester City
- Manchester United
- Liverpool
- Chelsea
- Arsenal
- Tottenham
As there has been more competition for the top four spots in the Premier League since 2000, it proves that it is more competitive than La Liga.
Furthermore, Leicester’s shock Premier League title win in the 2015/16 season means that other teams are also able to be competitive in the Premier League, instead of the league being dominated by just two teams like in La Liga.
Style of Play
We’re now going to analyse the different tactics and style of play of La Liga and the Premier League. These two competitions are significantly different in this area of the game, with distinct differences in playing styles.
Both these leagues have their strengths and weaknesses, and fans of each league will have their own opinions on which is superior. However, it is clear that La Liga and the Premier League offer different styles of football that appeal to different audiences.
La Liga Playing Style
In La Liga, there is an emphasis on technique, high possession and a slower pace of play. Teams often like to build up slowly through the different phases of play, making lots of short, quick passes, which is described as a “tiki-taka” style of play.
With technique high on the agenda for most Spanish tactical managers, players are encouraged to express themselves on the pitch through creativity and flair. This also helps Spanish clubs nurture technical players who can then move to different leagues and stand out as brilliant, creative technicians.
It’s no coincidence that technical players such as Lionel Messi, Sergio Busquets, Xavi and Iniesta have all learned their trade playing for Barcelona in La Liga.
Premier League Playing Style
In contrast to La Liga, Premier League teams are known for adopting a more physical and fast-paced style of play. The football played is often direct and there is a focus on pressing, counter-attacking and making quick transitions.
Premier League style of play is often described as “high intensity”, and Premier League clubs prioritise work rate and physicality. Players are regularly recruited for their athleticism, power, strength and speed in order to meet the demands of this style, as well as being able to compete for every ball.
Performances in Europe
Another key area we can analyse when comparing La Liga vs Premier League is both league’s performances in European competitions. There are now three European competitions:
- UEFA Champions League
- UEFA Europa League
- UEFA Europa Conference League
Let’s look at how many La Liga and Premier League sides have won these competitions since 2000.
La Liga Performances in Europe
| Club | Number of UEFA Champions League wins |
| Real Madrid | 6 |
| Barcelona | 4 |
Since 2000, Real Madrid have won the Champions League 6 times and Barcelona have won it 4 times. No other side from La Liga has won the competition in that time.
| Club | Number of UEFA Europe League wins |
| Sevilla | 6 |
| Atlético Madrid | 3 |
| Valencia | 1 |
| Villarreal | 1 |
When looking at the Europa League, four La Liga teams have won the competition. Sevilla have won it 6 times, Atlético Madrid 3 times, with both Valencia and Villarreal winning it once. Sevilla are in fact the most successful club in this competition, a really impressive feat.
In early 2023, there has only been one winner of the UEFA Conference League competition, and this was José Mourinho’s Roma in 2022, a side that doesn’t play in either La Liga or the Premier League.
Premier League Performances in Europe
| Club | Number of UEFA Champions League wins |
| Chelsea | 2 |
| Liverpool | 2 |
| Manchester United | 1 |
Since 2000, three different Premier League sides have won the Champions League – Chelsea won in 2012 and 2021, Liverpool won in 2005 and 2019 and Manchester United won in 2008.
| Club | Number of UEFA Europe League wins |
| Chelsea | 2 |
| Liverpool | 1 |
| Manchester United | 1 |
In the Europa League, English clubs have won the competition on four occasions, with Chelsea winning in 2013 and 2019, Liverpool in 2001 and Manchester United in 2017.
European Performances Summary
Based off of the number of winners in each European competition, La Liga sides have performed better in Europe. With 21 wins across the Champions League and Europa League since the 2000/01 season, La Liga sides have won 12 more honours than Premier League teams.
Global Reach and Popularity
Regarding global reach, the Premier League holds a slight advantage over La Liga because its matches are broadcasted in more than 200 countries worldwide. Furthermore, the Premier League generates far higher revenue from television rights, which makes it the wealthiest football league in the world.
In terms of social media, there are mixed results when comparing La Liga vs Premier League. On Instagram, the Premier League has roughly 20 million more followers than La Liga, however La Liga’s official YouTube channel has over double the number of subscribers than the Premier League’s channel.
Both leagues have massive fanbases across the world, with the Premier League’s major following coming from countries such as the United States, China, and India. La Liga’s loyal supporters are found in countries including Mexico, Brazil, and the Middle East, among others.
In addition, top teams from both leagues, such as Barcelona and Real Madrid in La Liga, and Manchester United and Liverpool in the Premier League, have millions of supporters worldwide.
Overall, although the Premier League holds a slight advantage in terms of global reach, both La Liga and the Premier League remain highly popular and are widely followed football leagues worldwide.
Conclusion
Deciding which competition is better when comparing La Liga vs Premier League is pretty difficult, as it ultimately comes down to what each person prefers. The Premier League is the more competitive competition, however the style of play in La Liga is superior from a technical perspective.
In addition, La Liga sides have performed much better than Premier League teams in European competitions since the turn of the century. If you’re a football enthusiast who enjoys watching technical players, you will most likely prefer La Liga football, if you’re a fan of fast-paced football that is arguably more entertaining, the Premier League will be more suitable for you.
We hope that you learned something new in this Elastico article today!
Frequently Asked Questions
Is La Liga Richer Than the Premier League?
No, the Premier League is much richer than La Liga and is set to break the £7 billion mark in 2023 for revenue.
Which Is Tougher: La Liga or Premier League?
It’s statistically easier to win the Premier League vs La Liga. This is because in La Liga, the two most successful sides (Real Madrid and Barcelona) have won the league 81.48% of the time, meanwhile it’s 66.66% for the Premier League.
Is La Liga More Popular Than the Premier League?
Between La Liga and the Premier League, it’s a close call between which league is more popular. The Premier League probably edges it with a higher global reach, however La Liga includes two of the most historically popular and successful clubs of all time.
