Until a few years ago, Spain dominated Europe. Real Madrid, Atlético de Madrid and FC Barcelona thus had big runs very regularly in the Champions League, and in the Europa League, we also had several Iberian clubs regularly performing well, with Sevilla FC as the main example, but not only that. This season, it’s much more complicated, and it’s a trend that is starting to last and be confirmed. FC Barcelona, fifteenth in the Champions League, has a record of two victories, two defeats and a draw, having lost its two matches against opponents of a certain level, Chelsea and PSG. On the Real Madrid side, it is a little more positive, since the Merengues are ninth with three victories in four days, and will return to the top 8 in the event of a victory against Olympiakos. But in their only match against a big rival, Liverpool, Xabi Alonso’s men lost.
Atlético de Madrid are also in trouble. Certainly, the situation is not yet catastrophic since the Colchoneros, twentieth, are only 3 points from the top 8 and have one game less than most of the teams placed in front, but here too, things got stuck in the big matches. The Rojiblancos thus lost their two oppositions against strong opponents, Liverpool and Arsenal. Athletic Club is twenty-eighth, with only one victory in five days, while Villarreal, which is doing quite well in La Liga, has still not won a single match and is in thirty-fourth place. Little interesting statistic: out of the nine confrontations between Spanish and English clubs this season, La Liga has only won one, namely the duel between Barça and Newcastle. In the Europa League, however, it is a little more positive since the two participating clubs, Celta de Vigo and Betis, are fourth and ninth respectively. Just like Rayo Vallecano is having a good campaign in the Conference League, with a sixth place. It is therefore especially in the Champions League that the problem exists.
La Liga no longer holds up
One observation is obvious: the level of Spanish leaders has fallen. First, on an individual level, since the days when Barça and Real Madrid had the very best players on the planet in their squads are over. On paper, Chelsea’s eleven perhaps did not have much to envy of that of FC Barcelona on Tuesday evening, and there are perhaps even more Blues players who would start in Barcelona than the reverse. A similar observation can be made with the compositions of the last Liverpool – Real Madrid, and clearly during the duel between PSG and Barça at the start of the season. A downgrading which is explained firstly by financial reasons, since the English clubs, in particular thanks to their lucrative TV rights and the presence of investors in their ranks, are much more powerful in the transfer window, being able to pay bigger transfers and better salaries than Real Madrid and Barça. The latter – who are not exempt from all reproaches in terms of economic management, particularly on the Catalan side – rely above all on their prestige and their aura to convince players. In a context where they are no longer in a position of strength financially, the big names in La Liga must also deal with a fairly strict financial fair play which limits their room for maneuver on the market.
It’s inevitable: less purchasing power, worse players in the squad, and therefore worse results. For many in Spain, La Liga boss Javier Tebas is the main culprit in this situation. Other purely footballing explanations can be put forward. Current football is rather based on rapid transitions and the athletic quality of the players sometimes takes precedence over more technical or tactical aspects. A fashion which does not necessarily correspond to what Spanish football usually is and which we see every weekend in La Liga, with a rhythm usually more relaxed and less aggressive defenses when recovering the ball. The big names in La Liga are therefore not necessarily used to being bumped into like the English clubs do for example, and this football which can be described as more physical seems to favor the British teams.
What solutions?
Regardless, La Liga has lost its hegemony and is only fourth in the UEFA rankings this season, while it is third in the general rankings which take into account the last five seasons. Very far from the decade 2009-2019 during which it occupied first place without practically leaving it. For some observers, it is also a simple return to normal for a championship which may have been in overdrive in Europe during the years 2000 and 2010. Indeed, we must not forget that Spain is one of the poorest countries on the continent, and that the inflow of money at the local level will always remain more limited than for English, German or French clubs, where fans have much more purchasing power and the possibility of filling the coffers of their clubs directly or indirectly. via the purchase of TV subscriptions or derivative products. It is no coincidence that Real Madrid and FC Barcelona are trying to find new sources of financing, with the possible arrival of investors in their capital, and the exploitation of their new stadium as a venue for organizing events outside football. Truth be told, both Real Madrid and FC Barcelona don’t really have a choice if they want to remain competitive. Atlético de Madrid, also limited for the same reasons as its two big brothers, recently passed under the American flag.
Should we still be catastrophist? Not necessarily. The Spanish team remains brilliant, as evidenced by the excellent results of its selections in the various tournaments organized in recent years, just as there are many of them who shine across the four corners of Europe. A pool from which the big Spanish clubs will therefore be able to continue to draw cheaply or even for free, and which will guarantee them a certain minimum level. The new strategies of clubs aimed at enlisting players before they explode – Franco Mastantuono is a good example – will also allow them to continue to attract the nuggets of tomorrow, even if they will have to share them with other clubs, like Estêvão Willian that Madrid and Barcelona wanted. Football is also made of cycles, and there is no doubt that in a few years, the meta will have changed again and will perhaps be more favorable to the Spanish style of play than currently. But until then, La Liga fans may have to eat their black bread…
