2021–22 La Liga Explained

Competition:La Liga
Season:2021–22
Winners:Real Madrid
35th title
Relegated:Granada
Levante
Alavés
Continentalcup1:Champions League
Continentalcup1 Qualifiers:Real Madrid
Barcelona
Atlético Madrid
Sevilla
Continentalcup2:Europa League
Continentalcup2 Qualifiers:Real Betis
Real Sociedad
Continentalcup3:Europa Conference League
Continentalcup3 Qualifiers:Villarreal
Matches:380
Total Goals:951
Best Player:Karim Benzema
League Topscorer:Karim Benzema (27 goals)
League Topscorer Section:Top goalscorers
Best Goalkeeper:Yassine Bounou
(0.77 goals/match)
Biggest Home Win:
(12 May 2022)
Biggest Away Win:Mallorca 2–6 Granada
(7 May 2022)
Rayo Vallecano 1–5 Villarreal
(12 May 2022)
Highest Scoring:
(24 October 2021)
Mallorca 2–6 Granada
(7 May 2022)
Longest Wins:Barcelona
Real Madrid
(7 matches)
Longest Unbeaten:Barcelona
Sevilla
(15 matches)
Longest Winless:Levante
(19 matches)
Longest Losses:Getafe
Mallorca
(7 matches)
Highest Attendance:86,422

(24 October 2021)
Lowest Attendance:583

(29 August 2021)
Attendance:8,675,104
Average Attendance:22,829
Prevseason:2020–21
Nextseason:2022–23

The 2021–22 La Liga, also known as La Liga Santander due to sponsorship reasons, was the 91st season of La Liga, Spain's premier football competition. It began on 13 August 2021 and concluded on 22 May 2022.[1] The fixtures were announced on 30 June 2021.[2]

On 24 June 2021, the Spanish Council of Ministers resolved that spectators could return to stadiums at full capacity by means of a modification of the royal decree regulating the 'new normality', in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.[3]

Atlético Madrid were the defending champions, having won their eleventh title the previous season. Espanyol, Mallorca and Rayo Vallecano joined as the promoted clubs from the 2020–21 Segunda División. They replaced Huesca, Valladolid and Eibar, which were relegated to Segunda the previous season.

Real Madrid secured a record-extending 35th title with four matches to spare on 30 April, following a 4–0 victory over Espanyol.[4]

This was the first La Liga season since 2003–04 that did not feature the league's all-time top goal scorer Lionel Messi and long time Real Madrid player and captain Sergio Ramos, who both departed for Paris Saint-Germain in the summer.

Teams

Promotion and relegation (pre-season)

A total of twenty teams contested the league, including seventeen sides from the 2020–21 season and three promoted from the 2020–21 Segunda División. This included the two top teams from the Segunda División, and the winners of the promotion play-offs.

Teams relegated to Segunda División

The first team to be relegated from La Liga were Eibar, after a 1–4 loss to Valencia on 16 May 2021, ending their seven-year stay in the top tier.[5] The second team to be relegated were Valladolid, following a 1–2 home defeat against Atlético Madrid on 22 May 2021, in their final game of the season, ending their three-year stay in the top tier. The third and final team to be relegated were Huesca, after drawing 0–0 against Valencia on 22 May 2021 in their final game of the season, suffering an immediate return to the second division.

Teams promoted from Segunda División

On 8 May 2021, Espanyol became the first side to mathematically be promoted, assured of a return to the top flight following a 0–0 draw against Zaragoza.[6] [7] The second team to earn promotion was Mallorca, following Almería's 2–3 loss to Cartagena on 18 May 2021. Both teams made an immediate return to the first division after a season away.[8] [9] [10] The third and final team to be promoted were Rayo Vallecano, after winning the play-off final 3–2 against Girona on 20 June 2021, returning after a two-year absence.

Stadiums and locations

TeamLocationStadiumCapacity
AlavésVitoria-GasteizMendizorroza[11]
Athletic BilbaoBilbaoSan Mamés[12]
data-sort-value="Madrid" Atlético MadridMadridWanda Metropolitano[13]
BarcelonaBarcelonaCamp Nou[14]
CádizCádizNuevo Mirandilla[15]
Celta VigoVigoAbanca-Balaídos[16]
align=center [17]
EspanyolBarcelonaRCDE Stadium[18]
GetafeGetafeColiseum Alfonso Pérez[19]
GranadaGranadaNuevo Los Cármenes[20]
LevanteValenciaCiutat de València[21]
MallorcaPalmaVisit Mallorca Estadi[22]
OsasunaPamplonaEl Sadar[23]
Rayo VallecanoMadridVallecas[24]
Real BetisSevilleBenito Villamarín[25]
Real MadridMadridSantiago Bernabéu[26]
Real SociedadSan SebastiánAnoeta[27]
SevillaSevilleRamón Sánchez Pizjuán[28]
ValenciaValenciaMestalla[29]
VillarrealVillarrealEstadio de la Cerámica[30]

Personnel and sponsorship

! Team! Manager! Captain! Kit manufacturer! Kit sponsor(s)
Kelme
New Balance
Νike
Nike
Macron
Adidas
Νike
Kelme
Joma
Νike
Macron
Nike
Adidas
Umbro
Kappa
Adidas
Macron
Νike
Puma
Joma

1. On the back of shirt.

2. On the sleeves.

3. On the shorts.

Managerial changes

TeamOutgoing managerManner of
departure
Date of vacancyPosition in tableIncoming managerDate of
appointment
Valencia Voro[31] End of interim spell22 May 2021Pre-season José Bordalás[32] 27 May 2021
Getafe José Bordalás[33] Mutual consent26 May 2021 Míchel[34]
Real Madrid Zinedine Zidane[35] Resigned27 May 2021[36] 1 June 2021
Granada Diego Martínez[37] 27 May 2021 Robert Moreno[38] 18 June 2021
Levante Paco López[39] Sacked3 October 202118th Javier Pereira[40] 7 October 2021
Getafe Míchel[41] 4 October 202120th Quique Sánchez Flores[42] 6 October 2021
Barcelona Ronald Koeman[43] 27 October 20219th Xavi[44] 5 November 2021
Elche Fran Escribá[45] 21 November 202118th Francisco[46] 28 November 2021
Levante Javier Pereira[47] 29 November 202120th Alessio Lisci[48] 7 December 2021
Alavés Javier Calleja[49] 28 December 202118th José Luis Mendilibar[50] 28 December 2021
Cádiz Álvaro Cervera[51] 11 January 202219th Sergio[52] 11 January 2022
Granada Robert Moreno[53] 6 March 202217th Rubén Torrecilla (caretaker)[54] 6 March 2022
Mallorca Luis García[55] 22 March 202218th24 March 2022
Alavés José Luis Mendilibar[56] 3 April 202220th Julio Velázquez[57] 5 April 2022
Granada Rubén TorrecillaEnd of caretaker spell18 April 202218th Aitor Karanka[58] 18 April 2022
Espanyol Vicente MorenoSacked13 May 202213th Luis Blanco (caretaker)13 May 2022

Season statistics

Scoring

Top goalscorers

RankPlayerClubGoals[61]
1 Karim BenzemaReal Madrid27
2 Iago AspasCelta Vigo18
3 Raúl de TomásEspanyol17
Vinícius JúniorReal Madrid
5 JuanmiReal Betis16
Enes ÜnalGetafe
7 JoseluAlavés14
8 José Luis MoralesLevante13
9 Ángel CorreaAtlético Madrid12
Memphis DepayBarcelona

Top assists

RankPlayerClubAssists[62]
1 Ousmane DembéléBarcelona13
2 Karim BenzemaReal Madrid12
3 Jordi AlbaBarcelona10
Iker MuniainAthletic Bilbao
Dani ParejoVillarreal
Vinícius JúniorReal Madrid
7 Sergi DarderEspanyol9
Óscar TrejoRayo Vallecano
9 Nabil FekirReal Betis8
Luka ModrićReal Madrid

Zamora Trophy

The Zamora Trophy was awarded by newspaper Marca to the goalkeeper with the lowest goals-to-games ratio. A goalkeeper had to have played at least 28 games of 60 or more minutes to be eligible for the trophy.[63]

RankPlayerClubGoals
against
MatchesAverage
1 Yassine BounouSevilla24310.77
2 Thibaut CourtoisReal Madrid29360.81
3 Gerónimo RulliVillarreal28320.88
4 Álex RemiroReal Sociedad32350.91
Unai SimónAthletic Bilbao3134

Hat-tricks

See main article: List of La Liga hat-tricks.

Player For Against Result Date Round
Karim BenzemaReal MadridCelta Vigo5–2 (H)12 September 20214
Marco AsensioReal MadridMallorca6–1 (H)22 September 20216
Anthony LozanoCádizVillarreal3–3 (A)26 October 202111
JuanmiReal BetisLevante3–1 (H)28 November 202115
Jorge MolinaGranadaMallorca4–1 (H)19 December 202118
Oihan SancetAthletic BilbaoOsasuna3–1 (A)3 January 202219
Arnaut DanjumaVillarrealGranada4–1 (A)19 February 202225
Pierre-Emerick AubameyangBarcelonaValencia4–1 (A)20 February 202225
Yeremy Pino4VillarrealEspanyol5–1 (H)27 February 202226
Vinícius JúniorReal MadridLevante6–0 (H)12 May 202236

4 – Player scored four goals.

Discipline

Player

Team

Awards

Monthly

MonthPlayer of the MonthReference
PlayerClub
September Karim BenzemaReal Madrid[64]
October Robin Le NormandReal Sociedad[65]
November Vinícius JúniorReal Madrid[66]
December JuanmiReal Betis[67]
January Ángel CorreaAtlético Madrid[68]
February Thibaut CourtoisReal Madrid[69]
March João FélixAtlético Madrid[70]
April Karim BenzemaReal Madrid[71]
May Vedat MuriqiMallorca[72]

Team of the Season

Team of the Season[73]
Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois (Real Madrid)
Defenders Marcos Acuña (Sevilla) David Alaba (Real Madrid) Jules Koundé (Sevilla) Éder Militão (Real Madrid) Ronald Araújo (Barcelona)
Midfielders Sergio Canales (Real Betis) Nabil Fekir (Real Betis) Luka Modrić (Real Madrid) Iker Muniain (Athletic Bilbao) Pedri (Barcelona)
Forwards Karim Benzema (Real Madrid) Raúl de Tomás (Espanyol) João Félix (Atlético Madrid) Vinícius Júnior (Real Madrid)

Attendance to stadiums

Restrictions

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, clubs were not allowed to use the total capacity of their stadiums. According to the progress of the pandemic, the capacity allowed each month was decided by the Government of Spain, in agreement with the Autonomous Communities.

Average attendances

See also

References

La Liga 2021-22 Schedule, Squad

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Hay acuerdo: la Liga 2021-22 empieza el fin de semana del 13-15 de agosto. Marca . es . 16 June 2021. 17 June 2021.
  2. Web site: Primera División Calendario . SEFutbol . es . 30 June 2021 . 30 June 2021 . 2 July 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210702075311/https://cdn1.sefutbol.com/pdf/calendario_1d_2122.pdf . dead .
  3. Web site: El Publico volvera a los escenarios con total normalidad la proxima temporada. Mundo Deportivo. 24 June 2021. 24 June 2021 .
  4. News: Real Madrid proclaimed champions of LaLiga Santander 2021/22. La Liga. 30 April 2022. 30 April 2022.
  5. Web site: Eibar Relegated from La Liga With Loss at Valencia, Alaves and Getafe Secure Their Top-Flight Spots. Eurosport. 16 May 2020.
  6. Web site: RCD Espanyol are on their way back up to LaLiga Santander. La Liga. 8 May 2021.
  7. Web site: 2021-05-08 . We will have a Catalan derby! Espanyol promoted to the First Division . 2024-01-18 . FCBN . en.
  8. Web site: Reuters . 2021-05-18 . Mallorca promoted back to LaLiga . 2024-01-18 . Diario AS . en-us.
  9. Web site: 2021-05-18 . Mallorca join Espanyol in La Liga promotion . 2024-01-18 . ESPN.com . en.
  10. Web site: Benevento relegated from Serie A as Real Mallorca promoted to La Liga - European round-up . 2024-01-18 . Sky Sports . en.
  11. Web site: Instalaciones Alavés - Web Oficial. 29 May 2021. Instalaciones Alavés - Web Oficial. es.
  12. Web site: The Stadium. Athletic Bilbao. 1 July 2019.
  13. Web site: A spectacular stadium. 3 March 2021. Wanda Metropolitano.
  14. Web site: Facilities - Camp Nou. FC Barcelona. 3 March 2021.
  15. Web site: Estadio Nuevo Mirandilla. Cádiz CF. es. 19 October 2019.
  16. Web site: Facilities. Celta Vigo. 1 July 2019.
  17. Web site: Estadio Martínez Valero. Elche CF. 30 May 2016. es. 22 December 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20151222234615/http://www.elchecf.es/club/estadio-martinez-valero. dead.
  18. Web site: Facilities - RCDE Stadium. RCD Espanyol. 1 July 2019. 18 December 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20151218073440/https://www.rcdespanyol.com/en/instalations. dead.
  19. Web site: Datos Generales. Getafe CF. 16 May 2016. es.
  20. Web site: Datos del Club. Granada CF. es. 1 July 2019.
  21. Web site: Estadi Ciutat de Valencia . StadiumDB . 20 July 2018.
  22. Web site: Son Moix Iberostar Estadi (Son Moix). StadiumDB. 13 July 2019.
  23. Web site: Instalaciones - Estadio El Sadar. CA Osasuna. es. 1 July 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190716130202/https://www.osasuna.es/el-club/instalaciones.html. 16 July 2019. dead.
  24. Web site: Estadio de Vallecas . Rayo Vallecano . es . 20 July 2018.
  25. Web site: Estadio Benito Villamarín . Real Betis . es . 4 July 2018.
  26. Web site: Santiago Bernabéu Stadium. Real Madrid CF. 7 March 2016.
  27. Web site: Facilities - Anoeta. Real Sociedad. 1 July 2019.
  28. Web site: Sevilla F.C. . Sevilla FC . 3 March 2021 . es.
  29. Web site: Facilities - Mestalla. 1 July 2019.
  30. Web site: Estadio de la Cerámica. Estadio de la Cerámica. 1 July 2019. es. 12 April 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220412123603/https://estadiodelaceramica.villarrealcf.es/es/informacion. dead.
  31. Web site: OFICIAL: Javi Gracia, destituido del Valencia. OFFICIAL: Javi Gracia, dismissed from Valencia. Besoccer. es. 3 May 2021. 3 May 2021.
  32. Web site: Official Statement: José Bordalás. Valencia CF. 27 May 2021.
  33. Web site: Así fue la despedida de Bordalás en sala de prensa. 26 May 2021. Marca.
  34. Web site: Michel Gonzalez returns to Getafe for second spell as first team coach. 27 May 2021. www.xinhuanet.com.
  35. Web site: El Real Madrid deja claro que es Zidane el que se marcha: "Es hora de respetar su decisión". 27 May 2021. 27 May 2021. Marca. es.
  36. Web site: Η Ρεάλ Μαδρίτης ανακοίνωσε την επιστροφή του Κάρλο Αντσελότι. 1 June 2021. www.sport24.gr. el.
  37. Web site: Comunicado | Diego Martínez. Granada CF. es. 27 May 2021.
  38. Web site: Comunicado | Robert Moreno, nuevo entrenador del Granada CF. Granada CF. es. 18 June 2021.
  39. Web site: Paco López deja de ser entrenador del Levante UD. Levante UD. es. 3 October 2021. 3 October 2021. 3 October 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211003215052/https://www.levanteud.com/es/info/paco-lopez-deja-de-ser-entrenador-del-levante-ud. dead.
  40. Web site: Javier Pereira se convierte en entrenador del Levante UD. Levante UD. es. 7 October 2021. 7 October 2021. 7 October 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211007061723/https://www.levanteud.com/es/info/javier-pereira-se-convierte-en-entrenador-del-levante-ud. dead.
  41. Web site: Comunicado Oficial. Getafe CF. es. 4 October 2021. 4 October 2021. 4 October 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211004153221/http://getafecf.com/Noticia/tabid/137/Article/7755/Comunicado-Oficial.aspx. dead.
  42. Web site: Quique Sánchez Flores: "Cada partido, una final". Getafe CF. es. 6 October 2021. 6 October 2021. 6 October 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211006143814/https://www.getafecf.com/Noticia/tabid/137/Article/7760/Quique-Sanchez-Flores-Cada-partido-una-final.aspx. dead.
  43. Web site: Ronald Koeman relieved of his duties as first team coach. FC Barcelona. 28 October 2021. 28 October 2021.
  44. Web site: FC Barcelona Appoint Club Legend Xavi Hernandez As New Head Coach . Tom . Sanderson . Forbes . 5 November 2021 . 5 November 2021.
  45. Web site: OFICIAL Fran Escribá. OFFICIAL Fran Escribá. Elche CF. es. 21 November 2021. 21 November 2021.
  46. Web site: OFICIAL Francisco, nuevo entrenador del Elche C.F.. OFFICIAL Francisco, new manager of Elche C.F.. Elche CF. es. 28 November 2021. 28 November 2021.
  47. Web site: Comunicado oficial del Levante UD. Official statement from Levante UD. Levante UD. es. 29 November 2021. 29 November 2021. 30 November 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211130014005/https://www.levanteud.com/es/info/comunicado-oficial-del-levante-ud-53. dead.
  48. Web site: Comunicado oficial del Levante UD. Official statement from Levante UD. Levante UD. es. 7 December 2021. 7 December 2021. 7 December 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211207165728/https://www.levanteud.com/es/info/comunicado-oficial-del-levante-ud-54. dead.
  49. Web site: Javier Calleja deja de ser entrenador del Deportivo Alavés. Javier Calleja stops being the coach of Deportivo Alavés. Deportivo Alavés, S.A.D.. es. 28 December 2021. 28 December 2021.
  50. Web site: José Luis Mendilibar, nuevo entrenador del Deportivo Alavés. José Luis Mendilibar, new coach of Deportivo Alavés. Deportivo Alavés, S.A.D.. es. 28 December 2021. 28 December 2021.
  51. Web site: Álvaro Cervera deja de ser entrenador del Cádiz. Álvaro Cervera leaves as manager of Cádiz. Cádiz CF. es. 11 January 2022. 11 January 2022.
  52. Web site: Sergio González, nuevo entrenador del Cádiz. Sergio González, new manager of Cádiz. Cádiz CF. es. 11 January 2022. 11 January 2022.
  53. Web site: Comunicado Robert Moreno deja de ser entrenador del Granada CF. Press release Robert Moreno stops being coach of Granada CF. Granada CF. es. 5 March 2022. 17 March 2022.
  54. Web site: Comunicado. Press release. Granada CF. es. 6 March 2022. 17 March 2022.
  55. Web site: Luis García Plaza leaves RCD Mallorca. RCD Mallorca. 22 March 2022. 22 March 2022.
  56. Web site: José Luis Mendilibar deja de ser entrenador del Deportivo Alavés. José Luis Mendilibar ceases to be coach of Deportivo Alavés. Deportivo Alavés, S.A.D.. es. 3 April 2022. 5 April 2022.
  57. Web site: Julio Velázquez, nuevo entrenador del Deportivo Alavés. Julio Velázquez, new coach of Deportivo Alavés. Deportivo Alavés, S.A.D.. es. 5 April 2022. 5 April 2022.
  58. Web site: Aitor Karanka, nuevo técnico del Granada CF. Aitor Karanka, new coach of Granada CF. Granada CF. es. 18 April 2022. 18 April 2022.
  59. Web site: Results of Matchday 1 of LaLiga Santander 2021/22 .
  60. Web site: Results of Matchday 38 of LaLiga Santander 2021/22 .
  61. Web site: All leaders in Goals. 23 September 2021. La Liga. 2 October 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201002101734/https://www.laliga.com/en-GB/leaderboard/all-leaders?stat_competition=laliga-santander&stat=total_goals_ranking. dead.
  62. Web site: All leaders in Assists. 23 September 2021. La Liga. 26 September 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200926053836/https://www.laliga.com/en-GB/leaderboard/all-leaders?stat_competition=laliga-santander&stat=total_assists_ranking. dead.
  63. Web site: Trofeo Zamora La Liga Santander. MARCA.com. 4 September 2017 .
  64. News: Karim Benzema named LaLiga Santander Player of the Month for September. 8 October 2021. 17 October 2021. La Liga.
  65. News: Robin Le Normand named LaLiga Santander Player of the Month for October. 5 November 2021. 5 November 2021. La Liga.
  66. News: Vini Jr. named LaLiga Santander Player of the Month for November. 10 December 2021. 10 December 2021. La Liga.
  67. News: Juanmi named LaLiga Santander Player of the Month for December. 31 December 2021. 31 December 2021. La Liga.
  68. News: Angel Correa named LaLiga Santander Player of the Month for January. 2 February 2022. 4 February 2022. La Liga.
  69. News: Thibaut Courtois named LaLiga Santander Player of the Month for February. 11 March 2022. 11 March 2022. La Liga.
  70. News: João Felix named LaLiga Santander Player of the Month for March. 8 April 2022. 8 April 2022. La Liga.
  71. News: Karim Benzema named LaLiga Santander Player of the Month for April. 6 May 2022. 6 May 2022. La Liga.
  72. News: Vedat Muriqi named LaLiga Santander Player of the Month for May. 2 June 2022. 2 June 2022. La Liga.
  73. Web site: The 2021-22 La Liga Team of the Season . Liga de Fútbol Profesional . 26 May 2022 . 26 May 2022 .
  74. Web site: Luz verde a la vuelta a los estadios: un 40% de aforo, pero las CCAA podrán reducirlo. El Confidencial. es. 4 August 2021.
  75. Web site: El Gobierno Vasco marca un 20% de aforo en los estadios hasta que la situación epidemiológica mejore. Onda Cero. es. 6 August 2021.
  76. Web site: Catalunya fija un aforo del 30% para los grandes eventos deportivos exteriores. Europa Press. es. 9 August 2021.
  77. Web site: La Generalitat Valenciana modifica las restricciones para permitir 15.000 espectadores en los estadios. ABC. 7 August 2021.
  78. Web site: Sanidad y las comunidades elevan los aforos en los estadios: porcentajes en LaLiga y ACB. Diario As. es. 1 September 2021.
  79. Web site: El Gobierno Vasco amplía el aforo de los estadios al 30%. es. 30 August 2021.
  80. Web site: El Govern aumenta a un 40% el aforo en estadios al aire libre y mantiene el cierre del ocio nocturno. El Confidencial. es. 7 September 2021.
  81. Web site: Vuelve el público al 100% a los estadios de LaLiga y al 80% en la ACB. Marca. 29 September 2021. es.