2008–09 La Liga Explained

Competition:La Liga
Season:2008–09
Dates:30 August 2008 – 31 May 2009
Winners:Barcelona
19th title
Relegated:Betis
Numancia
Recreativo
Continentalcup1:Champions League
Continentalcup1 Qualifiers:Barcelona (group stage)
Real Madrid (group stage)
Sevilla (group stage)
Atlético Madrid (playoff round)
Continentalcup2:Europa League
Continentalcup2 Qualifiers:Villarreal (playoff round)
Valencia (playoff round)
Athletic Bilbao (third qualifying round) (via Copa del Rey)
League Topscorer:Diego Forlán
(32 goals)
Biggest Home Win:Real Madrid 7–1 Sporting
(24 September 2008)[1]
Barcelona 6–0 Valladolid
(8 November 2008)[2]
Barcelona 6–0 Málaga
(22 March 2009)[3]
Biggest Away Win:Sporting 1–6 Barcelona
(21 September 2008)[4]
Highest Scoring:Real Madrid 7–1 Sporting
(24 September 2008)
Real Madrid 2–6 Barcelona
(2 May 2009)[5]
Deportivo 5–3 Racing
(8 March 2009)[6]
Villarreal 4–4 Atlético Madrid
(26 October 2008)[7]
Matches:380
Total Goals:1101
Prevseason:2007–08
Nextseason:2009–10

The 2008–09 La Liga season (known as the Liga BBVA for sponsorship reasons) was the 78th since its establishment. Real Madrid were the defending champions, having won their 31st La Liga title in the previous season. The campaign began on 30 August 2008 and ended on 31 May 2009. A total of 20 teams contested the league, 17 of which already contested in the 2007–08 season, and three of which were promoted from the Segunda División. A new match ball – the Nike T90 Omni – served as the official ball for all matches.

On 16 May 2009, after Villarreal's 3–2 victory over Real Madrid, Barcelona were declared champions, their 19th La Liga title, with three matches to play. Lionel Messi received the inaugural LaLiga Award for Best Player from the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional.

Promotion and relegation

Real Zaragoza, Real Murcia and Levante were relegated to the 2008–09 Segunda División after finishing in the bottom three spots of the table at the end of the 2007–08 La Liga. Zaragoza were relegated to the Segunda División after five seasons of continuous membership in the top football league of Spain; Levante returned in Segunda División after two-year tenured in La Liga; and Murcia made their immediate return to the second level.

The three relegated teams were replaced by three 2007–08 Segunda División sides. Champions Numancia, who ended their second-level status after three years, runners-up Málaga, who returned to the top flight after two season in the second level, and Sporting de Gijón returned to the highest Spanish league after ten years.

Team information

Stadia and locations

TeamVenueCapacity
AlmeríaEstadio del Mediterráneo22,000
Athletic BilbaoSan Mamés39,750
Atlético MadridVicente Calderón54,851
BarcelonaCamp Nou98,772
BetisManuel Ruiz de Lopera52,132
DeportivoRiazor34,600
EspanyolEstadi Olímpic Lluís Companys55,926
GetafeColiseum Alfonso Pérez16,300
MálagaLa Rosaleda35,530
MallorcaONO Estadi23,142
NumanciaLos Pajaritos9,700
OsasunaEstadio Reyno de Navarra19,553
Racing SantanderEl Sardinero22,400
Real MadridSantiago Bernabéu80,354
RecreativoNuevo Colombino21,600
SevillaRamón Sánchez Pizjuán45,500
SportingEl Molinón25,885
ValenciaMestalla55,000
ValladolidEstadio José Zorrilla26,512
VillarrealEl Madrigal23,000

Personnel and sponsoring

TeamChairmanHead CoachKit manufacturerShirt sponsor (front)Shirt sponsor (back)Shirt sponsor (sleeve)Shorts sponsor
AlmeríaAlfonso García Hugo SánchezUDAObrascampo/isladelfraile.com/Corredor de VidaAndalucíaNoneNone
Athletic BilbaoFernando García Joaquín Caparrós100% AthleticPetronorNoneNoneNone
Enrique Cerezo Abel ResinoNikeKiaKyoceraNonePaf
BarcelonaJoan Laporta Pep GuardiolaNikeUNICEFNoneTV3None
BetisPepe LeónKappaAndalucíaNoneNoneNone
DeportivoAugusto LendoiroEstrella GaliciaNoneNoneNone
Espanyol Mauricio PochettinouhlsportInterapuestas.comTrina SolarTV3Abasol
GetafeÁngel Torres MíchelJomaGrupo GalcoThecamSDS SeguridadEADS CASA, Antonio y Ricardo
MálagaFernando Sanz Antonio TapiaUmbroMálaga Ciudad GenialAndalucíaTesesaInstituto de Fertilidad Clínicas Rincón, Málaga Hoy
MallorcaMateu Alemany Gregorio ManzanoReialIlles Balears/Viajes IberiaConstrucciones Llabrés FeliuIB3Illes Balears
NumanciaFrancisco GarcésErreaCaja DueroAreniscas StoneCleanBirdCastilla y León es Vida
OsasunaPatxi IzcoDiadoraYingli SolarNGS TechnologyCaja NavarraReyno de Navarra, NGS Technology
Francisco Pernía López MuñizJomaNoneNoneNoneNone
Real MadridVicente Boluda Juande RamosAdidasBwin.comNoneNoneNone
RecreativoFrancisco Mendoza Lucas AlcarazCejudoCajasolAndalucíaToyota NiponubaCondado de Huelva, Fresón de Palos
SevillaJosé María del Nido Manolo JiménezJoma888.comAndalucíaNO8DONone
SportingManuel Vega-Arango Manolo PreciadoAstoreGijón, AsturiasVegasolAsturias Paraíso Natural, Deporte AsturianoAsturias Paraíso Natural, Deporte Asturiano
ValenciaVicente Soriano Unai EmeryNikeValencia Experience, UnibetCompac EncimerasCanal NouNone
Valladolid José Luis MendilibarPumaCaja DueroPepetravel.comNoneDel Cura y Miranda AXA, Castilla y León es Vida
VillarrealFernando Roig Manuel PellegriniPumaAeroport CastellóNoneCanal NouNone

Managerial changes

TeamOutgoing managerManner of departureDate of vacancyReplaced byDate of appointmentPosition in table
Recreativo Manolo ZambranoSacked7 October 2008[9] Lucas Alcaraz7 October 2008[10] 18th
Osasuna José Ángel ZigandaSacked13 October 2008[11] José Antonio Camacho13 October 2008[12] 16th
Espanyol Tintín MárquezSacked30 November 2008[13] José Manuel Esnal1 December 2008[14] 17th
Real Madrid Bernd SchusterSacked9 December 2008[15] Juande Ramos9 December 2008[16] 5th
Almería Gonzalo ArconadaSacked21 December 2008[17] Hugo Sánchez22 December 2008[18] 16th
Espanyol José Manuel EsnalSacked20 January 2009[19] Mauricio Pochettino20 January 2009[20] 18th
Atlético Madrid Javier AguirreSacked2 February 2009[21] Abel Resino2 February 2009[22] 7th
Numancia Sergije KrešićSacked17 February 2009[23] Pacheta17 February 2009[24] 19th
Betis Paco ChaparroSacked6 April 2009[25] José María Nogués6 April 2009[26] 16th
Getafe Víctor MuñozSacked27 April 2009[27] Míchel27 April 2009[28] 17th

League table

Awards

LaLiga Awards

For the first time in La Liga's history, its governing body, the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional, honoured the competition's best players and coach with the LaLiga Awards.[29]

Recipient
Best Player Lionel Messi (Barcelona)
Best Coach Pep Guardiola (Barcelona)
Best Goalkeeper Iker Casillas (Real Madrid)
Best Defender Dani Alves (Barcelona)
Best Midfielder(s) Xavi (Barcelona)
Andrés Iniesta (Barcelona)
Best Forward Lionel Messi (Barcelona)

Pichichi Trophy

The Pichichi Trophy is awarded to the player who scores the most goals in a season.

RankPlayerClubGoals
1 Diego ForlánAtlético Madrid32
2 Samuel Eto'oBarcelona30
3 David VillaValencia28
4 Lionel MessiBarcelona23
5 Gonzalo HiguaínReal Madrid22
6 Álvaro NegredoAlmería19
Thierry HenryBarcelona
8 RaúlReal Madrid18
Frédéric KanoutéSevilla
10 Sergio AgüeroAtlético Madrid17
11 Joseba LlorenteVillarreal15

Source: Yahoo! Sport

Zamora Trophy

The Zamora Trophy is awarded by newspaper Marca to the goalkeeper with least goals-to-games ratio. A goalkeeper must play at least 28 games of 60 or more minutes to be eligible for the trophy.

RankNameClubGoals
against
MatchesAverage
1Barcelona31350.89
2 Andrés PalopSevilla35351.00
3 Daniel AranzubiaDeportivo45371.22
4 ToñoRacing Santander41331.24
5 Carlos KameniEspanyol47371.27
Source: LFP

Assists table

RankPlayerClubAssists
1 XaviBarcelona20
2 Juan MataValencia13
3 DudaMálaga11
Lionel MessiBarcelona
5 Diego ForlánAtlético Madrid10
Pedro MunitisRacing Santander
7 Gonzalo HiguaínReal Madrid9
Fernando GagoReal Madrid
José Manuel JuradoMallorca
Juan ArangoMallorca
Sergio AgüeroAtlético Madrid
Jesús NavasSevilla
Robert PiresVillarreal
Dani AlvesBarcelona

Fair Play award

RankClubwidth=50px Points
1Barcelona 98
2102
3110
4113
5114
6131
Valencia
8132
9133
10134
11135
12136
Sevilla
14139
15148
Real Madrid
17149
18164
19165
20183

Scoring

Hat-tricks

PlayerFor Against Result Date Reference
Sporting Gijón Sevilla 3–4 (A) 13 September 2008 http://actas.rfef.es/actas/RFEF_CmpPartido?cod_primaria=1000144&CodActa=6427
Real Madrid Sporting Gijón 7–1 (H) 24 September 2008 http://actas.rfef.es/actas/RFEF_CmpPartido?cod_primaria=1000144&CodActa=6590
Barcelona Almería 5–0 (H) 25 October 2008 http://actas.rfef.es/actas/RFEF_CmpPartido?cod_primaria=1000144&CodActa=6885
Racing Santander Valencia 4–2 (A) 1 November 2008 http://actas.rfef.es/actas/RFEF_CmpPartido?cod_primaria=1000144&CodActa=6968
Gonzalo Higuaín4 Real Madrid Málaga 4–3 (H) 8 November 2008 http://actas.rfef.es/actas/RFEF_CmpPartido?cod_primaria=1000144&CodActa=7034
Samuel Eto'o4 Barcelona Valladolid 6–0 (H) 8 November 2008 http://actas.rfef.es/actas/RFEF_CmpPartido?cod_primaria=1000144&CodActa=7033
Barcelona Valencia 4–0 (H) 9 December 2008 http://actas.rfef.es/actas/RFEF_CmpPartido?cod_primaria=1000144&CodActa=7291
Getafe Sporting Gijón 5–1 (H) 25 January 2009 http://actas.rfef.es/actas/RFEF_CmpPartido?cod_primaria=1000144&CodActa=7681
Sevilla Valladolid 4–1 (H) 21 March 2009 http://actas.rfef.es/actas/RFEF_CmpPartido?cod_primaria=1000144&CodActa=8183
Real Madrid Sevilla 4–2 (A) 26 April 2009 http://actas.rfef.es/actas/RFEF_CmpPartido?cod_primaria=1000144&CodActa=8557
Atlético Madrid Athletic Bilbao 4–1 (A) 23 May 2009 http://actas.rfef.es/actas/RFEF_CmpPartido?cod_primaria=1000144&CodActa=8745
Espanyol Málaga 3–0 (H) 31 May 2009http://actas.rfef.es/actas/RFEF_CmpPartido?cod_primaria=1000144&CodActa=8775
4 Player scored four goals(H) - Home ; (A) - Away

Discipline

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Real Madrid 7–1 Sporting . RFEF. 24 September 2008. es.
  2. Web site: Barcelona 6–0 Valladolid . RFEF. 8 November 2008. es.
  3. Web site: Barcelona 6–0 Málaga . RFEF. 22 March 2009. es.
  4. News: Sporting 1–6 Barcelona. RFEF. 21 September 2008. 9 September 2010. es.
  5. Web site: Real Madrid 2–6 Barcelona . RFEF. 2 May 2009.
  6. Web site: Deportivo 5–3 Racing Santander . RFEF. 8 March 2009. es.
  7. Web site: Atlético Madrid 4–4 Villarreal . RFEF. 26 October 2008. es.
  8. Web site: 2006-09-13 . Barça take the moral high road . 2022-11-29 . the Guardian . en.
  9. News: Zambrano es cesado y su puesto lo ocupará Lucas Alcaraz . . 7 October 2008 . 30 October 2008 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090123043505/http://www.recreativohuelva.com/pag/noticias_detalle.asp?idnoticias=5400 . 23 January 2009 . dead . dmy-all .
  10. News: Lucas Alcaraz: "Volver al Recre es especial para mí" . . 7 October 2008 . 30 October 2008 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090123043510/http://www.recreativohuelva.com/pag/noticias_detalle.asp?idnoticias=5401 . 23 January 2009 . dead . dmy-all .
  11. News: El CA Osasuna releva a Ziganda de sus funciones . . 13 October 2008 . 30 October 2008 . https://web.archive.org/web/20081016063251/http://www.osasuna.es/dev/actualidad/ultimasnoticias/el-ca-osasuna-releva-a-ziganda-de-sus-funciones . 16 October 2008 . dead . dmy-all .
  12. News: Acuerdo con Camacho para dirigir a Osasuna . . 13 October 2008 . 30 October 2008 . https://web.archive.org/web/20081016063242/http://www.osasuna.es/dev/actualidad/ultimasnoticias/acuerdo-con-camacho-para-dirigir-a-osasuna# . 16 October 2008 . dead . dmy-all .
  13. News: Márquez, cesado. 30 November 2008. RCD Espanyol. 1 December 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20090107151304/http://www.rcdespanyol.com/principal.php?modulo=detalleNoticia&idnoticia=5834&idseccion=28&idlinkchk=0&idmenu=9&idsubmenu=108. 7 January 2009. dead.
  14. News: Mané, nuevo entrenador del Espanyol. 1 December 2008. RCD Espanyol. 1 December 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20090107060335/http://www.rcdespanyol.com/principal.php?modulo=detalleNoticia&idnoticia=5845&idseccion=28&idlinkchk=0&idmenu=9&idsubmenu=108. 7 January 2009. dead.
  15. News: Schuster, destituido del Real Madrid. 9 December 2008. Real Madrid C.F.. 9 December 2008. 11 December 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20081211013210/http://www.lavanguardia.es/deportes/noticias/20081209/53596117634/calderon-destituye-a-schuster-a-cinco-dias-del-barsa-madrid.html. dead.
  16. News: Juande, sustituto de Schuster. 9 December 2008. Real Madrid C.F.. 9 December 2008. 12 January 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20090112034829/http://www.farodevigo.es/secciones/noticia.jsp?pRef=2008120900_11_280111__Juande-sustituto-Schuster. dead.
  17. News: El Almería cesa a Gonzalo Arconada. 21 December 2008. UD Almería. 21 December 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20090131014136/http://www.udalmeriasad.com/udalmeria/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1754&Itemid=77. 31 January 2009. dead.
  18. News: Hugo Sánchez, nuevo entrenador del Almería. 22 December 2008. UD Almería. 22 December 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20090124192118/http://www.udalmeriasad.com/udalmeria/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1761&Itemid=77. 24 January 2009. dead.
  19. News: Mané, destituido como técnico del Espanyol. 20 January 2009. RCD Espanyol. 20 January 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20090122215518/http://www.marca.com/2009/01/20/futbol/equipos/espanyol/1232412552.html. 22 January 2009. dead.
  20. News: Pochettino será el nuevo técnico del Espanyol. 20 January 2009. RCD Espanyol. 20 January 2009. https://archive.today/20120729025432/http://www.elmundodeportivo.es/web/gen/20090120/noticia_53621747691.html. 29 July 2012. dead. dmy-all.
  21. News: Javier Aguirre, destituido. 2 February 2009. Atlético Madrid. 2 February 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20090205145408/http://www.abc.es/20090202/deportes-futbol/javier-aguirre-destituido-200902022225.html. 5 February 2009. live.
  22. News: Abel Resino, nuevo técnico del Atlético de Madrid. 2 February 2009. Atlético Madrid. 2 February 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20090203000354/http://www.marca.com/2009/02/02/futbol/equipos/atletico/1233567028.html. 3 February 2009. live.
  23. News: El Numancia destituye a Kresic y nombra como nuevo entrenador a Pacheta. 17 February 2009. CD Numancia. 17 February 2009. 23 January 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200123023057/https://www.lavanguardia.com/deportes/20090217/53642451849/el-numancia-destituye-a-kresic-y-nombra-nuevo-entrenador-a-pacheta.html. dead.
  24. News: El Numancia sustituye a Kresic por Pacheta. 17 February 2009. CD Numancia. 17 February 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20090327090655/http://www.abc.es/20090217/deportes-deportes/numancia-despide-kresic-sera-200902171332.html. 27 March 2009. live.
  25. News: El Betis destituye a Paco Chaparro . 6 April 2009 . . 6 April 2009 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090409001433/http://es.uefa.com/footballeurope/news/kind%3D2/newsid%3D817215.html . 9 April 2009 . live .
  26. News: El Betis destituye a Chaparro y lo sustituye por José María Nogués. 6 April 2009. Real Betis. 6 April 2009.
  27. News: Víctor Muñoz cesado del Getafe. 27 April 2009. Getafe CF. 27 April 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20090429220518/http://www.esfutbol.net/?action=read&idnotizia=41613. 29 April 2009. dead.
  28. News: Míchel, nuevo entrenador del Getafe. 27 April 2009. Getafe CF. 27 April 2009. https://archive.today/20090430135436/http://www.esfutbol.net/?action=read&idnotizia=41623. 30 April 2009. dead.
  29. News: Ganadores de las cuatro ediciones de premios de la LFP . ABC . es . 13 November 2012 . 8 March 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160116110429/http://agencias.abc.es/agencias/noticia.asp?noticia=1292480 . 16 January 2016 . dead .
  30. Web site: Clasificaciones del Premio Juego Limpio. RFEF. 3 June 2009. 4 September 2010. es. https://web.archive.org/web/20110716055800/http://www.rfef.es/FCKeditor/UserFiles/File/Juego%20Limpio/Clasificaciones%20del%20Premio%20Juego%20Limpio03062009.pdf. 16 July 2011. dead. dmy-all.
  31. Web site: RFEF. actas.rfef.es.
  32. Web site: RFEF. actas.rfef.es.