La Liga is the top professional football division in Spain, first played in the 1929 season. It has produced some of the most skilful footballers in history and is followed by fans all over the world.
The format
Twenty clubs compete each season and play each opponent twice, home and away, for a total of 38 matches. Three points are awarded for a win and one for a draw.
Tie-breakers
Unlike some other leagues, La Liga uses the head-to-head record between the tied clubs before looking at overall goal difference. This can make a single result between two rivals very important at the end of the season.
Relegation and European places
The bottom three clubs are relegated to the second division and replaced by promoted teams. The clubs at the top of the table qualify for the UEFA Champions League and other European competitions.