LIGA BBVA
Liga BBVA 2014/2015 travelled once again on the line Madrid-Barcelona and for the fifth time in the last 10 years ended up in the display cases of Camp Nou. The season ended by sending into oblivion the last round of the 2014/15 season, when FC Barcelona saw how Atlético de Madrid became the champion in Barcelona's home. This time, Barcelona did not leave room for any other rival and clinched the championship one round before the end. Atlético de Madrid ended in a commendable third place. Ahead of Atlético, Real Madrid, which fought the league till the end and ended being the top scoring team of the championship.
Once again, for the third time, Spanish football took home the Champions League and European League trophies, as well as the FIFA Club World Cup, clearly demonstrating that Liga BBVA is at a higher level than any other league of the world. So much so, that, for the first time in history, UEFA's Champions League will have five Spanish teams.
At Mestalla, the Champions’ anthem will be heard once again 3 years later. Valencia finished a great season from beginning to end and was able to surpass Sevilla and reach the fourth place in the competition. However, the title obtained in Warsaw will allow Unai Emery's team to be amongst the best of Europe next year.
Villarreal CF and Athletic Club will once again represent our league in the Europa League. The team from Castellon was able to overcome the plague of injuries it suffered during the whole season, whilst the Basque lions were on the up, finishing as one of the best teams of the championship and playing the final of the King's Cup.
Much more dramatic was the struggle for relegation. Of the three promoted last year, only Deportivo de la Coruña managed to get enough points to stay in first division. Nevertheless, it got there in a heart-stopping round in which Almería ended in relegation positions.
The 2014/2015 season has extolled Spanish football as the best in the world and Liga BBVA as the most competitive and thrilling league there is. El Clásico, derbis or stories as beautiful as that of Eibar and Rayo Vallecano mean our league is the one with greater sporting and liturgical references.
The Barça of a thousand names
Fútbol Club Barcelona and Luís Enrique Martínez are now living-legends in the history of football. The Catalan team achieved the three trophies up for grabs: league, cup and the champions league cup, for second time in history. Its coach, Luis Enrique, was in charge of leading the team to glory in his first season as the Camp Nou's coach. A total of 23 trophies can be seen in the display cases of Museu President Núñez. And this came after a season in which the Barcelona team did a second half to remember. Luis Enrique's team defence only let in 21 goals the whole season. This back line's robustness, together with the highest scoring trident in history, meant the team was perfect in terms of trophies. Three trophies to be achieved, three trophies conquered. We cannot ask more from a team that had Leo Messi as its reference point. A player who is heritage of the team, of the Spanish league and of world football. The Argentinian was decisive in all his team's fixtures, exhibiting a level that only he can reach. The Barça of Lucho, the Barça of Messi, the Barça of Xavi, of Iniesta, of Piqué, of Suárez and of Neymar. All in all, the Barça of a thousand names that amazed the whole world.
The magnificent five
For the first time, five teams of the same country will compete in the Champions League. And those five could be of no other league than Liga BBVA. Our football has proven to have the highest amount of quality. The triumph of Sevilla CF at the Europa League meant the team became the fifth Spanish representative in the top European championship.
Although Barcelona's authority in the league was solid, Real Madrid did not make things easy and had options to win till the end. Real Madrid was not able to repeat the success of the previous season, but it fought as it always does, forcing the champion to win the trophy in the penultimate round. In fact, Carlo Ancelotti and his players surprised everyone with a spectacular first half. Real Madrid started the season with an unquestionable mastery and ended 2014 lifting in Morocco the trophy of FIFA Club World Cup.
Atlético de Madrid could not repeat the celebration either. Despite that, Cholo Simeone has turned its team into a regular and competitive team, and no one rules them out as winners of any trophy. This time they ended third, but left an impeccable image. As impeccable as Valencia CF, which returns to the Champions League, fighting for the third position until the last round.
Europe goes from Villarreal to Bilbao
It is said that "Getting there is only half the battle". This is what the players from Villarreal must have thought last year when, after playing one season in Liga Adelante, came back to the first division making a grand entrance. Marcelino García Toral and his boys showed us once again that Villarreal looks to Europe. And Europe looks to El Madrigal. Wonderful fans, considered to be the best this season.
Nuevo San Mamés is a talisman. Second year in that stadium and second time qualified for Europe. Athletic Club will be one of the Spanish representatives in the Europa League, after an outstanding second half of the season.
But the European positions were sold high. Six teams played for two positions till the last round. Celta, Málaga, Espanyol and an outstanding Rayo Vallecano held their hopes alive till the end. Paco Jémez and his team enjoyed a less dramatic season than in the previous year, and once again, they did this with a daring bet, finishing one more season to remember.
The league with no limbo
Our football cannot boast about being calm. There is no position in which a team can place itself and live in peace, even if only for a few rounds. The same teams that look towards Europe in the latests rounds have to keep an eye on relegation until the last stretch of the championship.
Real Sociedad suffered more than what Anoeta's spectators are used to. David Moyes had to come in to redirect the team, which found it difficult to find its pace at the beginning. Next year it will not be in Europe, but it will fight for it again.
Elche and Levante were able to materialise their permanence just before the last round. Madrid and Valencia citizens managed to shake off the fear of relegation later than what Getafe had wished for. 2 points in the last 8 rounds meant that the team from Madrid was against the ropes, although in the end it managed to hold up.
Having said that, it did manage to escape a last round of panic when, at one point, all the teams involved had a spot in the relegation. When coaches say that all points are important and are all worth the same, they are right. One point is what Deportivo and Granada needed in the last match to remain in the best league of the world. That same point condemned Eibar and Almeria.
Top teams
If the essence of classification are points, the essence of football are goals. But the lack of them can also be a burden. The goal difference is what led Eibar to be relegated. Gaizka Garitano's team performed really well in the first half of the season, but they could not keep up the pace in the second half and ended up fighting relegation.
A relegation that also affected Almería and Córdoba. The two teams from Andalusia took the last positions on the table.
The proper nouns of Liga BBVA
Good things come in threes, but this time there were six. Cristiano Ronaldo managed to be nominated again for best player of the world and lifted his third Ballon d’Or, the second consecutive one. Those, added to the 4 achieved by Leo Messi, means that 6 consecutive awards have fallen in the hands of Liga BBVA's players.
The Portuguese player was also once again the best striker of the league. But he had to sweat as never before. In the end, he had to score 48 goals so that Messi, with 44, could not take his top position away.
And, talking of goals, let's talk about Griezzman. The Frenchman became a clear striker in his first season for Atlético de Madrid. 22 goals in his premiere at Calderón.
Aritz Aduriz (18) and Alberto Bueno (17) were the best Spanish strikers, in line with the season made by their respective teams.
Claudio Bravo also made a début. 19 goals let in in 37 rounds, figurers to remember. The Chilean goalkeeper proved Barcelona had chosen well and returned its trust with outstanding actions.
LIGA ADELANTE
Betis and Sporting de Gijón return to the first division. Two classic national teams became once again members of the first division after working hard to be promoted.
Betis resorted again to Pepe Mel and he did not disappoint. Excellent year for Betis, which returns to Liga BBVA 12 months later, having become the indisputable leader and champion of the second division.
Sporting had to sweat much more. The team from Asturias had to suffer and pray to be promoted directly. But it had to wait more than desired, till the last second of the last minute of the last round. Until then, it could not be sure whether it would be a first division team. The draw between Girona and Lugo meant the journey between Seville and Gijón was the sweetest of journeys. Never had it been so enjoyable to cross a whole country.
Girona, after a historic season, could not achieve promotion and ended up paying for the effort and the pressure. Montilivi lived a year full of victories and goals, that kept alive the hope for promotion till the end of the championship. Only one goal separated the Catalans from Liga BBVA. Despite that, Girona CF, its players and coaching team and fans deserve a great round of applause.
In the end, the last team promoted was UD Las Palmas. If at first you don't succeed, try again. Football gave the islanders back what was taken away from them in the last second of the previous season. With 40 years of age, Juan Carlos Valerón can boast about having brought his childhood team back to the elite.
It is now that counts
Spain has no second-class football. For those who don't believe it, just look at the playoffs for promotion to Liga BBVA. Girona, Las Palmas, Valladolid and Zaragoza played the playoffs that put Liga Adelante at the centre of all public and media attention.
Zaragoza fulfilled the saying that "it's not over till the fat lady sings”, and after managing to qualify at the very last minute, was within reach of promotion after winning the first match against UD Las Palmas 3 to 1. Earlier, in its playoff against Girona, and after ending 0-3 in the first leg, the team from Zaragoza managed to make a historic comeback in Montilivi.
Real Valladolid will have to wait for a new opportunity to attempt a comeback to the BBVA League. Despite spending the entire season in the highest ranked positions, it has been unable to attain its strongly sought-after promotion.
Rookie UE Llagostera and SD Ponferradina’s seasons are also worth mentioning. Both teams, characterised by exemplary management and a line-up that competed with utmost sportsmanship, fought for promotion till the end.
Between heaven and hell
The huge equality that exists within the category forces many teams to stand between the possibility of dreaming high – promotion – or burning in hell – relegation – during different stages of the season and all the way through the last round. A win or a loss can change aspirations in a blink of an eye.
Many of these teams will live with the satisfaction of having managed to continue in its division, while others will be slightly disillusioned, as they had higher expectations but are nevertheless aware of the courage, difficulty and importance of remaining within their category.
Dramatic relegation
As is usually the case, the drama behind the drop to 2nd division B hovers over a great number of teams at the end of each season, which in terms of competitive emotions is directly proportional to the angst of teams and fans that see themselves caught in the fight for permanence in their respective categories.
Osasuna managed to stay in its category thanks to the comeback in the last match at Nova Creu Alta.
Liga Adelante 2015/2016 will not have the presence of FC Barcelona B, CE Sabadell, Recreativo de Huelva and Racing Club.
Four familiar faces … moving up into Liga Adelante
Real Oviedo, Nástic de Tarragona, SD Huesca and Bilbao Athletic once again return to professional football after different periods of absence.
Historical Real Oviedo returns with a bang after becoming the absolute champion of 2nd Division B.
Nastic, after having passed the first qualifying stage and Huesca, facing its last opportunity, have also managed to secure the long sought-after promotion, wrapping up a great season.
And after many years of absence, the Bilbao Athletic will be the only team representing the dependent teams.
