La Liga 2019–20 Season Review: Real Madrid's Triumph and Pandemic Challenges
The 2019–20 La Liga season, officially known as LaLiga Santander for sponsorship reasons, marked the 89th edition of Spain's premier football division. It was a campaign defined by high-scoring drama, a fierce title race, and an unprecedented global crisis that fundamentally altered the sporting calendar.
The season kicked off on 16 August 2019, but the trajectory of the competition was shifted on 12 March 2020. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, both La Liga and the Segunda División were suspended. After an indefinite hiatus starting 23 March, the league finally recommenced on 11 June. To complete the schedule, matches were played daily until 13 July, with the final round concluding on 19 July 2020.
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Key Facts
- Champions: Real Madrid (their 34th title).
- Top Goalscorer: Lionel Messi with 25 goals.
- Best Goalkeeper: Thibaut Courtois (0.59 goals conceded per match).
- Total Goals: 942 goals scored across 380 matches (2.48 per match).
- Relegated Teams: Leganés, Mallorca, and Espanyol.
- Highest Attendance: 93,426 for Barcelona vs. Real Madrid.
League Performance and Standings
Real Madrid secured the championship with 87 points, boasting the longest winning run of the season at 10 matches. Barcelona followed closely in second place with 82 points, while Atlético Madrid and Sevilla rounded out the top four, both finishing with 70 points.
European Qualification
The top four teams—Real Madrid, Barcelona, Atlético Madrid, and Sevilla—earned qualification for the Champions League group stage. Villarreal and Real Sociedad secured spots in the Europa League group stage, while Granada entered the Europa League at the second qualifying round.
Relegation Battle
At the other end of the table, the struggle for survival was intense. Leganés, Mallorca, and Espanyol were relegated to the Segunda División. Espanyol suffered the most difficult campaign, enduring the longest losing run of the season (8 matches) and finishing last with only 25 points.
| Position | Team | Played | Points | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Real Madrid | 38 | 87 | Champions / Champions League |
| 2 | Barcelona | 38 | 82 | Champions League |
| 3 | Atlético Madrid | 38 | 70 | Champions League |
| 4 | Sevilla | 38 | 70 | Champions League |
| 5 | Villarreal | 38 | 60 | Europa League |
| 18 | Leganés | 38 | 36 | Relegated |
| 19 | Mallorca | 38 | 33 | Relegated |
| 20 | Espanyol | 38 | 25 | Relegated |
Individual Brilliance and Statistics
Lionel Messi continued his dominance of the Spanish game, leading the league in both goals (25) and assists (21). He also recorded three hat-tricks during the campaign against Celta Vigo, Mallorca, and Eibar.
Defensively, Thibaut Courtois won the Zamora Trophy (awarded to the goalkeeper with the lowest goals-to-games ratio), conceding only 20 goals in 34 matches. In terms of discipline, Getafe was the most cautioned team with 130 yellow cards, while Espanyol and Real Betis shared the highest number of red cards with 9 each.
Notable Match Records
- Biggest Home Win: Celta Vigo 6–0 Alavés.
- Biggest Away Wins: Osasuna 0–5 Atlético Madrid and Alavés 0–5 Barcelona.
- Highest Scoring Match: Villarreal 4–4 Granada.
- Longest Unbeaten Run: Atlético Madrid (16 matches).
Managerial Volatility
The season saw significant turnover in the dugout. High-profile changes included Barcelona replacing Ernesto Valverde with Quique Setién in January 2020. Other clubs experienced multiple changes; Espanyol, for instance, cycled through David Gallego, Pablo Machín, and Abelardo before ending the season with interim manager Francisco Rufete.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the 2019–20 La Liga title?
Real Madrid won the title, marking their 34th league championship.
How did the COVID-19 pandemic affect the season?
The league was suspended from 12 March 2020 until 11 June 2020. To finish the season, matches were played daily through July to ensure all fixtures were completed by 19 July.
Which player scored the most goals in the 2019–20 season?
Lionel Messi was the top goalscorer with 25 goals.
Which teams were relegated to the Segunda División?
Leganés, Mallorca, and Espanyol were the three teams relegated at the end of the season.
Who won the Zamora Trophy for best goalkeeper?
Thibaut Courtois of Real Madrid won the trophy with an average of 0.59 goals conceded per match.