With European domestic football back in action, there’s a palpable sense of excitement surrounding the upcoming season among both fans and experts. Among the various European leagues capturing attention over the next nine months, La Liga, Spain’s top-tier domestic football league, is poised to be one of the most captivating competitions. However, before delving into the schedule and matches, it’s important to delve deeper into what La Liga has in store for the 2023-24 season.
Ranked as the world’s third most popular professional football league, trailing behind Germany’s Bundesliga and England’s Premier League, La Liga owes much of its popularity to the presence of some of the globe’s most prominent clubs. Real Madrid and FC Barcelona have played a pivotal role in attracting substantial viewership to the league due to their triumphant endeavors at domestic, continental, and international levels. Intriguingly, La Liga teams have clinched more titles in UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, and FIFA Club World Cup than any other collective from a single league.
Given this illustrious history, it’s hardly surprising that La Liga teams are actively engaged in the ongoing summer transfer market in preparation for the commencement of the 2023-24 season. While notable figures like Karim Benzema, Sergio Busquets, and Jordi Alba (to mention a few) will be absent in the upcoming season, standout players such as Jude Bellingham, Ilkay Gundogan, and Cesar Azpilicueta have made their way to Spain.
Since the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, two of the most exceptional players of our generation and perhaps football history, the competition for the La Liga title has become more wide open, with numerous teams nipping at the heels of Real Madrid and FC Barcelona. Judging by the performances from the previous season and the activities in the summer transfer window, it’s safe to anticipate an even more fiercely competitive season ahead.
So, let’s delve into the points table, match structure, schedule, and fixtures for the exciting La Liga 2023-24 season.
What format will La Liga follow in the 2023-24 season?
Starting from the 1997-98 season, a total of 20 teams have vied for the coveted La Liga title, and this trend continues into the upcoming 2023-24 season. The contest follows a league format, wherein teams engage in a double encounter, facing each other both at home and away. Consequently, every team will partake in 38 matches throughout the league during the 2023-24 season. At the conclusion of the league, the team amassing the highest points will secure the apex position on the table and clinch victory.
While points serve as the determining factor for the season’s champions, they also play a role in designating the three teams with the lowest rankings in the league. As per the regulations, the three teams concluding the La Liga season at the bottom are relegated to La Liga 2 for the ensuing season, while the leading trio from La Liga 2 earn promotion to La Liga for the forthcoming season.
Moreover, the uppermost four teams from La Liga will earn qualification for the subsequent season’s UEFA Champions League. Furthermore, the victors of the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League will also secure entry into the Champions League of the subsequent season. Bearing this in mind, in a scenario where six teams from La Liga (inclusive of the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League winners) manage to qualify for Europe’s preeminent club football competition, the fourth-ranked team within La Liga will partake in the Europa League, as only a maximum of five teams from each nation can partake in the Champions League.
How is the schedule structured for La Liga in the 2023-24 season?
The curtain-raiser for La Liga 2023-24 will feature Almeria and Rayo Vallecano, scheduled for Friday, August 11, at 7:30 PM CET (11:00 PM IST on Friday, August 11). The league campaign for the 2023-24 season will commence for Real Madrid, boasting 35 titles as the most successful club in La Liga history, as they face Athletic Bilbao on Saturday, August 12, at 9:30 PM CET (1:00 AM IST on Sunday, August 13). FC Barcelona, reigning champions and holders of 27 La Liga titles, will initiate their 2023-24 league journey on Sunday, August 13, at 9:30 PM CET (1:00 AM IST on Monday, August 14), squaring off against Getafe.
The highly anticipated duel in Spanish football, the El Clasico featuring Real Madrid and FC Barcelona, is slated to occur twice in La Liga 2023-24. The initial encounter is set for October 29 in Barcelona, while the return leg is scheduled for April 21, 2024, in Madrid.
La Liga 2023-24 will culminate with Match Day 38, marking the final day of the season, on May 26, 2024.
Who is the main sponsor for La Liga in the 2023-24 season?
Commencing from the 2023-24 season, EA Sports, a subsidiary of Electronic Arts and known for sports video game development, will take on the role of the primary sponsor for La Liga.
Where can you watch the La Liga 2023-24 season?
In the 2023-24 season, the broadcasting rights for La Liga have been secured by various platforms in different regions:
– In the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland, La Liga TV and FreeSports have obtained exclusive broadcasting rights for the 2023-24 season. They will broadcast all Spanish Primera Division 2023-24 matches live in these regions. Additionally, the matches will be available for streaming on their digital platforms (Website, App) through a premium subscription.
– Viacom18 Media has secured the rights to stream La Liga in India for the next three years. MTV, a channel of Viacom18, will exclusively air La Liga matches in the upcoming season. Some matches will also be shown on select national and regional network channels. La Liga 2023-24 matches will be accessible on streaming platforms such as Voot and Jio.
– In the United States, ESPN has acquired the television rights for La Liga in a record-breaking deal worth $1.4 billion over eight seasons, starting from the 2023-24 season. ESPN will stream all 380 La Liga games each season on its streaming platform ESPN+, with selected matches broadcast on traditional ESPN networks. The deal also covers Canada, with games airing on the TSN and RDS networks.
– Amazon and LaLiga have partnered to bring live Spanish soccer coverage to the Prime Video Channels platform in the UK for the 2023-24 season. In Germany and Austria, fans can exclusively watch all games on DAZN.
– In Sub-Saharan Africa, all matches of La Liga 2023-24 will be broadcast live on SuperSport, available on DStv and GOtv platforms, as well as on SuperSport’s digital platform (Website, App).
– DAZN will continue to broadcast all Spanish Top Division matches in Germany, Austria, and Japan for another five seasons.
– China Mobile has secured non-exclusive
live streaming rights for La Liga games in China, available on China Mobile’s Migu streaming service.
– iQiyi Sports has acquired exclusive streaming rights for La Liga Santander in China for the 2023-24 season.
– Setanta Sports Eurasia has renewed its broadcast deal for the Baltic region for five years.
– StarTimes has secured exclusive broadcasting rights of La Liga across sub-Saharan Africa until 2024.
– Digi Sport has retained rights to show La Liga 2023-24 matches in Romania for a three-year period.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):
1. When does La Liga 2023-24 commence?
  – La Liga 2023-24 is set to begin on Friday, August 11.
2. How many teams are partaking in La Liga 2023-24?
  – A total of 20 teams will be participating in La Liga for the 2023-24 season.
3. Where will La Liga 2023-24 matches take place?
  – La Liga 2023-24 matches will be held at the home stadiums of the participating clubs across Spain.
4. Who is the sponsor of La Liga 2023-24?
  – EA Sports, a subsidiary of Electronic Arts and a sports video game developer, will serve as the principal sponsor of La Liga starting from the 2023-24 season.
