2013–14 La Liga

Promotion and relegation (pre-season)

A total of 20 teams contested the league, including 17 sides from the 2012–13 season and three promoted from the 2012–13 Segunda División. This included the two top teams from the Segunda División, and the victorious team of the play-offs.

RCD Mallorca, Deportivo de La Coruña and Real Zaragoza were relegated to 2013–14 Segunda División the previous season: Mallorca were relegated after 16 years in La Liga, the longest period in its history and ending their golden era, Zaragoza returned to Segunda División after a four-year tenure in La Liga, while Deportivo made an immediate return to the Segunda División after being promoted the previous year. All three teams were relegated in the last matchday.

The three relegated teams were replaced by three 2012–13 Segunda División sides: Elche CF returned to the top level as Segunda División champion after 24 years of absence and with the last 14 seasons consecutively in the Segunda División. The second placed team Villarreal was also promoted to La Liga making an immediate return to La Liga after a win over Almería in the decisive match of the last set of games where the winner would be directly promoted to La Liga. Almería returned to the Spanish top flight after spending two years in the Segunda by beating Girona in the promotion play-offs.

This was the first season since the 1988–89 season without any teams from the archipelagos of Spain (teams located on the Balearic Islands and Canary Islands) since RCD Mallorca was relegated and UD Las Palmas failed to be promoted after playing in the promotion play-offs later season.

Personnel and sponsorship

As in the previous years, Nike provided the official ball for all matches, with a new Nike Incyte Liga BBVA model to be used throughout the season for all matches.

Managerial changes

1. Announcement date. The appointment was made effective since 1 July 2013.

Season summary

The 2013–14 La Liga season was the 83rd since its establishment. Match days were drawn on 9 July 2013. The season began on 17 August 2013 and ended on 18 May 2014.

For the first time since 1951 and just the third time in league history, the La Liga title came down to a head-to-head match on the final weekend of play. Atlético Madrid were three points ahead of 2013 champion Barcelona, but had its final game on the road in Barcelona. Barcelona took a 1–0 lead into the half and Atlético lost two starters to injury in the half. A late header, however, secured a 1–1 draw, earning the Colchoneros their first league title in 18 years, and their 10th overall. It was the first time since the 2003–04 La Liga that a club other than Barcelona or Real Madrid, which finished tied for second, won the title. It was also the first time in the 67-year history of the Camp Nou stadium that a visiting team had clinched the title in the stadium.

The emergence of Diego Costa and Koke was a large part of Atlético Madrid's success. Costa scored 28 goals on the season (27 in league play), including the winner in Atlético's first victory over Real Madrid since 1999. Koke had 18 assists on the year (13 in league play), to go with seven goals.

Earlier in the season, Lionel Messi scored a hat-trick as Barcelona ended a 31-match unbeaten streak for Real Madrid. The same day, Atlético beat Real Betis to claim the league lead. A loss against Levante and draw against Malaga left Atlético vulnerable heading into their final match.

Cristiano Ronaldo won the league scoring title with 31 goals. Messi was second and Costa third. Ángel Di María had most assists with 17. Thibaut Courtois won the Ricardo Zamora Trophy for best goalkeeper. Barcelona was the least penalised team.

Positions by round

The table lists the positions of teams after completion of each round.

Last updated: 18 May 2014
Source: kicker.de
Round 4 clarification Source : LFP Statement

Results

Last updated: 18 May 2014
Source: LFP

Scoring

Top goalscorers

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

Source: pichichi.es

Zamora Trophy

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

Hat-tricks

⁴ Player scored four goals
⁵ Player scored five goals
(H) – Home ; (A) – Away

Discipline

Attendances

Updated to games played on 18 May 2014
Source: Official websites and other Spanish media
Notes:
Attendance numbers without playoff matches.
1: Team played last season in Segunda División
2: Athletic Bilbao played game 1 in Anoeta, with an attendance of 16,000.

Seasonal

La Liga's governing body, the Liga de Fútbol Profesional, honoured the competition's best players and coach with the LFP Awards.