LaLiga flees from the show

Pellegrini raised a voice that had been echoing for a long time in the atmosphere of The league. After the tie between Betis and Cadiz, the technician used the subsequent press conference to act as a speaker for a repeated demand on the fan. “You have to give more rhythm to the games for the amount of fouls, simulations and interruptions there are “, he pointed out, putting in the spotlight coaches, referees and players, to whom he asks to make an effort to solve this problem. “In their conversation with the referees they themselves recognized that LaLiga is the slowest in Europe because between fouls and fouls the game takes a long time to resume and is constantly simulated. There is a show that we have to take care of “, sentenced the Chilean. His words reopened the public debate that has haunted LaLiga in recent years. In fact, the added time of the last Clásico sowed a controversy in which this issue was once again dusted off and that from Diario AS we thoroughly disengage with all the teams in the championship.

Opt, one of the most recognized sports analysis companies in the world, has agreed. The British analyst company showed how, Compared to the rest of the leagues, ours is the one in which less minutes of real time are played per game with 50 minutes and 57 seconds. Ligue 1 leads the ranking, with 55 minutes and 41 seconds. That is to say, a LaLiga fan sees an average of five minutes less effective play than one in the French league.

As can be seen in the table, the fact that little is played in LaLiga is a trend that has become more acute in recent seasons. The arrival of the VAR in the 2018/19 season implied a reduction in playing times, but after the consolidation and acceleration of technology in football, the rest of the European leagues returned to present figures similar to those of before their establishment. In LaLiga, after achieving a small boost in the 2020/21 academic year, the first two days of 2021/22 have once again highlighted the problem that Spanish football suffers: excessive interruptions, lost time, simulations and a high amount of fouls that directly affect the rhythm of the matches.

This past weekend only Italy had a higher average number of fouls per game (27.4) than Spain (26.1). Behind are Ligue 1 (24.1), the Bundesliga (22.8) and the Premier (18.9). In fact, Osasuna and Real Society complete the podium led by Venezia (22) of the Major league teams that have committed the most fouls per game (18.5). They are followed by Valencia and Inter (18), grenade (17.5), Strasbourg (17.3), Athletic, Torino, Sampdoria and Cagliari (17), I raised and Getafe (16.5). Of the thirteen, seven come from LaLiga.

Wet gunpowder

Another aspect that splashes directly into the show are the goals and that is LaLiga is also the competition in which the fans least get up from their seats in this 2021/22 season. In 20 games there have been 38 goals, one average of 1.9 goals per encounter. In comparison, the Premier presents an average of 2.95 (59 goals in total), 3.6 Seria A (36 in total in just ten games), the Bundesliga 2.7 (54 in total) and 2.8 Ligue 1 (84 in three games).

It is evidence that Spain has lost a goal. A quarter of the games played ended 0-0 and on the second matchday only Levante-Real Madrid had a score with more than two goals. The absence of goals does not imply heaviness or boredom, but their presence does bring the spectator closer to the show. A good example of this is the frenzy that was formed in the three-way tie between Levante and Real Madrid.

In addition, this transfer window has reflected how the problems of the game are fueled by two other evils: talent drain and lack of investment. Spain is no longer an attractive market for young people and the coffers of the clubs are facing economic crises that prevent them from fighting with the financial muscle of leagues such as the Premier. Spanish football is immersed in a maelstrom that affects all its parts and that punishes the spectacle with more and more intensity.