# 2020–21 La Liga

The 2020–21 La Liga season, also known as La Liga Santander due to sponsorship reasons, was the 90th since its establishment. The season began on 12 September 2020 and concluded on 23 May 2021. The fixtures were announced on 31 August 2020.
Real Madrid were the defending champions, after winning a record 34th title in the previous season. Huesca, Cádiz and Elche joined as the promoted clubs from the 2019–20 Segunda División. They replaced Espanyol, Mallorca and Leganés, who were relegated to the 2020–21 Segunda División.
Exceptionally, this season the five substitutions were maintained in a maximum of three rounds per team, adopted in May 2020 due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Atlético Madrid clinched their eleventh La Liga title on the final matchday of the season, after a 2–1 comeback win against Valladolid. It was their first title since 2013–14. Barcelona and Real Madrid were the only other teams to have won the title since Atlético Madrid last did so.

## Teams
### Promotion and relegation (pre-season)

A total of twenty teams contested the league, including seventeen sides from the 2019–20 season and three promoted from the 2019–20 Segunda División. This included the two top teams from the Segunda División, and the winners of the promotion play-offs.

#### Teams relegated to Segunda División

The first team to be relegated from La Liga were Espanyol, after a 0–1 loss to city rivals Barcelona on 8 July 2020, ending their 26-year stay in the top tier. The second team to be relegated were Mallorca, following a 1–2 home defeat against Granada on 16 July 2020, suffering an immediate return to the second division. The third and final team to be relegated were Leganés, after drawing 2–2 against Real Madrid on 19 July 2020 in their final game of the season. This ended Lega's four-year stint in the first tier.

#### Teams promoted from Segunda División

On 12 July 2020, Cádiz became the first side to mathematically be promoted, assured of a return to the top flight after a fourteen-year absence following Oviedo's 4–2 win against Zaragoza. The second team to earn promotion were Huesca, following their 3–0 win against Numancia on 17 July 2020. This marked an immediate return to the first division after a season away. The final team to achieve promotion were Elche on 23 August 2020, following a 1–0 aggregate victory over Girona in the final of the promotion play-offs, sealing a return to La Liga after a five-year absence.

### Stadiums and locations

| Teams | Locations | Stadiums | Capacity |
| Alavés | Vitoria-Gasteiz | Mendizorrotza | 19,840 |
| Athletic Bilbao | Bilbao | San Mamés | 53,289 |
| Atlético Madrid | Madrid | Wanda Metropolitano | 68,456 |
| Barcelona | Barcelona | Camp Nou | 99,354 |
| Cádiz | Cádiz | Ramón de Carranza | 20,724 |
| Celta Vigo | Vigo | Abanca-Balaídos | 29,000 |
| Eibar | Eibar | Ipurua | 8,164 |
| Elche | Elche | Martínez Valero | 33,732 |
| Getafe | Getafe | Coliseum Alfonso Pérez | 17,393 |
| Granada | Granada | Nuevo Los Cármenes | 19,336 |
| Huesca | Huesca | El Alcoraz | 7,638 |
| Levante | Valencia | Ciutat de València | 26,354 |
| Osasuna | Pamplona | El Sadar | 23,576 |
| Real Betis | Seville | Benito Villamarín | 60,721 |
| Real Madrid | Madrid | Alfredo Di Stéfano | 6,000 |
| Real Sociedad | San Sebastián | Anoeta | 39,500 |
| Sevilla | Seville | Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán | 43,883 |
| Valencia | Valencia | Mestalla | 55,000 |
| Valladolid | Valladolid | José Zorrilla | 28,012 |
| Villarreal | Villarreal | Estadio de la Cerámica | 24,890 |

### Personnel and sponsorship

| Team | Manager | Captain | Kit manufacturer | Shirt sponsor(s) |
| Alavés | Javier Calleja | Manu García | Kelme | Betway, Zotapay, Exiom Group, InJoo, Integra Energía |
| Athletic Bilbao | Marcelino | Iker Muniain | New Balance | Kutxabank |
| Atlético Madrid | Diego Simeone | Koke | Νike | Plus500, Ria Money Transfer, Hyundai, VERSUS |
| Barcelona | Ronald Koeman | Lionel Messi | Νike | Rakuten, UNICEF, Beko |
| Cádiz | Álvaro Cervera | Jon Ander Garrido | Adidas | Dafabet, Humanox |
| Celta Vigo | Eduardo Coudet | Hugo Mallo | Adidas | Estrella Galicia 0,0, Abanca, Visit Maldives, Grupo Recalvi |
| Eibar | José Luis Mendilibar | Sergi Enrich | Joma | Alyco |
| Elche | Fran Escribá | Nino | Hummel | TM Grupo Inmobiliario |
| Getafe | José Bordalás | Djené | Joma | Tecnocasa Group, Reale Seguros, El Brillante, Tejada's Forever |
| Granada | Diego Martínez | Víctor Díaz | Νike | Winamax, Caja Rural Granada, Coviran |
| Huesca | Pacheta | Jorge Pulido | Kelme | Huesca La Magia, Apisa, Bodega Sommos, Grupo Cosehisa, Ambar 0,0 |
| Levante | Paco López | José Luis Morales | Macron | Betway, Baleària, Sesderma |
| Osasuna | Jagoba Arrasate | Oier Sanjurjo | Adidas | Verleal, Victorino Vicente, Selk, Clínica Universidad de Navarra |
| Real Betis | Manuel Pellegrini | Joaquín | Kappa | Betway, Bitci.com, Reale Seguros, Turismo de Sevilla |
| Real Madrid | Zinedine Zidane | Sergio Ramos | Adidas | Emirates |
| Real Sociedad | Imanol Alguacil | Asier Illarramendi | Macron | IQONIQ, Kutxabank, Reale Seguros |
| Sevilla | Julen Lopetegui | Jesús Navas | Νike | Marathonbet, AliExpress, Valvoline, EverFX, Turismo de Sevilla |
| Valencia | Voro (interim) | José Gayà | Puma | bwin, Libertex, Sailun Tyres, Škoda |
| Valladolid | Sergio González | Míchel Herrero | Adidas | Estrella Galicia 0,0, Herbalife Nutrition, Integra Energía, Inexo |
| Villarreal | Unai Emery | Mario Gaspar | Joma | Pamesa Cerámica |
    1. ^ On the back of shirt.
    2. ^ On the sleeves.
    3. ^ On the shorts.

### Managerial changes

| Team | Outgoing manager | Manner of departure | Date of vacancy | Position in table | Incoming manager | Date of appointment |
| Villarreal | Javier Calleja | Sacked | 20 July 2020 | Pre-season | Unai Emery | 23 July 2020 |
| Alavés | Juan Muñiz | End of contract | 20 July 2020 | Pre-season | Pablo Machín | 5 August 2020 |
| Real Betis | Alexis Trujillo | End of interim spell | 20 July 2020 | Pre-season | Manuel Pellegrini | 9 July 2020 |
| Valencia | Voro | End of interim spell | 20 July 2020 | Pre-season | Javi Gracia | 27 July 2020 |
| Barcelona | Quique Setién | Sacked | 17 August 2020 | Pre-season | Ronald Koeman | 19 August 2020 |
| Elche | Pacheta | Resigned | 25 August 2020 | Pre-season | Jorge Almirón | 26 August 2020 |
| Celta Vigo | Óscar García | Sacked | 9 November 2020 | 17th | Eduardo Coudet | 12 November 2020 |
| Athletic Bilbao | Gaizka Garitano | Sacked | 3 January 2021 | 9th | Marcelino | 4 January 2021 |
| Huesca | Míchel | Sacked | 12 January 2021 | 20th | Pacheta | 12 January 2021 |
| Alavés | Pablo Machín | Sacked | 12 January 2021 | 16th | Abelardo | 12 January 2021 |
| Elche | Jorge Almirón | Resigned | 12 February 2021 | 19th | Fran Escribá | 14 February 2021 |
| Alavés | Abelardo | Sacked | 5 April 2021 | 20th | Javier Calleja | 5 April 2021 |
| Valencia | Javi Gracia | Sacked | 2 May 2021 | 14th | Voro (caretaker) | 3 May 2021 |

## League table

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 1 | Atlético Madrid (C) | 38 | 26 | 8 | 4 | 67 | 25 | +42 | 86 | Qualification for the Champions League group stage |
| 2 | Real Madrid | 38 | 25 | 9 | 4 | 67 | 28 | +39 | 84 | Qualification for the Champions League group stage |
| 3 | Barcelona | 38 | 24 | 7 | 7 | 85 | 38 | +47 | 79 | Qualification for the Champions League group stage |
| 4 | Sevilla | 38 | 24 | 5 | 9 | 53 | 33 | +20 | 77 | Qualification for the Champions League group stage |
| 5 | Real Sociedad | 38 | 17 | 11 | 10 | 59 | 38 | +21 | 62 | Qualification for the Europa League group stage |
| 6 | Real Betis | 38 | 17 | 10 | 11 | 50 | 50 | 0 | 61 | Qualification for the Europa League group stage |
| 7 | Villarreal | 38 | 15 | 13 | 10 | 60 | 44 | +16 | 58 | Qualification for the Champions League group stage |
| 8 | Celta Vigo | 38 | 14 | 11 | 13 | 55 | 57 | −2 | 53 | |
| 9 | Granada | 38 | 13 | 7 | 18 | 47 | 65 | −18 | 46 | |
| 10 | Athletic Bilbao | 38 | 11 | 13 | 14 | 46 | 42 | +4 | 46 | |
| 11 | Osasuna | 38 | 11 | 11 | 16 | 37 | 48 | −11 | 44 | |
| 12 | Cádiz | 38 | 11 | 11 | 16 | 36 | 58 | −22 | 44 | |
| 13 | Valencia | 38 | 10 | 13 | 15 | 50 | 53 | −3 | 43 | |
| 14 | Levante | 38 | 9 | 14 | 15 | 46 | 57 | −11 | 41 | |
| 15 | Getafe | 38 | 9 | 11 | 18 | 28 | 43 | −15 | 38 | |
| 16 | Alavés | 38 | 9 | 11 | 18 | 36 | 57 | −21 | 38 | |
| 17 | Elche | 38 | 8 | 12 | 18 | 34 | 55 | −21 | 36 | |
| 18 | Huesca (R) | 38 | 7 | 13 | 18 | 34 | 53 | −19 | 34 | Relegation to Segunda División |
| 19 | Valladolid (R) | 38 | 5 | 16 | 17 | 34 | 57 | −23 | 31 | Relegation to Segunda División |
| 20 | Eibar (R) | 38 | 6 | 12 | 20 | 29 | 52 | −23 | 30 | Relegation to Segunda División |
* ↑ Stadium used for games behind closed doors.
* ↑ Since the winners of the 2020–21 Copa del Rey, Barcelona, qualified for the 2021–22 UEFA Champions League based on league position, the spot awarded to the cup winners (Europa League group stage) was passed to the sixth-placed team, and the spot awarded to the sixth-placed team (2021–22 UEFA Europa Conference League play-off round) was passed to the seventh-placed team, Villarreal.
* ↑ Villarreal qualified for the 2021–22 UEFA Champions League by winning the 2020–21 UEFA Europa League. Based on their league position (7th), they would have received the spot above to enter the Europa Conference League play-off round. This spot was vacated without replacement as per UEFA regulations.
* 1 2 Granada finished ahead of Athletic Bilbao on head-to-head goal difference: Granada 2–0 Athletic Bilbao, Athletic Bilbao 2–1 Granada.
* 1 2 Osasuna finished ahead of Cádiz on head-to-head points: Cádiz 0–2 Osasuna, Osasuna 3–2 Cádiz.

## Results

| Home \ Away | ALA | ATH | ATM | BAR | CAD | CEL | EIB | ELC | GET | GRA | HUE | LEV | OSA | BET | RMA | RSO | SEV | VAL | VLL | VIL |
| Alavés | — | 1–0 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–1 | 0–2 | 0–0 | 4–2 | 1–0 | 2–2 | 0–1 | 0–1 | 1–4 | 0–0 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 1–0 | 2–1 |
| Athletic Bilbao | 0–0 | — | 2–1 | 2–3 | 0–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 5–1 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 0–1 | 0–1 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 |
| Atlético Madrid | 1–0 | 2–1 | — | 1–0 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 5–0 | 3–1 | 1–0 | 6–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 0–0 |
| Barcelona | 5–1 | 2–1 | 0–0 | — | 1–1 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 3–0 | 5–2 | 1–2 | 4–1 | 1–0 | 4–0 | 5–2 | 1–3 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–0 | 4–0 |
| Cádiz | 3–1 | 0–4 | 2–4 | 2–1 | — | 0–0 | 1–0 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 0–1 | 0–3 | 0–1 | 1–3 | 2–1 | 0–0 | 0–0 |
| Celta Vigo | 2–0 | 0–0 | 0–2 | 0–3 | 4–0 | — | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–0 | 3–1 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 2–3 | 1–3 | 1–4 | 3–4 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 0–4 |
| Eibar | 3–0 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 0–1 | 0–2 | 0–0 | — | 0–1 | 0–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 0–1 | 0–2 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 1–3 |
| Elche | 0–2 | 2–0 | 0–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–0 | — | 1–3 | 0–1 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–3 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 |
| Getafe | 0–0 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 1–1 | — | 0–1 | 1–0 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 3–0 | 0–0 | 0–1 | 0–1 | 3–0 | 0–1 | 1–3 |
| Granada | 2–1 | 2–0 | 1–2 | 0–4 | 0–1 | 0–0 | 4–1 | 2–1 | 0–0 | — | 3–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–4 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 2–1 | 1–3 | 0–3 |
| Huesca | 1–0 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 0–1 | 0–2 | 3–4 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 3–2 | — | 1–1 | 0–0 | 0–2 | 1–2 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 0–0 | 2–2 | 0–0 |
| Levante | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 3–0 | 2–2 | 0–2 | — | 0–1 | 4–3 | 0–2 | 2–1 | 0–1 | 1–0 | 2–2 | 1–5 |
| Osasuna | 1–1 | 1–0 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 0–0 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–3 | — | 0–2 | 0–0 | 0–1 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 0–0 | 1–3 |
| Real Betis | 3–2 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 1–0 | 2–1 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 1–0 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 1–0 | — | 2–3 | 0–3 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 |
| Real Madrid | 1–2 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 0–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–1 | 1–2 | 2–0 | 0–0 | — | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 2–1 |
| Real Sociedad | 4–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–6 | 4–1 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–0 | 2–0 | 4–1 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 0–0 | — | 1–2 | 0–1 | 4–1 | 1–1 |
| Sevilla | 1–0 | 0–1 | 1–0 | 0–2 | 3–0 | 4–2 | 0–1 | 2–0 | 3–0 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 3–2 | — | 1–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 |
| Valencia | 1–1 | 2–2 | 0–1 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–1 | 1–0 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 4–1 | 2–2 | 0–1 | — | 3–0 | 2–1 |
| Valladolid | 0–2 | 2–1 | 1–2 | 0–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 1–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–1 | — | 0–2 |
| Villarreal | 3–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–2 | 2–1 | 2–4 | 2–1 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 2–1 | 2–0 | — |

## Season statistics
### Scoring

* First goal of the season: Yangel Herrera for Granada against Athletic Bilbao (12 September 2020)
* Last goal of the season: Papu Gómez for Sevilla against Alavés (23 May 2021)

### Top goalscorers

| Rank | Player | Club | Goals |
| 1 | Lionel Messi | Barcelona | 30 |
| 2 | Karim Benzema | Real Madrid | 23 |
| 2 | Gerard Moreno | Villarreal | 23 |
| 4 | Luis Suárez | Atlético Madrid | 21 |
| 5 | Youssef En-Nesyri | Sevilla | 18 |
| 6 | Alexander Isak | Real Sociedad | 17 |
| 7 | Iago Aspas | Celta Vigo | 14 |
| 8 | Antoine Griezmann | Barcelona | 13 |
| 8 | Rafa Mir | Huesca | 13 |
| 8 | José Luis Morales | Levante | 13 |

### Top assists

| Rank | Player | Club | Assists |
| 1 | Iago Aspas | Celta Vigo | 13 |
| 2 | Marcos Llorente | Atlético Madrid | 11 |
| 3 | Yannick Carrasco | Atlético Madrid | 10 |
| 3 | Toni Kroos | Real Madrid | 10 |
| 5 | Karim Benzema | Real Madrid | 9 |
| 5 | Jorge de Frutos | Levante | 9 |
| 5 | Lionel Messi | Barcelona | 9 |
| 5 | Denis Suárez | Celta Vigo | 9 |
| 9 | Ángel Correa | Atlético Madrid | 8 |
| 9 | Mikel Oyarzabal | Real Sociedad | 8 |
| 9 | Carlos Soler | Valencia | 8 |

### Zamora Trophy

The Zamora Trophy was awarded by newspaper Marca to the goalkeeper with the lowest goals-to-games ratio. A goalkeeper had to have played at least 28 games of 60 or more minutes to be eligible for the trophy.
| Rank | Player | Club | Goals against | Matches | Average |
| 1 | Jan Oblak | Atlético Madrid | 25 | 38 | 0.66 |
| 2 | Thibaut Courtois | Real Madrid | 28 | 38 | 0.74 |
| 3 | Yassine Bounou | Sevilla | 28 | 33 | 0.85 |
| 4 | Álex Remiro | Real Sociedad | 38 | 38 | 1.00 |
| 5 | Marc-André ter Stegen | Barcelona | 32 | 31 | 1.03 |

### Hat-tricks

| Player | For | Against | Result | Date | Round |
| Carlos Soler | Valencia | Real Madrid | 4–1 (H) | 8 November 2020 | 9 |
| Youssef En-Nesyri | Sevilla | Real Sociedad | 3–2 (H) | 9 January 2021 | 18 |
| Youssef En-Nesyri | Sevilla | Cádiz | 3–0 (H) | 23 January 2021 | 20 |
| Rafa Mir | Huesca | Valladolid | 3–1 (A) | 29 January 2021 | 21 |
| Alexander Isak | Real Sociedad | Alavés | 4–0 (H) | 21 February 2021 | 24 |
| Gerard Moreno | Villarreal | Granada | 3–0 (A) | 3 April 2021 | 29 |
| Kike García | Eibar | Alavés | 3–0 (H) | 1 May 2021 | 34 |
| Carlos Bacca | Villarreal | Sevilla | 4–0 (H) | 16 May 2021 | 37 |

### Discipline

Stats from:

#### Player

* Most yellow cards: 15
** Stefan Savić (Atlético Madrid)
* Most red cards: 2
** Pape Diop (Eibar)
** Djené (Getafe)
** Raúl García (Athletic Bilbao)
** Clément Lenglet (Barcelona)
** Aïssa Mandi (Real Betis)

#### Team

* Most yellow cards: 114
** Getafe
* Most red cards: 8
** Alavés
** Real Betis
* Fewest yellow cards: 57
** Real Madrid
* Fewest red cards: 0
** Atlético Madrid

## Awards
### Monthly

| Month | Player of the Month | Player of the Month | Reference |
| Month | Player | Club | Reference |
| September | Ansu Fati | Barcelona | |
| October | Mikel Oyarzabal | Real Sociedad | |
| November | João Félix | Atlético Madrid | |
| December | Iago Aspas | Celta Vigo | |
| January | Youssef En-Nesyri | Sevilla | |
| February | Lionel Messi | Barcelona | |
| March | Karim Benzema | Real Madrid | |
| April | Fernando | Sevilla | |
| May | Jan Oblak | Atlético Madrid | |

### Annual

| Award | Winner | Club | Ref. |
| Player of the Season | Jan Oblak | Atlético Madrid | |