Bundesliga or La Liga: The Great European Football Debate
Photo Credit: FC Bayern Munich
The European football season is in full swing, and fans across the world are tuning in to watch their favourite teams and players in hope that they dominate the pitch. Each European league has its own pros and cons, and this poses the question: which league do football fans and viewers prefer? Europe’s “Big Five,” the most watched leagues, include the Premier League, La Liga, Ligue 1, the Bundesliga and Serie A.
Because of their popularity, these leagues have very passionate and loyal fans, sparking equally passionate debate. Football viewers across the world argue that their league, and team, is the best. Hamber’s soccer community is no stranger to this debate, particularly the dispute between the Bundesliga and La Liga.
Home to world class teams, Bundesliga and La Liga both have some of the most renowned players. Alejandro Diaz-Henderson (12) argued that La Liga is better because “a lot of bigger names have played in [La Liga] and not in the Bundesliga.” For instance, players like Lionel Messi, Alfredo di Stefano, and Chistriano Ronaldo all played on La Liga teams. Yuki Kimoto (9) said he prefers La Liga because of Jude Bellingham.
In contrast to Diaz-Henderson and Kimoto, Mr. P. Scaglione (Social Studies) favours the Bundesliga because of Alphonso Davies. “Alphonso Davies is one of my favourite players to watch and he’s Canadian,” he said. Watching players from home gives fans more reason to root for them, to which Mr. Scaglione said, “that’s why the Bundesliga trumps the Spanish League for me.”
Kaito Nomura (12) shared his preference for La Liga, saying, “It’s more entertaining, you don’t know what’s going to happen every time.” He added that although he thinks the English Premier League is the best league worldwide, La Liga is getting closer to its level because the teams are more competitive. “Every year it’s been different winners,” he said, which he thinks makes it more interesting to watch La Liga games. “The past three years, [champions] have been Athletico, Real Madrid, and Barcelona and this year an unexpected team, [Girona] is in first.”
Diaz-Henderson agreed with Nomura, adding that he finds that La Liga has much stronger teams and a higher quality of play. He grew up watching Real Madrid and the Messi versus Ronaldo rivalry, which he said could only happen in a league with very strong competition. “Growing up with that huge rivalry, you don’t really see that in the Bundesliga.”
The Messi and Ronaldo rivalry had many fans hooked and is yet to be settled. Barcelona and Real Madrid have the largest social media followings of any teams in sports.
Kimoto also added that “in the Bundesliga, Bayern Munich is too dominant.” Bayern Munich is considered to be the best German team, having won consecutive Bundesliga titles since 2013, with last year's title marking the 11th consecutive year.
However, Bayern does not currently sit first in the Bundesliga, Mr. Scaglione pointed out. He said that in the Bundesliga, “the middle teams are more competitive with the higher up teams, but in La Liga there’s Barcelona, Real Madrid, and Athletico, then everyone else.”
The discourse between Bundesliga and La Liga has led fans to question why it is such a big argument. Nomura explained that he thinks this is because “fans of the German teams think that the Bundesliga is bigger than La Liga, when it’s obviously not.” Diaz-Henderson agrees, adding that he believes a La Liga and Premier League debate would be more even.
Mr. Scaglione shared that overall, this is a contested debate because both leagues are second underneath the Premier League. “If you’re trying to choose between the [second] tier of the best teams of the world, it would be La Liga or the Bundesliga.”