The countdown to the end of La Liga Santander is on, and clubs are racing against the clock. The fight to avoid relegation keeps everything tense right up to the final whistle, with a strong sense of parity shaping every week of matches.
Stepping into the Stress Test: Which 2021-2022 La Liga Teams Will Move Down and Which Will Earn a Return to the Second Division
This raises a practical question: how is the relegation line decided if two or more teams finish with identical points?
How relegation is decided in La Liga 2021-2022 when teams finish level
In La Liga, the primary tiebreaker is the head-to-head record among the teams tied. If the teams have split their direct confrontations or finished with the same goal difference when they met, the tie goes to the overall goal difference across all 38 matches. If needed, the next metric is goals scored and goals conceded to separate the teams at the bottom of the table.
| Position | Team | Played | Wins | Draws | Losses | Goal Difference | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 | Elche | 36 | 10 | 9 | 17 | -13 | 39 |
| 15 | Getafe | 36 | 8 | 14 | 14 | -6 | 38 |
| 16 | Granada CF | 36 | 8 | 13 | 15 | -15 | 37 |
| 17 | Cadiz | 36 | 7 | 14 | 15 | -17 | 35 |
| 18 | Mallorca | 36 | 8 | 9 | 19 | -30 | 33 |
| 19 | Alaves | 36 | 8 | 7 | 21 | -31 | 31 |
| 20 | Levante | 36 | 6 | 6 | 24 | -29 | 29 |
In scenarios where several teams are tied, the league consults the head-to-head results among the involved clubs first. If the head-to-head comparison does not settle the order, the league then uses goal difference across the entire season, followed by the total goals scored and conceded. These steps ensure that the most direct performance measure among the tied teams is prioritized before broader statistical measures come into play. This approach rewards teams that performed best against their most immediate rivals and provides a clear framework for relegation decisions.
Understanding this framework helps fans gauge the critical weeks that decide which clubs will face the challenge of the second division and which will remain among Spain’s top tier teams. While the mathematical possibility of multiple teams sharing identical points exists, the tiebreak rules are designed to break those ties with objective metrics that reflect direct competition and overall season performance. The careful sequencing of these criteria adds drama to the end of the campaign while preserving fairness across the league.
Marking the end of the season, the relegation debate often centers on a few key dates and matches where results ripple through the table. Clubs in the dangerous zone focus on consistency, minimizing losses, and turning draws into wins whenever possible. Supporters keep a close eye on margins, as small differences in goal difference or goals scored can change a club’s fate in the final standings. The dynamic is intense, and the drama is a staple of La Liga’s closing chapter, underscored by the league’s commitment to transparent, rule-driven outcomes. [Goal]