Three teams descend to the Spanish second division, LaLiga SmartBank, every season. When a LaLiga Santander campaign closes, the mix of elation and disappointment is palpable: some clubs meet or surpass their goals, while others fall short.
The clubs finishing in the bottom three spots, those finishing 18th to 20th, face the harsh reality of relegation and must prepare for a tougher season in the second tier. The fight remains intense until the very last matchday, as geography and league regulations keep the pressure high for every point.
Which Spanish team earns a spot in the Conference League remains a topic of debate for many fans, but the immediate concern for the bottom teams is survival in the top flight. The league table is tightly packed, and even a single result can swing the fate of several clubs as the season reaches its final stages.
The league table is more than a snapshot of results. It tells the story of resilience and strategic decisions across 38 rounds. The bottom portion of the table bears the brunt of this scrutiny, while the rest of the standings tend to stabilize as the campaign progresses toward its end.
Goal average and its role in relegation
Goal average has long been a tool used to break ties when teams finish with the same number of points. It helps determine which side sits higher in the table and, in some circumstances, whether a club remains in or drops from the top division. The concept has roots in English terminology and refers to the balance between goals scored and goals conceded, a metric that influences outcomes in close calls where points are equal.
Illustration: goal difference between two teams
Consider two teams that end the season with identical points. The head-to-head results matter. If Team A beat Team B 2–0 in the first encounter and Team B wins 1–0 in the return, Team A holds the advantage on the head-to-head record and in goal difference against that specific pairing. Although points are equal, the team with the better head-to-head and overall goal difference gains the edge on the table.
Should the head-to-head figures be level as well, the broader measure comes into play: the aggregate goal difference across all league matches. The team with fewer goals conceded relative to scored over the full season would be ahead, reflecting a stronger overall performance in attack and defense.
For example, imagine Team A finished with 80 goals scored and 50 conceded, yielding a +30 goal difference across 38 fixtures. Team B tallies 62 goals scored and 20 conceded, a +42 difference. In that scenario, Team B commands the superior goal difference and sits higher in the standings, despite both teams earning the same number of points.
If the goal difference also ties, the federation states that the side with more total goals scored across the season takes precedence. This outcome ensures that offensive efficiency can determine advancement in a deadlock situation within the league framework.
Ties involving three or more teams
When a tie extends beyond two clubs, a structured sequence of criteria applies. The evaluation begins with the best points tally achieved in direct matches among the tied clubs, as if the others were not involved. If this does not separate all teams, the process moves to the largest goal difference in those head-to-head fixtures, considering only the games between the tied clubs. If still unresolved, the comparison expands to the overall goal difference across the whole season. If the tie persists, the team with the most goals scored during the entire campaign receives the higher placement. If all these rules fail to separate the clubs, final decisions may reference the league’s Fair Play criteria as a last resort, with rankings aligned to the directives published at the start of each season by the federation’s board of directors.
The rules are designed to be applied in a clear, hierarchical order to ensure fairness and transparency. When a tie is settled at any stage, the remaining clubs continue to follow the established sequence to determine positions and potential relegation or qualification outcomes.
These guidelines aim to preserve competitive integrity while providing a predictable framework for teams adapting to the final stretch of the season. The emphasis remains on performance across the entire campaign and the ability to convert opportunities into results when pressure peaks.
Source attribution: Goal