Skip to content

5 things we learned in La Liga this season

Miguel Vidal / Reuters

Real Madrid's evolution under Zinedine Zidane resulted in Los Blancos' first La Liga title in five years, but it was just one of the stories from a season that had no shortage of narratives.

Ronaldo's future is in the penalty area

For many supporters, this was supposed to be the season where, at long last, Cristiano Ronaldo regressed. Time would surely catch up with the Portuguese magician, who turned 32 years old in February. But fools were made of those who expected a decline.

On paper, it's easy to argue that Ronaldo took a step backward. He tallied 25 goals in La Liga, far fewer than the 35 and 48 he notched in 2015-16 and 2014-15, respectively. The numbers, however, don't even begin to tell the full story, and not just because - unlike the past two seasons - he was in a squad that conquered the top flight of Spanish football.

As the season progressed, Ronaldo developed into a centre-forward, loitering in the opponent's penalty area rather than the left side of the pitch. Not only did the change accommodate someone who breathes goals and who isn't getting any younger, but it coincided with Isco's rise at Real Madrid, which gives him even more license to roam in front of goal. Furthermore, he is being protected by Zidane, who wanted to ensure exhaustion was avoided.

As the Guardian's Jacob Steinberg wrote, Ronaldo "responded to the passing of time by trimming his game with devastating efficiency."

As a No. 9, Ronaldo will be able to continue terrorising defences for years to come. He is winning the battle against time.

Sporting Gijon never stood a chance

Sporting Gijon dug its own grave this season. As the Guardian's Sid Lowe explained, Los Rojiblancos' relegation "was all their own work, a result of institutional crisis, social divide, and financial limitations." Footballers who could have helped left on a free transfer, Abelardo Fernandez's revolution ended as the Asturian manager believed the team no longer reflected him, and the club's earnings couldn't be utilised due to debts.

There was hope Real Sporting could produce a miracle for the third year in a row. In 2014-15, Los Rojiblancos achieved promotion to La Liga at a time when they were at risk of going out of business. In 2015-16, relegation was avoided on the final matchday of the season. Somehow, the club always managed to overcome the odds.

As Fernandez once said: "Sporting Gijon are revolutionary, like Asturias."

But Real Sporting's problems were insurmountable this season and ultimately spelled out relegation before the campaign even kicked off.

Iago Aspas is among La Liga's best players

Away from the riches of Real Madrid and Barcelona, Iago Aspas notched more goals in La Liga this season than anyone else, drawing blood no fewer than 19 times. It was a campaign in which Liverpool's supporters wouldn't be able to recognise the Galician forward, whose time at Anfield was cruelly defined by a disastrous corner kick.

Success at Celta isn't out of the ordinary for Aspas. He scored two goals on his debut for the Los Celestes, including an injury-time winner that saved the club from dropping into the third division of Spanish football. But he is no longer just a homegrown hero or a lucky charm. He is a leader, and this season saw him join La Liga's upper echelon of footballers.

Celta rode Aspas' exploits to the semi-finals of the Copa del Rey and the semi-finals of the Europa League, where John Guidetti mucked up a glorious chance in the 96th minute of the second leg.

How much higher can Aspas take Celta?

English managers can't cut it in Spain

Granada was already destined for relegation when Tony Adams took over as Los Nazaries' manager, but the Englishman ensured the club went down in flames.

Adams arrived at Granada "as a kind of auditor, sporting director, and CEO in one," and was appointed as Los Nazaries' manager for their last seven games of the season after Lucas Alcaraz was sacked. The club lost all seven games and scored all of three goals, and he subsequently referred to the managerial spell as a "nightmare."

To be fair, Adams inherited a mess. Granada finished the season with a squad that featured 17 different nationalities and 13 players who were on loan. Only eight footballers were contracted to Los Nazaries. But that isn't an excuse for the club's calamitous end to the campaign, and he deserves a portion of the blame. He clearly had no understanding of the tactical and cultural differences between La Liga and English football, particularly when it came to defence.

Last season, Gary Neville won three of 16 La Liga games at Valencia, posting the lowest win percentage in the league of any manager in Los Che's history. Not a single clean sheet was picked up. It was a dire spell that triggered vitriol from the club's supporters. But it doesn't look all that bad when compared to Adams' time as Granada's manager.

Leganes belongs in La Liga

Leganes is the smallest club in La Liga and hails from cucumber country. This season marked Los Pepineros' first adventure in the top flight of Spanish football and they entered the campaign with only four players who had come at a cost. Yet, somehow, they never entered the relegation zone.

What Leganes, historically a third-division club, accomplished during its debut in La Liga is nothing short of remarkable. It was only a few years ago that Los Pepineros didn't even have a training ground.

In a league where there is a direct correlation between wealth and the table, Leganes is straying from the script, and will be back next season, looking to punch above its weight once again.

Daily Newsletter

Get the latest trending sports news daily in your inbox