La Liga is one of the top five leagues in European football, and with Carlo Ancelotti set to depart Real Madrid at the end of the season, the battle for the title will be one to savour.

Los Blancos finished second by 10 points to Barcelona last season, but they are 1/1 to win the league this year, with Xavi's side 11/8 to defend their crown.

Diego Simeone's Atletico Madrid, who last won the title during the 2020/21 campaign, are available at 9/1, and they are the likely challengers to the two Spanish giants.

What	2023/24 La Liga
Where	Spain
When	11th August 2023 - 26th May 2024
How to watch	bet365's European Soccer Live Streaming Highlights & LaLigaTV Sports
Odds	Real Madrid 1/1, Barcelona 11/8, Atletico Madrid 9/1, Real Sociedad 40/1

How does La Liga work?

La Liga is the men's top professional football division in Spain, and it is contested by 20 teams.

The competition format follows the usual double round-robin format, meaning each club plays every other club twice throughout the campaign, once at home and once away, for 38 matches.

Like other top leagues, teams receive three points for a win, one point for a draw, and no points for a loss, and there is also the threat of relegation into the Segunda Division, the second tier in Spain's football pyramid.

The three lowest-placed teams in La Liga are relegated, while to qualify for the Champions League, teams must finish in the top four in La Liga.

The 5th-place team qualifies for the UEFA Europa League, while those who finish sixth will qualify for the UEFA Conference League.

Last season, Real Valladolid, Espanyol and Elche were relegated, while Barcelona, Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid and Real Sociedad finished in the top four.

The final two European spots went to Villarreal and Real Betis.

When does the 2023/24 La Liga season begin?

The 2023-24 La Liga season begins on Friday, 11th August, 2023 and will last all the way until Sunday, 26th May, 2024.

When did La Liga start?

In April 1928, Jose Maria Acha, a director at Getxo, proposed the idea of a national league in Spain. The Real Federacion Espanola de Futbol eventually agreed to create a 10-team league in 1929.

Barcelona won the first La Liga crown in 1929, but it was Athletic Bilbao that dominated the early years, winning the division in 1930, 1931, 1934 and 1936. 

The league did not run from 1936-1939 due to the Spanish Civil War before returning for the 1939-40 campaign.

Over the years, the number of clubs competing would expand, and in 1987, it reached 20 clubs, although 22 clubs competed between 1995 and 1997.

How many times has La Liga taken place?

There have been 92 La Liga campaigns since its inception in 1929.

Which teams have won La Liga the most?

Real Madrid are La Liga's most successful side, winning the title on 35 occasions. They first won the title in the 1931-32 season, and they have since led the way ever since. Only three of those successes have come in the last 10 seasons, but they are usually in the frame every single campaign.

Barcelona are La Liga's second most-successful club, winning 27 titles, with Atletico Madrid lifting the trophy 10 times.

Only nine teams have ever won La Liga, with Athletic Bilbao, Valencia, Real Sociedad, Real Betis, Sevilla and Deporitvo La Coruna the only others to get their hand on the trophy.

Can I watch La Liga?

Yes. La Liga is part of bet365's European Soccer Live Streaming Highlights, while LaLigaTv offers TV coverage.

Who won last year's La Liga?

Barcelona won La Liga last season, with Xavi's side collecting 88 points from their 38 matches. They won 28 times, drew four and lost six, scoring 70 goals to set the standard in Spain.

Real Madrid were their closest challengers, but Ancelotti's team could only finish second on 78 points, one ahead of Atletico Madrid. 

Who are the favourites to win the 2023/24 La Liga?

In what will be Ancelotti's final year in charge of Real Madrid before he leaves to coach the Brazilian national team, Los Blancos are the 1/1 favourites to win the title.

Even though Ancelotti has lost striker Karim Benzema, they are still expected to set the standard. As defending champions, Barcelona will be good value to some at 11/8, while odds of 9/1 suggest Atletico Madrid are the only other team likely to challenge for the La Liga title.

Sociedad are 40/1 to win the league, the same price as Europa League champions Sevilla.