beIN SPORTS

By David Cartlidge (@davidjaca)

There’s no point in dancing around the subject anymore, or shying away from the reality. When it comes to playing in Europe, Spanish clubs are the best.

Be it with the elite of the Champions League, or the second tier of clubs in the Europa League, it is Spain that continues to lead the way. This year again shows just how far ahead La Liga clubs are when it comes to navigating games on the continent, and it’s not just the usual suspects that are flying the flag.

Barcelona and Real Madrid, while both successfully through to the quarter-finals of the Champions League, won’t be and should not be where La Liga is judged as a product.

Any verdict will be found gradually moving down the table. In fact, of the current top six in La Liga, every team will be present in the next stage of European competition. From Barcelona in 1st, to Athletic Bilbao currently in sixth. No other league can boast such an incredible achievement. In fact, the only team to fall were Valencia - and it took another Spanish side to do so.

Manchester City remain the sole English representative in the Champions League after Chelsea’s KO, while Liverpool beat fellow countrymen Manchester United in the Europa League. Still, this is hardly impressive for a league that may be growing in terms of the money flooding into it from TV deals, but is doing anything but when it comes to building stature in Europe and to be considered as a force to be reckoned with. United’s campaign in the Champions League for instance, was nothing short of a joke. English teams are a force when it comes to money, blowing many countries out of the water in that sense, but on the field there is still a need for major development.

Elsewhere, Bayern are joined by Wolfsburg in the Champions League on the German side, while Borussia Dortmund remain a favorite in the Europa League. France has only PSG to wave their flag. Italy meanwhile, doesn’t have a single team left in Europe. Portugal has two teams, impressively so given their top flight has become a stepping stone for players in the last decade. Czech Republic and Ukraine fill out the other two slots meanwhile, with a club each. 

But Spain, with six sides left, lead the way yet again. It’s an increasing trend over the years, evidence of this is both major trophies currently being held by Spanish sides. Sevilla’s proved to be experts in handling the Europa League and all its pitfalls, from the much maligned group stage to tricky ties in the KO stages. Barcelona meanwhile, unlike their English rivals, have used their wealth well. They have bought to compete, and will continue to do so. Their team is still packed with local talent mind, and astute buys from within Spain such as Ivan Rakitic and Aleix Vidal. 

La Liga is often cited as a two team league, and to some degree people have a point. The sheer wealth of Barça and Real Madrid compared to the rest of the league remains a sore issue, with the disparity in the TV deal persisting despite efforts to alter the agreement. While that exists, then no challenger from a group of teams like Villarreal, Athletic Bilbao and Sevilla will emerge. That’s disappointing. But at the same time these teams aren't burdened by the issue. Instead they compete, and adapt to life in this position. They make the league interesting in their own right and produce quality football, with a vast amount of quality players. When in Europe, they come alive. They don't select reserve teams on key nights - such as what Spurs did in Germany this season - instead this stage is seen as a showcase of their talents.

Individuals such as Bruno Soriano, Ever Banega and Aritz Aduriz would be stars in the Premier League. There are more players too, even further down the league. Nolito, Andre Gomes, Nacho Camacho. These are all outstanding players that Premier League clubs would be willing to, and have in the past, handed over top money for. A joke league, a two team league, wouldn’t be able to boast such a thing.

Make no mistake too. No one wants to face a Spanish team in Europe. Not just Barça and Real Madrid. But teams guided by excellent coaches such as Marcelino, Ernesto Valverde and Unai Emery. Spanish clubs have now eliminated foreign clubs on 43 out of 46 occasions they have been drawn against each other.

Two teams haven’t just done that. The league has done that.