The current La Liga season has been the most open in years and teams challenging the hegemony of Spanish giants Barcelona and Real Madrid will benefit soccer in the country, former France midfielder and World Cup winner Robert Pires has said.
While Spanish clubs have many of the worldโs leading players, including Argentinaโs Lionel Messi, La Liga has often been criticised for a lack of competition.
Barcelona and Real Madrid have won all but one league title between them in the last 14 seasons, with Atletico Madrid winning in the 2013-14 season.
But after eight games in the 2018-19 season, Pablo Machinโs Sevilla lead Barcelona by one point at the top of the table with Real at fourth place, a further point adrift.
โI donโt know why but this season is more competitive,โ Pires told Reuters in an interview. โWhen people talk about La Liga itโs always Barcelona or Madrid but not for this season.
โItโs little bit different. Teams Like Atletico Madrid, Sevilla and maybe Valencia, because they spent a lot of money and built a good team, they can beat or fight with Barcelona and Madrid.
โItโs very good for football, itโs more open.โ
La Liga lost a marquee player in Cristiano Ronaldo when Portugalโs top scorer left Real to join Serie A club Juventus but former Arsenal player Pires, who also had a spell at Villarreal, said it was imperative for Spain to keep attracting top players to its league.
โLa Liga has lots of good players like Luka Modric and the Spanish new generation like Isco, Asensio,โ said Pires, who was in India as an ambassador for La Liga at the launch of soccer schools in New Delhi. โThe potential is very good.
โLa Liga has Leo Messi and heโs the best player in the world.
โBut for La Liga itโs very important to bring some very good players like French forward Ousmane Dembele (Barcelona).โ
