<P> According to UEFA's league coefficient, La Liga has been the top league in Europe over the last five years and has led Europe for more years (13) than any other country . It has also produced the continent's top - rated club more times (20) than any other league, more than double that of second - placed Serie A. Its clubs have won the most UEFA Champions League (17), UEFA Europa League (10), UEFA Super Cup (14), and FIFA Club World Cup (6) titles, and its players have accumulated the highest number of (FIFA) Ballon d'Or awards (19). </P> <P> La Liga is one of the most popular professional sports leagues in the world, with an average attendance of 26,741 for league matches in the 2014--15 season . This is the sixth - highest of any domestic professional sports league in the world and the fourth - highest of any professional association football league in the world, behind the Bundesliga, the Premier League, and the Indian Super League . </P> <P> The competition format follows the usual double round - robin format . During the course of a season, which lasts from August to May, each club plays every other club twice, once at home and once away, for a total of 38 matchdays . Teams receive three points for a win, one point for a draw, and no points for a loss . Teams are ranked by total points, with the highest - ranked club at the end of the season crowned champion . </P> <P> A system of promotion and relegation exists between the Primera División and the Segunda División . The three lowest placed teams in La Liga are relegated to the Segunda División, and the top two teams from the Segunda División promoted to La Liga, with an additional club promoted after a series of play - offs involving the third, fourth, fifth and sixth placed clubs . Below is a complete record of how many teams played in each season throughout the league's history; </P>

La liga standings how many games in a season