If you’ve ever wondered does La Liga have relegation, the answer is yes — very much so. In Spain’s top flight, La Liga (Primera División), the bottom clubs are dropped down each season, making the relegation battle one of its most intense storylines. AdiyaBall will guide you through the details: how many go down, how many come up, what decides tie-breaks, and some recent examples that show just how brutal survival can be.
What is relegation in La Liga
Relegation means that teams finishing at the bottom of La Liga are demoted to the second tier (Segunda División), while top teams. This is central to Spain’s football pyramid.
How many teams are relegated and promoted each season
- Three teams from La Liga are relegated to Segunda División every season — the clubs finishing in the bottom three of the league table.
- In Segunda División, two teams earn automatic promotion as the top two finishers.
- The third promotion spot is decided via playoffs among Segunda’s teams that finish in places 3-6.
So there is a constant flow: three down, three up (two directly, one via playoffs) each season.
What decides relegation if teams are tied on points
Sometimes clubs end up with the same number of points at season’s end. In La Liga tie-breakers work roughly like this:
- Head-to-head record between the tied teams (points in their matches vs one another).
- If still tied, goal difference in those head-to-head matches.
- If still no separation, then overall goal difference across all matches.
- If still tiedll tied, then goals scored in the season.
These rules make every match matter — not just wins or losses but how many you win by, how many you concede, and how you perform when facing rivals.
Historical and recent examples
To make it concrete, here are a few recent stories:
- In the 2024-25 season, Valladolid, Las Palmas, and Leganés were relegated.
- The following season (2025-26), three other clubs will move up, including one, secured their promotion through the playoffs after a 24-year absence.
- Tie-breakers have also made the difference between relegation and safety. In many seasons, teams narrowly avoid the drop thanks to better head-to-head or goal difference.
Why relegation matters so much
- Financial impact: Dropping out of La Liga means losing significant television revenue, sponsorship deals, often player departures.
- Prestige and morale: For historic clubs, relegation can mark a dark chapter; for fans, the pain is real.
- Survival battles enhance drama: The fight to avoid finishing in 18th-20th place often creates some of the most thrilling, high-pressure matches.
Common confusions or myths
- Some think there’s a relegation playoff for La Liga itself (i.e. between 18th in La Liga and some team in Segunda). That’s not how it works. Relegation from La Liga is automatic for the bottom three; there is no playoff to save a La Liga club.
- Reserve (B) teams: a reserve team can get promoted only so far; there are rules preventing a B-team playing in the same division as its senior side.
Does La Liga ever change these relegation rules?
Over its history, yes. But in recent seasons, the three-down, three-up system has been stable. The current structure (bottom three automatically relegated; top two in Segunda automatically promoted; one promotion via playoff) has been consistent for several years.
What this means for teams and fans
- If you support a team near the bottom, every match counts — draws vs wins, goal margins, even scoring late goals can save or doom a season.
- For aspiring clubs in Segunda, promotion isn’t just about finishing in top two: the playoff gives a lifeline, but it’s a pressure cooker.
- Fans get to witness both the glory of promotion and the agony of relegation: both are central to La Liga’s drama.
Conclusion
So, does La Liga have relegation? Absolutely. The bottom three clubs in Spain’s top flight are automatically relegated to the Segunda División each season. Three clubs also come up: two by finishing top, one. The system makes the end of season terrifying and beautiful in equal measure: survival, promotion, and heartbreak all in the same breath.
If you want, AdiyaBall can also walk you through past relegation battles, or the most dramatic survival stories in La Liga history — just say the word!
