As the 2023-24 football season in Europe draws closer to its end, anticipation surged upwards across the major football leagues, signaling a prime opportunity to gauge which league would host the most fiercely contested title race.
Over the past two decades, the concept of the “top five European leagues” has firmly entrenched itself in football discourse, denoting those competitions that have surged ahead in terms of financial clout and widespread popularity.
Are there 5 major Leagues in Europe?
However, some argue that the term “Big Five” may be outdated, with the English Premier League emerging as the undisputed leader in terms of financial power and competitiveness.
Indeed, the English top flight garnered widespread acclaim from fans and pundits alike, largely due to the intense competition witnessed among its teams during the title race.
The relentless pursuit of perfection by each team pushes the boundaries of excitement, delivering thrilling battles not only at the top but also at the lower rungs of the league table.
In the 2021/22 Premier League season, the title race unfolded dramatically, with Manchester City and Liverpool locked in a tight battle until the final game of the season.
Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City ultimately emerged triumphant, edging out Liverpool by a mere point.
The following season 2022/23 season maintained the same level of competitiveness, with Arsenal and Manchester City captivating fans with their exhilarating performances, despite City ultimately clinching the title with a slender five-point margin.
Turning our gaze to the other major leagues in Europe, a stark contrast emerges, as the title races in these competitions have largely been decided well in advance due to the vast quality gap between the top teams and the rest.
One-time haven for competitiveness – the Serie A, is no longer rife with competition
In Serie A, for instance, Inter Milan has enjoyed an unchallenged march to the title, leaving traditional powerhouses like AC Milan and Napoli trailing far behind.
The lack of competition among the top teams has resulted in a rather lackluster season, with defending champions Napoli languishing in 8th position and trailing league leaders Inter Milan with 34 points.
AC Milan, who sit 2nd on the log, find themselves trailing 14 points behind champions-elect Inter Milan and the Nerazzurri are comfortably cruising to the title without facing any significant resistance.
Similarly, French Ligue 1 has garnered criticism for its lack of competitiveness, The league has been labeled “The farmers league” with Paris Saint-Germain’s financial dominance with wealthy owners like the Qatar Sports Investment often ensuring an early coronation as league champions.
Despite occasional challenges from other clubs, PSG’s formidable squad strength invariably sees them clinch the title with ease, leaving little room for suspense.
In the 2021/22 season, PSG won the league with 86 points and second-placed Marseille finished with 71 points.
The 2015/16 season saw PSG winning the league with 96 points and the second-placed Lyon finishing with 65 points, a 31-point gap difference which for the fans and neutrals doesn’t portray a competitive league.
Bayer Leverkusen running away with the Bundesliga title
In the Bundesliga, Bayern Munich’s long-standing supremacy has faced unexpected challenges from the likes of Borussia Dortmund and Bayer Leverkusen.
However, despite significant investments in players like Harry Kane, Bayern finds themselves trailing behind, with a whooping 13-point gap behind Xabi Alonso’s men.
The populace and neutrals had hoped for a keenly contested Bundesliga title race, though it appears the gap margin will be too wide to even call it a competitive title race.
Additionally, Bayer Leverkusen’s unbeaten streak this season could underscore the lack of genuine competition in the league.
In La Liga, the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi has led to a noticeable decline in competitiveness, as the league struggles to replicate the thrilling title races of years past.
Real Madrid and Barcelona, once fierce rivals at the summit of Spanish football, have faltered in their quest for dominance, leaving fans yearning for the intense battles of yesteryears.
The 2021/22 Spanish league season saw Real Madrid win the league with a 13-point gap to second place Barcelona, while last season 2022/23 season saw Barcelona finish top with a 10-point gap to second place Real Madrid.
This season – 2023/24, as of April 2024 the Galacticos are leading the La Liga table with 75 points and topping Barcelona with an 8-point gap.
Anyway, Barcelona’s financial woes have greatly handicapped the Catalan club and that has not allowed them to be more competitive in the transfer market and meet up with La Liga’s lofty salary limits.
Is the English Premier League the king of the major leagues in Europe?
Despite these shortcomings, the Premier League continues to stand out as the epitome of competitiveness, with even smaller clubs challenging the established order and vying for top honors.
This season, the title race has evolved into a thrilling three-way tussle between Manchester City, Liverpool, and Arsenal, with 3 points separating the three teams, injecting uncertainty and excitement into the competition.
Ultimately, while the Premier League’s financial muscle undoubtedly contributes to its competitiveness, it is the collective efforts of teams across the league, both big and small, that truly elevate the league as the “best” league amongst the top five European leagues.
As the season unfolds, fans eagerly await the crowning of the next Premier League champion, in what promises to be an enthralling climax to another captivating campaign.
