Which is the Most Exciting League in Europe?

By: Daryl | March 2nd, 2009

Two absolutely belting games of football were played in Italy and Spain this weekend. Inter and Roma shared six goals in Serie A, while Atletico Madrid beat Barcelona 4-3 in La Liga.

I know the Premier League likes to think it’s the world’s most exciting league, but my guess is that most objective thinking football fans would disagree.

Highlights of the two games just mentioned below, followed by a poll: which is Europe’s most exciting league?

Inter 3-3 Roma

Atletico Madrid 4-3 Barcelona

“Most exciting” is obviously near impossible to define. But here’s my attempt:

Goals aren’t the only thing that makes a league exciting. The Eredivisie has plenty of goals (and a surprise leader in AZ Alkmaar) but even the most ardent Dutch fans would have to accept that Eredivisie is a step below the big leagues. A league needs the glamour of big name players to be exciting.

And glamour isn’t the only thing that makes a league exciting, because often the meetings of say the English Premier League’s big boys can be a little defensive. A league needs goals as well as glamour.

And as a whole, it’s about an exciting league where there are plenty of teams capable of beating each other, and more than one or two teams who could conceivably take the title.

So, the mathematic formula for excitememt (and what could be more exciting that mathematic formulas?) would look something like this:

Glamour x (Goals + Competition)

Basically there has to be some glamour. Because that’s what attracts the big crowds. Even if the Romanian title race comes down to a five way tie on the last game of the season, it’s never truly going to be Europe’s most exciting league because the level of talent in there can’t match the bigger leagues.

So, here comes the contentious bit. A poll to decide which European league is the most exciting.

You could argue that one or two of these leagues don’t deserve to be on here (eg, Ligue 1 has lacked competitiveness in recent years given Lyon’s title-winning streak, but there’s a proper title race on this year and the standard of players is pretty high.) But these are basically Europe’s big five.

The English Prem does enough of its own PR, so I won’t make the argument for there here. And the evidence for La Liga and Serie A is in the above videos.

Personally my vote goes to the Bundesliga, because it has all three elements from the formula. Just enough glamour (maybe not the very very best players, but plenty of quality), plenty of goals and it’s nice and competitive at the top.

What do you think?

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Category: World Football

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Eric

Did you watch Liverpool -Chelsea 4-4 or Liverpool- Arsenal 4-4 or Sunderland - Chelsea 2-3 or why in La lIga 20 points between 1st and 4th place?
Eric

Why do you think all 4 clubs from EPL play in Quarter finals of champions league every year and why England topping Uefa table of coefficient between clubs
Eric

EPL you dont have to sit behind metal bars or nets to watch football
Eric

Barclays Premier League is a most watchable in the world that's for sure. I guess people watch what they like so my vote goes to Premier League. Its more physical and fast pace league and most competitive too. Forlorn, Veron, Crespo, Shevchenko, Kanoute could not cope but they played very well in La liga and seria ''A''. Referee in premier League give more freedom to players not like on continent when they blow their whistle on every little push or nudge. and for some reason people don't buy clubs in other countries on the scale they buy in England Why?
Andrew

I'm Sorry- But SERIOUSLY WHO THE F*** VOTED SERIE A???????
it is undoubtedly the most boring moment by moment soccer, averages 2.43 goals per game, only ONCE in the past * years has there been 3 teams in the title race. And just in case your a total retard, Inter will win it again this year, and Roma will be left out of champions league.

The BUNDESLIGA has 7 (probably 8 tomorrow) teams within 10 points of the leaders. bayern munich is not on the top of the table, Hoffenheim (a promoted team) is 3rd. its not a league short on goals either, Anyone could win the bundesliga
Guest

it's Bundesliga in my opinion,beautiful goals,beautiful crowds and beautiful games

if only it was a girl
T U

La liga... the best hands down! Fast pace, high scoring, lots of big names... and MESSI!!!
Laurie

Reading these comments, I'm thinking I need to watch more Bundesliga.
Matt

Consider me an ardent fan of the Dutch, so while I might "accept that Eredivisie is a step below the big leagues" I do not have to agree that "a league needs the glamour of big name players to be exciting." If I like soap operas or the attention of ManCity, then sure, give me Kaka and CRon and Henry. But I like watching Suarez and Elia and van Gaal's warriors just the same, thanks.
Ranjeet

EPL is bullcrap. Teams try to save their ass too much. Plus very less skill.
victor

It depends on what is available on TV.
If the sports channel only shows EPL for example, then you have no choice but to follow it. That's why it's a great break to see the Champions League.

As far as the three elements for exciting football, it is the Bundesliga first, EPL second, La Liga third, Serie A fourth and Ligue 1 fifth.
KG

what would you prefer to watch : Real Betis vs Malaga or Stoke vs Wigan; in the Stoke Wigan match of 2008 there was only 1 corner in the whole game ; take any 2 teams of La Liga (none being Depor) and watch the game -- it is far more exciting than EPL matches involving Liverpool,Chelski, Arsenal(post January 2009), Aston "hold your heads" Villa etc.Teams in Liga actually try to pass the ball instead of hoofing up forward at every chance available.People who say the EPL is competitive blah blah,please tell me when was the last time there was a high quality 3-3 (6 or more goals?)game in the league? Had the games of La Liga been in watchable timing in Asia(i am from India) or were properly marketed in Asia none here would have bothered with EPL.
Jose

Ever-who?
Sasha

No bounds indeed. Yours, on the other hand... you're one of those people who'd rather watch Barca-Real than Liverpool-Everton...why??
k

Your knowledge on football knows no bounds sasha. No bounds, I tell you.
Sasha

English Prem: highest quality play by far, and the most fast-paced. What is this nonsense about more goals making a game more exciting??? I find that the nail-biting 0-0 or 0-1 games are the most interesting. Serie A and La Liga are the two most boring ones.
Aaron

I honestly believe League 1 is the most exciting. I just find it the most exciting to watch.
Chris

Bundesliga all the way, with La Liga second.
Foreverzidane

When Henri packed his bags for Barca, started watching La Liga more often, and just like the NFL "ON ANY GIVEN SUNDAY" you just never know who's gonna win.
Much more competitive matches and the best exciting league in the world.
john

My vote goes to La Liga, but for a reason that (oddly) hasn't really been emphasized. Style. I just love the technical ability and the footballing philosophy on display in the Spanish League. Its fans are peculiar (this is a subject often referenced in the La Liga Offside pages) in that winning is truly not enough in itself, especially if you're a big club. You have to win, but you also have to do it with attractive, flowing, open play. Negative tactics are simply not acceptable (which is why Capello gets sacked after a title winning season with Real Madrid).

But I also think it's interesting that so many people are hailing the Bundesliga. I would argue that while this season's title is pretty much wide open, which is a big reason why it's such an attractive league at the moment, in the recent past it's been pretty much dominated by Werder Bremen and Bayern Munich (with the occasional challenge by Schalke or Stuttgart). But I just don't think the overall talent is up to La Liga, Serie A or Premiership standards. Just my opinion, though, and I don't watch the league very often.
Abby

Bundesliga! Although I may be biased as my boys are rocking it right now.
Matt

Bundesliga. I feel like if you watched a one hour highlights show of each league, each week, the Bundesliga would consistently toss up the most exciting games/goals/crowds.
Corey

I am a huge La Liga fan, but when it comes down to it, the Bundesliga is alot of fun to watch. To bad I only get one game per week, but I always make a point to catch it.
diana

Bundesliga for me. Just about each matchday, there is a new leader at the top of the standings.

One may also choose to see that who really wants to be at the top but still, it makes it all the more exciting trying to find out which side is going to be at the top at the end of each matchday. Plus Bayern Munich (the defending league champions) have never even once top the standings since the start of the current season.

Or maybe I am biased because apart from the EPL, I watch the Bundesliga as well.
Al

Another vote to the Bundesliga, almost any match that I happen to catch ends up being very exciting.
Rob

I guess the Milan derby will have just been a one-off because of the Beckham/Jose factor. A bit like when Gazza went to italy and it meant C4 put Italian Football on, The same might be true if he makes his stay permanent, I guess.
Daryl

Was there ever any talk of BBC picking up more Serie A games? Or was the Milan derby just a one-off?
Drabik

I havnt really had access to watch any of the leagues, except of course EPL, which I can't get enough of. I watched Serie A on FIVE last year, but that's no longer an option. Of course La Liga is on SKY and Ligue 1 and Bundesliga are on SETANTA, but I'm cheap....
Mike

I agree, German footy is really great. Fast and skillful, lots of goals and very competitive. As much as I love Calcio and Serie A, it can be pretty boring sometimes (still above the EPL in every aspect though). I think La Liga is pretty good as well. Never really watched any Ligue 1 though.