Relegation battle in the 2010/11 La Liga – La Liga special
The 2010/11 La Liga season culminated in the relegation of Deportivo la Coruna, Hercules CF and UD Almeria. From 8th placed Espanyol to Almeria, an astonishing number of teams were locked in the relegation battle. Coaches were changed and players
brought in, some clubs were lucky to avoid the drop while the unlucky had their destinies sealed for the Segunda Division.
It was intense competition across the Spanish league. As Jose Mourinho worked hard to dethrone the excellent Barcelona from the top, there were fierce battles for Europe, but nothing can be compared to the relegation drama that went in the league this season
ended.
There was a difference of only 6 points between Espanyol (8th) and Deportivo La Coruna (18th). With a couple of wins here and there, the fortunes of both clubs could have vastly been different. As Deportivo get ready to play in the Spanish second tier, Espanyol
are looking forward to another season in La Liga.
From Espanyol to Deportivo, only two clubs stayed out of the relegation zone throughout the season, namely Real Sociedad and Espanyol. Getafe found themselves in the danger zone only once despite finishing 16th. Ironically, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Sporting-89-c40576 Gijon (10th)
and relegated Deportivo La Coruna played the same number of weeks in the relegation zone.
In a year when http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Cristiano-Ronaldo-c9629 broke all scoring records with 40 goals in the league and claimed the Pichichi Trophy, 7 teams scored the same number of goals or less. Deportivo had the lowest tally of goals scored in the table and hence their demotion.
As http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Barcelona-c38604 were not far behind with 95 league goals of their own. Teams with better defensive records held on to their places in the league. Villarreal managed to cement a place in the UEFA
Champions league on the back of an imperious http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Defence-c38904.
The floodgates were open at the other end of the table. Almeria had the worst defensive record and the team managed to ship in 70 goals. They were followed closely by Malaga, Real Sociedad, Sevilla, Getafe and Hercules. All allowed 60 or more goals to go
past their respective goalkeepers.
Managerial changes were inevitable as teams had less than spectacular results to show for their efforts. Almeria had two managerial changes in the season. Juan Manuel Lillo was replaced by Jose Luis Oltra in November to avoid the drop. Oltra was at the other
end of the stick in early April as he was shown the door, and Robert Olabe was welcomed at the helm.
Hercules also changed their coach in late March, bringing in Miroslav Dukic to help the team’s cause, the manager tried in vain as the team were destined to the Segunda Division.
Managerial changes at RCD Osasuna and Malaga CF were successful as the new managers took their teams to respectable mid-table positions by the end of the year. Manuel Pellegrini did a spectacular http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Job-c18684 at Malaga, guiding the team to an 11th placed
finish with a 5-match unbeaten streak in the season run-in. The club could have ended the campaign in 9th position but could not maintain their position from a week before.
The 2010/11 La Liga season showed the importance of strong heads in defence; they are as important as their attacking counterparts.
As teams rebuild their squads and the league braces itself for another influx of players from all over the globe, the 2011/12 La Liga season promises to be an exciting one.
Disclaimer: Views expressed here are the writer’s own and in no way represent bettor.com’s official editorial policy
Tags: