The 2024/2025 La Liga season has concluded. Matchday 38 drew the curtain on a year of competition filled with excitement, goals, and excellent football. Twenty teams battled for various objectives throughout the campaign with varying degrees of success. Some met expectations and their initial goals by performing at a high level, others impressed and completed a very commendable season, while some, conversely, disappointed and did not reach the anticipated standard. Below, we categorize the 20 teams that competed in the top division this season into the following grades: Outstanding, Notable, Good, Sufficient, or Failing.
Outstanding
The first team to receive an Outstanding grade is FC Barcelona. The champions of La Liga, with 88 points, were the most consistent team throughout the year. Apart from a period of uncertainty in November and December, they remained at the top of the table. Led by Lamine Yamal, Raphinha, and Pedri, Hansi Flick`s side defeated their direct rivals and navigated very challenging matches. A deserved league title.
Athletic Club is another team that came close to excellence. The Bilbao club finished the 2024/2025 season in 4th position with 70 points. A thoroughly deserved qualification for the Champions League, achieved by a combination of players and Ernesto Valverde that brought much joy to San Mamés. Athletic will return to Europe`s premier club competition after a 10-year absence.
Finally, Rayo Vallecano. Iñigo Pérez`s team set survival as their goal at the start of the season and ended up qualifying for Europe. A superb effort from the Vallecano side, finishing La Liga in 8th place (52 points) and securing a Conference League spot. A dream season for “La Franja” in their centenary year.
Notable
This category features three teams that secured qualification for European competitions. Villarreal earned a Champions League spot with a thoroughly deserved 5th position. Marcelino`s side was very consistent, knowing how to exploit their strengths with Baena and Ayoze as their main weapons. The “Yellow Submarine” is back in the Champions League after four seasons.
Betis also concluded a notable season. While they ultimately fell short in the race for fifth place, this doesn`t diminish the great performances they delivered week after week. The arrival of Antony and the excellent form of Isco elevated the level of the “Verdiblancos.” They finished 6th with 60 points.
Following them is Celta de Vigo. The Galician side rightfully earned a 7th place finish. Claudio Giráldez successfully combined youth and experience to forge a winning team capable of challenging any opponent. The Europa League is the reward for an incredible year.
Good
Five teams receive this grade: Osasuna, Mallorca, Valencia, Getafe, and Alavés. Osasuna fought for a Conference spot for most of the season but ultimately fell just short. The only critique for a solid team well-coached by Vicente Moreno. They finished 9th with the same points as Rayo Vallecano.
Mallorca`s season was also quite complete. They didn`t contend for European places like Osasuna but never faced significant threat and remained comfortably in the table throughout the year.
The case of Valencia is paradoxical. Their first half deserves a clear Failing grade, in the relegation zone with one foot in the Second Division. However, their second half performance is Outstanding. Corberán revived a team that seemed doomed and not only saved them from relegation but also brought them close to Europe.
Getafe earns a Good rating thanks to José Bordalás. The Alicante-born coach got the maximum out of a very limited squad and achieved the club`s objective: staying in the top flight for another season. Despite many difficulties, Getafe will play in La Liga 2025/2026.
Closing the Good category is Alavés. The Vitoria-based side gritted their teeth and recovered from a coaching change (Coudet replaced Luis García Plaza) to secure survival one match before the end of the season.
Sufficient
Real Madrid and Atlético receive a Sufficient grade. The capital neighbors disappointed and did not live up to expectations. Ancelotti`s team fought for the title until Matchday 35, but the feeling throughout the year was that the “Blancos” were always playing catch-up. In the case of the “Rojiblancos,” the decline came sooner.
Looking at the lower half of the table, Espanyol and Leganés also get a Sufficient rating. Although the Catalan side achieved salvation and Leganés did not, the team from the south of Madrid showed good spirit fighting until the end. Borja Jiménez and his players did their part by reaching the 40 points that theoretically guarantee survival. Unfortunately, this year that wasn`t the case.
Failing
These teams had an insufficient season. Real Sociedad fell far short of their objective: qualifying for Europe. Six points from 8th place (Conference), nine from Europa League, and a staggering 22 points! from the Champions League. Imanol Alguacil`s side did not have a good season.
Girona`s slump was considerable. From finishing third and playing Champions League to flirting with relegation. It was hard to imagine a season as good as the previous one, but this one did not measure up. Michel failed to get performance from a weakened squad that had to rely on Stuani to avoid deeper trouble.
Sevilla`s 2024/2025 La Liga season was also catastrophic. Neither García Pimienta nor Joaquín Caparrós found the key to revive a Sevillian side filled with unknowns, conflicts, and disagreements, especially within the presidency. They faced the threat of relegation until the final matchdays, and the abyss of the Second Division was a real possibility. A season far below the level and institution that Sevilla represents.
Las Palmas and Valladolid, the two teams relegated to Segunda, round off the list of failures. The Canary Islands team, 19th with 32 points, finished far from safety. However, the Valladolid side barely fought to stay in the top division at any point. Last place with only 16 points, the second-worst record in La Liga history.
