1997–98 La Liga

The 1997–98 La Liga season was the 67th since its establishment. It began on 30 August 1997, and concluded on 16 May 1998.

On 29 March 1998, following Sporting Gijón's 0–0 draw with Zaragoza, combined with Racing Santander's 4–3 loss to Athletic Bilbao, Sporting Gijón became the first team in La Liga history to be relegated in March, ending the season with a league-record lowest points tally of just 13.

Promotion and relegation

Twenty teams competed in the league – the top seventeen teams from the previous season and the three teams promoted from the Segunda División. The promoted teams were Mérida, Salamanca (both teams returning after a season's absence) and Mallorca (returning after a five-year absence). They replaced Rayo Vallecano, Extremadura, Sevilla FC, Hércules CF and CD Logrones after spending time in the top flight for two, one, twenty two, one and one years respectively. Starting from this season, twenty teams contested in the La Liga as opposed to previous seasons with twenty-two teams.

Team information

Clubs and locations

Athletic

Deportivo

Oviedo

Racing

Sporting

Location of teams in La Liga 1997–98

Tenerife

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Canary Islands

1997–98 season was composed of the following clubs:

League table

Source: LFP
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head-to-head points; 3) head-to-head goal difference; 4) head-to-head goals scored; 5) goal difference; 6) number of goals scored.
(C) Champions; (O) Play-off winners; (R) Relegated
Notes:

^ a b RMA 2–0 RSO; RSO 4–2 RMA
^ Real Madrid was qualified directly for the 1998–99 UEFA Champions League as holders.
^ a b c MLL: 9 pts; CEL: 5 pts; ATM: 2 pts
^ Since Barcelona, winners of 1997–98 Copa del Rey, was qualified for the 1998–99 UEFA Champions League, losing cup finalists RCD Mallorca earned a spot in the first round of the 1998–99 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup.
^ a b c RAC: 8 pts; SAL: 4 pts → SAL 2-0 TEN; TEN: 4 pts → TEN 2-0 SAL

Results

Source: LFP (in Spanish)
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Relegation playoff

First leg

Second leg

Awards

Pichichi Trophy

The Pichichi Trophy is awarded to the player who scores the most goals in a season.

Zamora Trophy

The Ricardo Zamora Trophy is awarded to the goalkeeper with the lowest ratio of goals conceded to matches played.

References

^ "Salamanca 6–0 Valencia". LFP. Retrieved 14 September 2010.
^ "Real Oviedo 0–5 Real Sociedad". LFP. Retrieved 14 September 2010.
^ "Salamanca 5–4 Atlético Madrid". LFP. Retrieved 14 September 2010.