The 2012–13 La Liga season (known as the Liga BBVA for sponsorship reasons) was the 82nd since its establishment. The campaign began on 18 August 2012, and concluded on 1 June 2013.[2]Barcelona won the league for a 22nd time, after leading the league the entire season and amassing 100 points, equalling Real Madrid's points record from the previous season.
As in previous years, Nike provided the official ball for all matches, with a new Nike Maxim Liga BBVA model to be used throughout the season for all matches.[3][4]
Teams
A total of 20 teams contested the league, including 17 sides from the 2011–12 season and three promoted from the 2011–12 Segunda División. This included the two top teams from the Segunda División, and the victorious team of the play-offs.
Villarreal CF, Sporting de Gijón and Racing de Santander were relegated to 2012–13 Segunda División the previous season: Villarreal were relegated after twelve years in La Liga, Sporting de Gijón returned to Segunda División after a four-year tenure in La Liga, while Racing de Santander ended ten consecutive seasons in La Liga, the longest period in its history.
Source: La Liga Rules for classification: 1st points; 2nd head-to-head points; 3rd head-to-head goal difference; 4th goal difference; 5th number of goals scored; 7th Fair-play points (C) Champions; (R) Relegated Notes:
^ abcSince the 2012–13 Copa del Rey champions Atlético Madrid and runners-up Real Madrid qualified for the 2013–14 UEFA Champions League, the 5th, 6th and 7th placed teams qualified for the group stage, play-off round, and third qualifying round of the 2013–14 UEFA Europa League respectively.[29]
^Málaga was excluded from participating in any UEFA club competition in 2013–14 season as a punishment for not complying with UEFA Financial Fair Play Regulations.[30] Málaga appealed against this UEFA ban, but the Court of Arbitration for Sport confirmed the decision of the UEFA Club Financial Control Body.[31]
^Rayo Vallecano was excluded from participating in any UEFA club competition for the next season after RFEF denied them a "UEFA license" because they didn't meet the requirements as they were immersed in a creditor contest.[32][33] They appealed to CAS in June 2013 and on 11 July that decision was confirmed. The team placed behind them, Sevilla, took their spot at the Europa League third qualifying round.[34]
The Ricardo Zamora Trophy is awarded by newspaper Marca to the goalkeeper with the lowest ratio of goals conceded to matches played. A goalkeeper had to play at least 28 matches of 60 or more minutes to be eligible for the trophy.
This award was given annually since 1999 to the team with the best fair play during the season. This ranking takes into account aspects[40] such as cards, suspension of matches, audience behaviour and other penalties. This section not only aims to determine the best fair play, but also serves to break the tie in teams that are tied in all the other rules: points, head-to-head, goal difference and goals scored.
Mild (5 points) Serious (6 points) Very Serious (7 points)
When the audience makes some altercations such as explosions, flares, throwing objects to the ground, racist chanting, etc.
Closure of Stadium
10 points/match with closured stadium
When serious incidents happen which are punished by the closure of the stadium
It also accounts cards to non-players
The number in superscript is the corresponding round to the sanction
Important note: This table is not a count of cards and sanctions resulting from the matches, this table takes into account the removal or application of some cards and sanctions by the competent bodies (Competition Committee, Appeal Committee and Spanish Sports Disciplinary Committee)
Season statistics
Scoring
First goal of the season: Fabrice Olinga for Málaga against Celta Vigo (18 August 2012)
Last goal of the season: Piti for Rayo Vallecano against Athletic Bilbao (1 June 2013)
^"Falcao stars in Atletico romp". ESPN Soccernet. Entertainment and Sports Programming Network (ESPN). 27 August 2012. Archived from the original on 2 January 2013. Retrieved 27 August 2012.
^"Ronaldo hits hat-trick in rout". ESPN Soccernet. Entertainment and Sports Programming Network (ESPN). 30 September 2012. Retrieved 30 September 2012.
^"Barcelona edge nine-goal thriller". ESPN Soccernet. Entertainment and Sports Programming Network (ESPN). 20 October 2012. Retrieved 20 October 2012.
^"Five-star show from Falcao". ESPN Soccernet. Entertainment and Sports Programming Network (ESPN). 9 December 2012. Archived from the original on 3 January 2013. Retrieved 9 December 2012.
^"Ronaldo hits hat-trick in rout". ESPN Soccernet. Entertainment and Sports Programming Network (ESPN). 27 January 2013. Retrieved 27 January 2013.
^"Irrepressible Messi routs Osasuna". ESPN Soccernet. Entertainment and Sports Programming Network (ESPN). 27 January 2013. Retrieved 27 January 2013.
^"Real close gap to Atletico". ESPN Soccernet. Entertainment and Sports Programming Network (ESPN). 9 February 2013. Archived from the original on 19 April 2013. Retrieved 9 February 2013.