2009–10 La Liga

La Liga
Season2009–10
Dates29 August 2009 – 16 May 2010
ChampionsBarcelona
20th title
RelegatedValladolid
Tenerife
Xerez
Champions LeagueBarcelona
Real Madrid
Valencia
Sevilla
Europa LeagueAtlético Madrid (as Europa League winners)
Getafe
Villarreal
Matches played380
Goals scored1,031 (2.71 per match)
Top goalscorerLionel Messi
(34 goals)
Biggest home winReal Madrid 6–0 Zaragoza
(19 December 2009)
Biggest away winTenerife 0–5 Barcelona
(10 January 2010)
Highest scoringReal Madrid 6–2 Villarreal
(21 February 2010)

The 2009–10 La Liga (known as the Liga BBVA for sponsorship reasons) was the 79th season of La Liga since its establishment. Barcelona were the defending champions, having won their 19th La Liga title in the previous season. The campaign began on 29 August 2009, and concluded on 16 May 2010; all top-flight European leagues ended earlier than the previous season due to the impending 2010 FIFA World Cup. A total of 20 teams contested the league, 17 of which already contested in the 2008–09 season, and three of which were promoted from the Segunda División. In addition, a new match ball – the Nike T90 Ascente – served as the official ball for all matches.

On 16 May 2010, Barcelona secured a second consecutive La Liga title, and twentieth league title overall, following a 4–0 home victory against Valladolid. Barcelona's Lionel Messi won the La Liga award for Best Player for a second straight season.

Real Madrid's 96 points made them the runners-up with the highest points total in the history of Europe's top five leagues, until this was surpassed by Liverpool's 97 points in the 2018–19 Premier League.