Probably the best league in Europe? La Liga v The Premiership

On the surface it appears a matter of national pride, but with the cosmopolitan nature of football leagues these days, its now more a matter for the marketing executives and over-excited football commentators. But that doesnt stop fans, aficionados and tifosos across the continent arguing over; Which is the best domestic league in Europe?

In Italy, AC Milan, Inter Milan and Juventus are simply not the European superpowers they once were. Teams such as Genoa and Sampdoria are currently in the running for the Champions League spots, and if someone asked you to name a footballing superstar currently playing in Italy you´d feel obliged to offer the ageing legs of Totti and Del Piero alongside the brilliant, yet erratic, Samuel Eto´o. Serie A currently struggles to attract star names, apart from those winding down after successes in other climes, so can it really be considered as the best league in the world? No Signore.

Then we have another pretender to the throne: Die Bundesliga in Germany. The sleeping giant Bayern Munich havnt had a great time of it in the Champions League of late, and although they were the last German winners of the Champions League in 2001, they have seen teams like Stuttgart, Werder Bremen and the unfashionable Wolfsburg snatch league titles away from them in the last five years. The Bundesliga attracts higher attendances than any other league in Europe and five teams were still in the running last year with two games left, which gives the league a touch of unpredictability, but these teams struggle among Europe´s elite. World class players? Ribery...perhaps Robben when he´s not fixing his hamstrings. Not good enough.

Which leaves the big two. La Liga v The Premiership. Important first to highlight those all-important deciding factors. A couple have been thrown in already...world class players and success in the Champions League. I´d like to throw a couple more into the arena....excitement and strength in depth.

WORLD CLASS PLAYERS: The Premiership has certainly had a monopoly on this one, but last summer changed all that. Florentino Perez and the spanish taxman secured the signings of Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaká and Benzema. Barcelona signed up Ibrahimovic. Suddenly the Premiership had been robbed of their most marketable asset. Lampard, Fabregas, Gerrard, Torres and Rooney remain, but its safe to say that with Messi, Villa, Silva, Xavi, Agüero and Iniesta added to Florentinos merry band of galacticos, La Liga is the new home of Europes finest. La Liga takes an early lead.

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: Looking at the last five winners, its 2-2 between Spain and England. But six of the last ten finalists have been English clubs. There´s no doubting the success of the Premiership´s big four in recent years, with all four having reached at least the final in the last five years. Only Barcelona (ironically) has been flying the spanish flag. The Premiership draws level.

EXCITEMENT: If they´re good enough for Señor Benitez they´re good enough for me. Facts. Last season (2008/2009) 'La Liga' scored 1101 goals with a ratio of 2.90 goals per game. 18% of these goals came in the last ten minutes and there were only 18 no-score draws. Surprisingly The Premiership lags behind on 942 goals at a ratio of 2.48 goals per game. 20% of these goals came in the last ten minutes and there were a sleep inducing 42 0-0 draws last season. Facts aside, you´ve got the pace and power of the Premiership against the skill and passion of La Liga. Its a mightily tough call, but La Liga sneaks back in front.

STRENGTH IN DEPTH: In the Premiership, Man City, Tottenham and Aston Villa are all looking to force their way into the top four. Everton and Fulham are a match for anyone. Wigan and Sunderland have proved their credentials against the big guns. Suddenly Bolton at home isnt a given and Burnley away can leave you with a nasty claret stain on your shirt. The Premiership has toughened up. In La Liga it´s all about the top two, Real Madrid and Barca. The last few seasons have seen Sevilla, Villarreal and Valencia offer some resistance, but beyond that it can be very predictable. Pit any of those teams against Osasuna, Mallorca or Valladolid and there´s only one result. Even the once mighty Athletico Madrid receive regular 6 goal hidings from Barca. The Premiership scores a last-gasp equaliser.

So we have the dreaded penalty shoot-out. All sorts of factors would come into play from Martin O´Neill´s tracksuit to Guardiola´s suit, but we all know it would end with England firing over the crossbar in sudden death. I may be doing my home country an injustice but I truely believe La Liga would snatch it. It´s such a close call, but football has always been decided by fine margins. La Liga has arguably the finest player of our generation in Messi, who has scored the closest we will see to Maradonas wonder goal in ´86. So take a bow La Liga, you´re probably the best league in Europe.