2020–21 La Liga
Season | 2020–21 |
---|---|
Dates | 12 September 2020 – 23 May 2021 |
Champions | Atlético Madrid 11th title |
Relegated | Huesca Valladolid Eibar |
Champions League | Atlético Madrid Real Madrid Barcelona Sevilla Villarreal (as Europa League winners) |
Europa League | Real Sociedad Real Betis |
Matches played | 380 |
Goals scored | 953 (2.51 per match) |
Top goalscorer | Lionel Messi (30 goals) |
Best goalkeeper | Jan Oblak (0.66 goals/match) |
Biggest home win | Atlético Madrid 6–1 Granada (27 September 2020) Atlético Madrid 5–0 Eibar (18 April 2021) |
Biggest away win | Real Sociedad 1–6 Barcelona (21 March 2021) |
Highest scoring | Atlético Madrid 6–1 Granada (27 September 2020) Barcelona 5–2 Real Betis (7 November 2020) Levante 4–3 Real Betis (29 December 2020) Huesca 3–4 Celta Vigo (7 March 2021) Real Sociedad 1–6 Barcelona (21 March 2021) Celta Vigo 3–4 Sevilla (12 April 2021) Barcelona 5–2 Getafe (22 April 2021) |
Longest winning run | Atlético Madrid (8 matches) |
Longest unbeaten run | Barcelona (19 matches) |
Longest winless run | Eibar Elche (16 matches) |
Longest losing run | Eibar (5 matches) |
← 2019–20 2021–22 → |
The 2020–21 La Liga season, also known as La Liga Santander due to sponsorship reasons, was the 90th since its establishment. The season began on 12 September 2020 and concluded on 23 May 2021.[1] The fixtures were announced on 31 August 2020.[2][3]
Real Madrid were the defending champions, after winning a record 34th title in the previous season. Huesca, Cádiz and Elche joined as the promoted clubs from the 2019–20 Segunda División. They replaced Espanyol, Mallorca and Leganés, who were relegated to the 2020–21 Segunda División.
Exceptionally, this season the five substitutions were maintained in a maximum of three rounds per team, adopted in May 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[4]
Atlético Madrid clinched their eleventh La Liga title on the final matchday of the season, after a 2–1 comeback win against Valladolid. It was their first title since 2013–14. Barcelona and Real Madrid were the only other teams to have won the title since Atlético Madrid last did so.[5]
Teams
Promotion and relegation (pre-season)
A total of twenty teams contested the league, including seventeen sides from the 2019–20 season and three promoted from the 2019–20 Segunda División. This included the two top teams from the Segunda División, and the winners of the promotion play-offs.
- Teams relegated to Segunda División
The first team to be relegated from La Liga were Espanyol, after a 0–1 loss to city rivals Barcelona on 8 July 2020, ending their 26-year stay in the top tier.[6] The second team to be relegated were Mallorca, following a 1–2 home defeat against Granada on 16 July 2020, suffering an immediate return to the second division.[7] The third and final team to be relegated were Leganés, after drawing 2–2 against Real Madrid on 19 July 2020 in their final game of the season. This ended Lega's four-year stint in the first tier.[8]
- Teams promoted from Segunda División
On 12 July 2020, Cádiz became the first side to mathematically be promoted, assured of a return to the top flight after a fourteen-year absence following Oviedo's 4–2 win against Zaragoza.[9] The second team to earn promotion were Huesca, following their 3–0 win against Numancia on 17 July 2020. This marked an immediate return to the first division after a season away.[10] The final team to achieve promotion were Elche on 23 August 2020, following a 1–0 aggregate victory over Girona in the final of the promotion play-offs, sealing a return to La Liga after a five-year absence.[11]
This was the first season since the 2018–19 season without any teams from the archipelagos of Spain (teams located on the Balearic Islands and Canary Islands) since Mallorca was relegated and Las Palmas failed to qualify for the promotion play-offs.
Stadiums and locations
Teams | Locations | Stadiums | Capacity |
---|---|---|---|
Alavés | Vitoria-Gasteiz | Mendizorrotza | 19,840[12] |
Athletic Bilbao | Bilbao | San Mamés | 53,289[13] |
Atlético Madrid | Madrid | Wanda Metropolitano | 68,456[14] |
Barcelona | Barcelona | Camp Nou | 99,354[15] |
Cádiz | Cádiz | Ramón de Carranza | 20,724[16] |
Celta Vigo | Vigo | Abanca-Balaídos | 29,000[17] |
Eibar | Eibar | Ipurua | 8,164[18] |
Elche | Elche | Martínez Valero | 33,732[19] |
Getafe | Getafe | Coliseum Alfonso Pérez | 17,393[20] |
Granada | Granada | Nuevo Los Cármenes | 19,336[21] |
Huesca | Huesca | El Alcoraz | 7,638[22] |
Levante | Valencia | Ciutat de València | 26,354[23] |
Osasuna | Pamplona | El Sadar | 23,576[24] |
Real Betis | Seville | Benito Villamarín | 60,721[25] |
Real Madrid | Madrid | Alfredo Di Stéfano[a] | 6,000 |
Real Sociedad | San Sebastián | Anoeta | 39,500[26] |
Sevilla | Seville | Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán | 43,883[27] |
Valencia | Valencia | Mestalla | 55,000[28] |
Valladolid | Valladolid | José Zorrilla | 28,012[29] |
Villarreal | Villarreal | Estadio de la Cerámica | 24,890[30] |
Personnel and sponsorship
Team | Manager | Captain | Kit manufacturer | Shirt sponsor(s) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Alavés | ![]() |
![]() |
Kelme | Betway, Zotapay,1 Exiom Group,2 InJoo,3 Integra Energía3 |
Athletic Bilbao | ![]() |
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New Balance | Kutxabank |
Atlético Madrid | ![]() |
![]() |
Νike | Plus500, Ria Money Transfer,1 Hyundai2 |
Barcelona | ![]() |
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Νike | Rakuten, UNICEF,1 Beko2 |
Cádiz | ![]() |
![]() |
Adidas | Dafabet, Humanox1 |
Celta Vigo | ![]() |
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Adidas | Estrella Galicia 0,0, Abanca,1 Visit Maldives,2 Grupo Recalvi3 |
Eibar | ![]() |
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Joma | Alyco |
Elche | ![]() |
![]() |
Hummel | TM Grupo Inmobiliario |
Getafe | ![]() |
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Joma | Tecnocasa Group, Reale Seguros,2 El Brillante,3 Tejada's Forever3 |
Granada | ![]() |
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Νike | Winamax, Caja Rural Granada,2 Coviran3 |
Huesca | ![]() |
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Kelme | Huesca La Magia, Apisa,1 Bodega Sommos,1 Grupo Cosehisa,2 Ambar 0,03 |
Levante | ![]() |
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Macron | Betway, Baleària,1 Sesderma1 |
Osasuna | ![]() |
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Adidas | Verleal, Victorino Vicente,1 Selk,2 Clínica Universidad de Navarra3 |
Real Betis | ![]() |
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Kappa | Betway, Bitci.com,1 Reale Seguros,2 Turismo de Sevilla3 |
Real Madrid | ![]() |
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Adidas | Emirates |
Real Sociedad | ![]() |
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Macron | IQONIQ, Kutxabank,1 Reale Seguros2 |
Sevilla | ![]() |
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Νike | Marathonbet, AliExpress,1 Valvoline,2 EverFX,3 Turismo de Sevilla3 |
Valencia | ![]() |
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Puma | bwin, Libertex,1 Sailun Tyres,2 Škoda3 |
Valladolid | ![]() |
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Adidas | Estrella Galicia 0,0, Herbalife Nutrition,1 Integra Energía,2 Inexo3 |
Villarreal | ![]() |
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Joma | Pamesa Cerámica |
Managerial changes
Team | Outgoing manager | Manner of departure |
Date of vacancy | Position in table | Incoming manager | Date of appointment |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Villarreal | ![]() |
Sacked | 20 July 2020 | Pre-season | ![]() |
23 July 2020 |
Alavés | ![]() |
End of contract | ![]() |
5 August 2020 | ||
Real Betis | ![]() |
End of interim spell | ![]() |
9 July 2020 | ||
Valencia | ![]() |
![]() |
27 July 2020 | |||
Barcelona | ![]() |
Sacked | 17 August 2020 | ![]() |
19 August 2020 | |
Elche | ![]() |
Resigned | 25 August 2020 | ![]() |
26 August 2020 | |
Celta Vigo | ![]() |
Sacked | 9 November 2020 | 17th | ![]() |
12 November 2020 |
Athletic Bilbao | ![]() |
3 January 2021 | 9th | ![]() |
4 January 2021 | |
Huesca | ![]() |
12 January 2021 | 20th | ![]() |
12 January 2021 | |
Alavés | ![]() |
16th | ![]() | |||
Elche | ![]() |
Resigned | 12 February 2021 | 19th | ![]() |
14 February 2021 |
Alavés | ![]() |
Sacked | 5 April 2021 | 20th | ![]() |
5 April 2021 |
Valencia | ![]() |
2 May 2021 | 14th | ![]() |
3 May 2021 |
League table
Template:2020–21 La Liga table
Results
Positions by round
The table lists the positions of teams after each week of matches.
Leader and UEFA Champions League group stage | |
UEFA Champions League group stage | |
UEFA Europa League group stage | |
UEFA Champions League group stage | |
Relegation to Segunda División |
Season statistics
Top goalscorers
Rank | Player | Club | Goals[54] |
---|---|---|---|
1 | ![]() |
Barcelona | 30 |
2 | ![]() |
Real Madrid | 23 |
![]() |
Villarreal | ||
4 | ![]() |
Atlético Madrid | 21 |
5 | ![]() |
Sevilla | 18 |
6 | ![]() |
Real Sociedad | 17 |
7 | ![]() |
Celta Vigo | 14 |
8 | ![]() |
Barcelona | 13 |
![]() |
Huesca | ||
![]() |
Levante |
Top assists
Rank | Player | Club | Assists[55] |
---|---|---|---|
1 | ![]() |
Celta Vigo | 13 |
2 | ![]() |
Atlético Madrid | 11 |
3 | ![]() |
Atlético Madrid | 10 |
![]() |
Real Madrid | ||
5 | ![]() |
Real Madrid | 9 |
![]() |
Levante | ||
![]() |
Barcelona | ||
![]() |
Celta Vigo | ||
9 | ![]() |
Atlético Madrid | 8 |
![]() |
Real Sociedad | ||
![]() |
Valencia |
Zamora Trophy
The Zamora Trophy was awarded by newspaper Marca to the goalkeeper with the lowest goals-to-games ratio. A goalkeeper had to have played at least 28 games of 60 or more minutes to be eligible for the trophy.[56][57]
Rank | Player | Club | Goals against |
Matches | Average |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | ![]() |
Atlético Madrid | 25 | 38 | 0.66 |
2 | ![]() |
Real Madrid | 28 | 38 | 0.74 |
3 | ![]() |
Sevilla | 28 | 33 | 0.85 |
4 | ![]() |
Real Sociedad | 38 | 38 | 1.00 |
5 | ![]() |
Barcelona | 32 | 31 | 1.03 |
Hat-tricks
Player | For | Against | Result | Date | Round |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() |
Valencia | Real Madrid | 4–1 (H) | 8 November 2020 | 9 |
![]() |
Sevilla | Real Sociedad | 3–2 (H) | 9 January 2021 | 18 |
![]() |
Sevilla | Cádiz | 3–0 (H) | 23 January 2021 | 20 |
![]() |
Huesca | Valladolid | 3–1 (A) | 29 January 2021 | 21 |
![]() |
Real Sociedad | Alavés | 4–0 (H) | 21 February 2021 | 24 |
![]() |
Villarreal | Granada | 3–0 (A) | 3 April 2021 | 29 |
![]() |
Eibar | Alavés | 3–0 (H) | 1 May 2021 | 34 |
![]() |
Villarreal | Sevilla | 4–0 (H) | 16 May 2021 | 37 |
Scoring
- First goal of the season:
Yangel Herrera for Granada against Athletic Bilbao (12 September 2020)[58]
- Last goal of the season:
Alejandro Gómez for Sevilla against Alavés (23 May 2021)[59]
Discipline
Player
- Most yellow cards: 15
Stefan Savić (Atlético Madrid)
- Most red cards: 2
Pape Diop (Eibar)
Djené (Getafe)
Raúl García (Athletic Bilbao)
Clément Lenglet (Barcelona)
Aïssa Mandi (Real Betis)
Team
- Most yellow cards: 114
- Most red cards: 8
- Fewest yellow cards: 57
- Fewest red cards: 0
Awards
Monthly
Month | Player of the Month | Reference | |
---|---|---|---|
Player | Club | ||
September | ![]() |
Barcelona | [63] |
October | ![]() |
Real Sociedad | [64] |
November | ![]() |
Atlético Madrid | [65] |
December | ![]() |
Celta Vigo | [66] |
January | ![]() |
Sevilla | [67] |
February | ![]() |
Barcelona | [68] |
March | ![]() |
Real Madrid | [69] |
April | ![]() |
Sevilla | [70] |
May | ![]() |
Atlético Madrid | [71] |
Annual
Award | Winner | Club | Reference |
---|---|---|---|
Player of the Season | ![]() |
Atlético Madrid | [72] |
Number of teams by autonomous community
Rank | Autonomous Community | Number | Teams |
---|---|---|---|
1 | ![]() |
4 | Cádiz, Granada, Real Betis and Sevilla |
![]() |
Alavés, Athletic Bilbao, Eibar and Real Sociedad | ||
![]() |
Elche, Levante, Valencia and Villarreal | ||
4 | ![]() |
3 | Atlético Madrid, Getafe and Real Madrid |
5 | ![]() |
1 | Huesca |
![]() |
Valladolid | ||
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Barcelona | ||
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Celta Vigo | ||
![]() |
Osasuna |
Notes and references
- ^ Stadium used for games behind closed doors.
- ^ "La Liga to resume on 11 June; 2020-21 season to start in September". BBC Sport. 29 May 2020.
- ^ "El sorteo del calendario de Primera División, mañana lunes a las 18:30 en la sede de la RFEF". rfef.es (in Spanish). 30 August 2020.
- ^ "El calendario oficial de LaLiga Santander 2020/21, a un clic". laliga.com (in Spanish). 31 August 2020.
- ^ Millar, Colin (8 September 2020). "La Liga to continue with five substitutions for teams this season".
- ^ "Atlético Madrid clinch La Liga title after Luis Suárez seals win at Real Valladolid". The Guardian. 22 May 2021. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
- ^ "European roundup: Suárez's winner for Barça condemns Espanyol to relegation". The Guardian. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
- ^ "Mallorca Set For Relegation With Loss To Granada". beIN Sports USA. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
- ^ "Leganés relegated after holding champions Real Madrid". AS. Retrieved 19 July 2020.
- ^ "Cadiz return to LaLiga Santander". La Liga. 12 July 2020.
- ^ "Huesca returns to the First Division a year later". Sportsfinding. Retrieved 18 July 2020.
- ^ "Elche Secure Promotion To LaLiga With 1-0 Win Over Girona". beIN Sports USA. Retrieved 26 August 2020.
- ^ "Mendizorroza" (in Spanish). Deportivo Alavés. Retrieved 22 April 2018.
- ^ "The Stadium". Athletic Bilbao. Retrieved 1 July 2019.
- ^ "Official Atlético de Madrid Website - Features". en.atleticodemadrid.com. Retrieved 19 June 2020.
- ^ "Facilities - Camp Nou". FC Barcelona. Retrieved 1 July 2019.
- ^ "Estadio Ramón de Carranza" (in Spanish). Cádiz CF. Retrieved 19 October 2019.
- ^ "Facilities". Celta Vigo. Retrieved 1 July 2019.
- ^ "El Eibar inicia la próxima semana la reubicación de los abonados para la próxima temporada" (in Spanish). SD Eibar. 21 May 2019.
- ^ "Estadio Martínez Valero" (in Spanish). Elche CF. Archived from the original on 22 December 2015. Retrieved 30 May 2016.
- ^ "Datos Generales" (in Spanish). Getafe CF. Retrieved 16 May 2016.
- ^ "Datos del Club" (in Spanish). Granada CF. 1 July 2019.
- ^ "El Alcoraz" (in Spanish). SD Huesca. Retrieved 1 July 2019.
- ^ "Estadi Ciutat de Valencia". StadiumDB. 20 July 2018.
- ^ "Instalaciones - Estadio El Sadar" (in Spanish). CA Osasuna. Archived from the original on 16 July 2019. Retrieved 1 July 2019.
- ^ "Estadio Benito Villamarín" (in Spanish). Real Betis. Retrieved 4 July 2018.
- ^ "Facilities - Anoeta". Real Sociedad. Retrieved 1 July 2019.
- ^ "Sevilla F.C." (in Spanish). Sevilla FC. Retrieved 10 April 2016.
- ^ "Facilities - Mestalla". Retrieved 1 July 2019.
- ^ "Estadio José Zorrilla" (in Spanish). Real Valladolid. Archived from the original on 4 October 2018. Retrieved 30 May 2016.
- ^ "Estadio de la Cerámica" (in Spanish). Estadio de la Cerámica. Retrieved 1 July 2019.
- ^ "Villarreal dismiss Calleja and opt for Emery". Marca. 20 July 2020. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
- ^ "¡BIENVENIDO, UNAI EMERY!". Villarreal Official Website. 23 July 2020. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
- ^ "López Muñiz cierra su etapa en el Glorioso" [López Muñiz closes his stage at the Glorioso] (in Spanish). Deportivo Alavés. 21 July 2020. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
- ^ "Pablo Machín nuevo entrenador del Deportivo Alavés" (in Spanish). Deportivo Alavés. 5 August 2020. Retrieved 5 August 2020.
- ^ "Alexis Trujillo, entrenador del primer equipo" [Alexis Trujillo, first team coach] (in Spanish). Real Betis. 21 June 2020. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
- ^ "Manuel Pellegrini appointed Real Betis manager". BBC Sport. 9 July 2020. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
- ^ "Valencia sack Albert Celades". MARCA in English. 29 June 2020.
- ^ "OFFICIAL STATEMENT | JAVI GRACIA". Valencia CF. 27 July 2020. Retrieved 27 July 2020.
- ^ "Barcelona sack Setien, Koeman favourite to take charge". sports.yahoo.com. 17 August 2020. Retrieved 17 August 2020.
- ^ "Ronald Koeman is the new FC Barcelona coach". FC Barcelona. Retrieved 19 August 2020.
- ^ "Pacheta y el Elche CF separan sus caminos tras un ciclo glorioso" [Pacheta and Elche CF part ways after a glorious cycle]. Elche CF (in Spanish). 25 August 2020.
- ^ "Jorge Almirón, nuevo entrenador del Elche CF" [Jorge Almirón, new Elche CF manager]. Elche CF (in Spanish). Retrieved 26 August 2020.
- ^ "Marcelino García Toral, nuevo entrenador del Athletic Club" [Marcelino García Toral, new Athletic Club coach]. Athletic Club (in Spanish). Retrieved 5 January 2021.
- ^ "Míchel deja de ser entrenador de la SD Huesca | SD Huesca". Míchel deja de ser entrenador de la SD Huesca | SD Huesca.
- ^ "Pacheta, nuevo entrenador de la SD Huesca" [Pacheta, new manager of SD Huesca] (in Spanish). SD Huesca. 12 January 2021. Retrieved 12 January 2021.
- ^ "Pablo Machín deja de ser entrenador del Deportivo Alavés" [Pablo Machín leaves Deportivo Alavés] (in Spanish). Deportivo Alavés. 12 January 2021. Retrieved 12 January 2021.
- ^ "Abelardo, nuevo entrenador del Deportivo Alavés" [Abelardo, new manager of Deportivo Alavés] (in Spanish). Deportivo Alavés. 12 January 2021. Retrieved 12 January 2021.
- ^ "Jorge Almirón renuncia a la Dirección Técnica del Elche CF" [Jorge Almirón resigns from the Technical Directorate of Elche CF]. Elche CF (in Spanish). Retrieved 5 March 2021.
- ^ "Fran Escribá, nuevo entrenador del Elche C.F." [Fran Escribá, new coach of Elche C.F.]. Elche CF (in Spanish). Retrieved 5 March 2021.
- ^ "Abelardo deja de ser entrenador del Deportivo Alavés" [Abelardo stops being coach of Deportivo Alavés] (in Spanish). Deportivo Alavés. 5 April 2021. Retrieved 5 April 2021.
- ^ "Javi Calleja, nuevo entrenador del Deportivo Alavés" [Javi Calleja, new coach of Deportivo Alavés] (in Spanish). Deportivo Alavés. 5 April 2021. Retrieved 5 April 2021.
- ^ "COMUNICADO OFICIAL JAVI GRACIA" [OFFICIAL COMMUNICATION JAVI GRACIA] (in Spanish). Valencia CF. 3 May 2021. Retrieved 3 May 2021.
- ^ "OFICIAL: Javi Gracia, destituido del Valencia" [OFFICIAL: Javi Gracia, dismissed from Valencia] (in Spanish). Besoccer. 3 May 2021. Retrieved 3 May 2021.
- ^ "All leaders in Goals". La Liga. Retrieved 3 May 2021.
- ^ "All leaders in Assists". La Liga.
- ^ "Trofeo Zamora". EcuRed.
- ^ "Trofeo Zamora La Liga Santander - MARCA.com". MARCA.com.
- ^ "Granada 2-0 Athletic: results, summary and goals". AS. 12 September 2020.
- ^ "Sevilla 1-0 Deportivo Alaves: results, summary and goals". Marca. 23 May 2021.
- ^ "Leaderboard Yellow Cards | Liga de Fútbol Profesional". La Liga.
- ^ "Leaderboard Red Cards | Liga de Fútbol Profesional". La Liga.
- ^ "Generals | Liga de Fútbol Profesional". La Liga.
- ^ "Ansu Fati named LaLiga Santander Player of the Month for September". La Liga. 10 October 2020. Retrieved 10 October 2020.
- ^ "Mikel Oyarzabal named LaLiga Santander Player of the Month for October". La Liga. 6 November 2020. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
- ^ "Joao Felix named LaLiga Santander Player of the Month for November". La Liga. 3 December 2020. Retrieved 4 December 2020.
- ^ "Iago Aspas named LaLiga Santander Player of the Month for December". La Liga. 7 January 2021. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
- ^ "Youssef En-Nesyri named LaLiga Santander Player of the Month for January". La Liga. 5 February 2021. Retrieved 5 February 2021.
- ^ "Leo Messi named LaLiga Santander Player of the Month for February". La Liga. 5 March 2021. Retrieved 5 March 2021.
- ^ "Karim Benzema named LaLiga Santander Player of the Month for March". La Liga. 2 April 2021. Retrieved 2 April 2021.
- ^ "Fernando Reges named LaLiga Santander Player of the Month for April". La Liga. 6 May 2021. Retrieved 7 May 2021.
- ^ "Jan Oblak named LaLiga Santander Player of the Month for May". La Liga. 28 May 2021. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
- ^ Trivedi, Smit (11 June 2021). "Atletico Madrid Goalkeeper Jan Oblak Wins LaLiga Player Of The Season". Republic World. Retrieved 13 June 2021.