- La Liga clubs have won almost every knock-out tie against English opposition in either the Champions League or Europa League since the 2008-09 season
- Sevilla and Barcelona emerged victorious vs Manchester United and Chelsea
- As a result, the Spanish have won 20 out of 24 ties against Premier League sides
- Leicester are one of just two teams to beat Spanish team in Champions League
The Premier League may be all-conquering in the money stakes, but La Liga continues to reign supreme when it comes to the treasured prizes of Champions League and Europa League football.
Revenues among English clubs have sky-rocketed in the last decade, making the Premier League by far the richest in the world, but despite spending heavily on the world’s best players they have still struggled to compete with their Spanish counterparts on the field.
Spanish clubs have won 20 out of 24 European knock-out ties against English opposition in the last decade with Sevilla and Barcelona the latest to add to the tally with victories over Manchester United and Chelsea this week.
Manchester United suffered a fifth defeat to a Spanish club in European football since 2008
Chelsea were knocked out by Barcelona to make it 20 defeats in 24 ties for English clubs
| La Liga Team | Premier League Team | Competition | Season | Round | Agg F | Agg A |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barcelona | Chelsea | Champions League | 2008/09 | Semi Final | 1 | 1 |
| Barcelona | Manchester United | Champions League | 2008/09 | Final | 2 | 0 |
| Barcelona | Arsenal | Champions League | 2009/10 | Quarter Final | 6 | 3 |
| Atletico Madrid | Liverpool | Europa League | 2009/10 | Semi Final | 2 | 2 |
| Atletico Madrid | Fulham | Europa League | 2009/10 | Final | 2 | 1 |
| Barcelona | Arsenal | Champions League | 2010/11 | Last 16 | 4 | 3 |
| Real Madrid | Tottenham | Champions League | 2010/11 | Quarter Final | 5 | 0 |
| Barcelona | Manchester United | Champions League | 2010/11 | Final | 3 | 1 |
| Valencia CF | Stoke City | Europa League | 2011/12 | Last 32 | 2 | 0 |
| Athletic Club | Manchester United | Europa League | 2011/12 | Last 16 | 5 | 3 |
| Barcelona | Chelsea | Champions League | 2011/12 | Semi Final | 2 | 3 |
| Real Madrid | Manchester United | Champions League | 2012/13 | Last 16 | 3 | 2 |
| Barcelona | Manchester City | Champions League | 2013/14 | Last 16 | 4 | 1 |
| Atletico Madrid | Chelsea | Champions League | 2013/14 | Semi Final | 3 | 1 |
| Barcelona | Manchester City | Champions League | 2014/15 | Last 16 | 3 | 1 |
| Barcelona | Arsenal | Champions League | 2015/16 | Last 16 | 5 | 1 |
| Real Madrid | Manchester City | Champions League | 2015/16 | Semi Final | 1 | 0 |
| Villarreal | Liverpool | Europa League | 2015/16 | Semi Final | 1 | 3 |
| Sevilla | Liverpool | Europa League | 2015/16 | Final | 3 | 1 |
| Sevilla | Leicester City | Champions League | 2016/17 | Last 16 | 2 | 3 |
| Atletico Madrid | Leicester City | Champions League | 2016/17 | Quarter Final | 2 | 1 |
| Celta Vigo | Manchester United | Europa League | 2016/17 | Semi Final | 1 | 2 |
| Sevilla | Manchester United | Champions League | 2017/18 | Last 16 | 2 | 1 |
| Barcelona | Chelsea | Champions League | 2017/18 | Last 16 | 4 | 1 |
Manchester United may have felt shocked to be dumped out by Sevilla after a 2-1 reverse at Old Trafford, but it was in fact the fifth time in just 10 years that they have been sent home by a Spanish side.
Only once have Manchester United managed to come out victorious when they edged Celta Vigo 2-1 on aggregate in last season’s Europa League semi-final.
For Chelsea, it was the third time since the 2008-09 season that they had been bested by a Spanish team and the second time they fell victim to Barcelona.
Wissam Ben Yedder inspired Sevilla to their second win over an English team since 2015
Lionel Messi’s Barcelona have progressed nine times in their 10 games against English teams
They are, however, one of only two sides to beat a Spanish team in the Champions League knock-out rounds.
Their dramatic semi-final win over Barcelona in 2012 is also the only time in the period that Barcelona have lost to a Premier League team, making it nine wins and one defeat for Lionel Messi’s side.
Leicester are, surprisingly, the other side to manage this rare feat. Last season, they did what Manchester United failed to do when they knocked Sevilla out in the round of 16.
A Fernando Torres inspired Chelsea are the only side to have beaten Barcelona over two legs
Leicester did what Manchester United could not by knocking out Sevilla last season
The final victory for an English side belongs to Liverpool, who beat Villarreal 3-1 on aggregate in a Europa League semi-final in 2016. However, they would go onto lose the final against Sevilla.
It makes for grim reading as Manchester City and Liverpool await the results of the Champions League quarter-final draw with Real Madrid, Barcelona and Sevilla all potential opponents.
Follow Sportsmail’s live commentary of the Champions League draw on Friday from 10am.
