The most recent spherical of Champions League matches on Tuesday night time mirrored the current pattern of Premier League golf equipment getting the higher of their rivals in La Liga.
Chelsea’s win in opposition to Barcelona made it 10 wins from the previous 11 conferences for English groups in opposition to their Spanish counterparts in Europe’s elite competitors.
Commercial
With England now firmly on prime on this explicit European rivalry, BBC Sport examines the explanations behind a rising interval of dominance.
La Liga greats
A Barcelona workforce together with Lionel Messi (centre) defeated Manchester United within the 2009 Champions League closing [Getty Images]
Within the 2008-09 Champions League marketing campaign, a Manchester United aspect that includes a centre-back pairing of Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic, and strikeforce of Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo, have been by one of many nice Barcelona groups within the closing in Rome.
Two years later, there was an efficient rematch at Wembley Stadium and Barcelona – that includes Lionel Messi, Xavi, Andres Iniesta and David Villa – once more got here out on prime.
Three years later, Actual Madrid kick-started a run of 5 successive Champions League titles for Spanish sides, which culminated in within the 2018 Kiev showpiece.
Commercial
That success made Actual the primary workforce from any nation to carry the trophy 3 times successively within the Champions League period.
The European Cup report holders then added an extra two titles in 2022 – once more beating Liverpool within the closing – and 2024 to bookend an influence interval by the heavyweights of La Liga.
However might or not it’s one that’s coming to an in depth?
Rise of Premier League groups
Newcastle’s win in opposition to Athletic Membership on 5 November is one in every of 10 victories by Premier League sides within the final 11 conferences with La Liga golf equipment [Getty Images]
When the Spanish sides collectively received 5 Champions League titles between 2014 and 2018, together with two all-Spanish finals between neighbours Actual and Atletico Madrid, additionally they boasted 16 wins in complete in opposition to English golf equipment compared to simply seven for the Premier League (D10).
Commercial
Nonetheless, since Actual’s final triumph in 2024, English sides have received 13 of the 16 Champions League conferences over the previous two seasons.
Arsenal beat the Madrid outfit in each legs of final season’s quarter-finals to start the present run of 10 Premier League wins from the final 11 conferences.
The only real success for a Spanish aspect throughout this era was impressed by Marcus Rashford’s two objectives in in September.
And on this season’s competitors it’s now eight wins from 9 for Premier League outfits – the very best share of victories for English sides in opposition to Spanish groups in a single Champions League marketing campaign since 2008-09 – after simply 5 matchdays.
Commercial
Chelsea’s on Tuesday was the eighth on this checklist and underlined by a second-half purpose from Brazilian wonderkid Estevao.
{The teenager} opted to swap Palmeiras for Stamford Bridge final summer time as an alternative of heading to the intense lights of Barcelona or Madrid in one other signal of the Premier League’s rising sway over La Liga’s greatest groups.
Following Chelsea’s victory, goalkeeper Robert Sanchez was requested about England’s spectacular head-to-head report by the Spanish media and he replied: “Properly, in the long run, everybody’s nice till they arrive to the Premier League, proper? That is what I at all times say.”
Ought to we anticipate an English winner?
The Premier League’s current dominance over La Liga opponents is mirrored by their bettering fortunes within the Champions League.
Commercial
Since Actual’s 2018 title, English groups have received the competitors 3 times – probably the most of any nation and yet another than Spain, whereas Paris St-Germain are the present holders.
This time period, 5 Premier League sides have received in a single spherical of fixtures on two separate events – earlier than this season the Champions League had by no means seen 5 groups from one nation obtain that feat.
Collectively, Premier League groups have received 66.7% of their 27 Champions League matches to this point in 2025-26 – their highest share since 2020-21, when Chelsea defeated Manchester Metropolis in an all-English closing in Porto.
“In 5 years’ time we’ll have a look at this era of the following 5 years because the domination of England – I do not see it some other manner,” Spanish soccer journalist Guillem Balague informed BBC Sport.
Commercial
“Bayern Munich are doing actually, very well and so they can disrupt that.
“PSG could have their moments, I believe Barcelona and Actual Madrid are lagging behind, however there may be no person else.”
‘England is the tremendous league of Europe’
A part of the change in pattern is right down to the spending energy of the Premier League.
Tv rights have generated monumental broadcast revenues for English sides, with the earnings from that supply dwarfing these of different nations.
Final summer time, Premier League golf equipment – a report for a single switch window and greater than the entire spend of the Bundesliga, La Liga, Ligue 1 and Serie A golf equipment mixed.
Commercial
Arsenal spent £250m – probably the most of any Premier League membership – to boost their squad depth and the Gunners at present lead the English prime flight and sit joint prime of the Champions League desk alongside Bayern Munich, with the 2 assembly in a blockbuster conflict on Wednesday night time.
Actual, although, beat Borussia Dortmund within the closing 18 months in the past for his or her record-extending fifteenth title, whereas Spanish sides have received the European Cup 20 occasions general – 5 greater than English groups.
And profitable league part matches doesn’t guarantee success – simply ask the Liverpool aspect that completed prime of the standings in 2024-25 earlier than dropping within the final 16 to eventual winners PSG.
“Clearly in a knockout competitors something can occur however by way of cash, expertise, teaching, amenities and even the expertise within the workplaces, England is the tremendous league of Europe,” added Balague.
“I’m not saying this maybe with the jealousy of Spanish soccer usually, it’s only a reflection of what’s taking place.”