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Tag: LaLiga

  • LaLiga beats TikTok record with the most multitudinous football content challenge in the platform’s history

    LaLiga beats TikTok record with the most multitudinous football content challenge in the platform’s history

    MUMBAI. LaLiga has beaten another record, this time in conjunction with TikTok, the largest short-form video platform in the world. Together they have launched #HolaLaLigaSantander, a campaign which has generated more than 220,000 videos and reached over 50 million views in just two weeks.

    The challenge, which consists of fans showing off their skills by doing headed keep-ups with a virtual LaLiga ball, was a roaring success on TikTok during the first week since its launch, and this is expected to continue over the coming weeks. "We're confident that users will continue to join in this challenge so we can reach 60 million views in a few more weeks," said Noel Nuez, TikTok’s Country Manager for Spain and South America.

    LaLiga, one of the first big European leagues to open a profile on the short-form video platform, currently has 350,000 followers with many of its clubs including Atletico de Madrid, Cadiz CF, FC Barcelona, Sevilla FC, RCD Espanyol, Real Madrid CF and Real Zaragoza already on TikTok.

    "We're very happy with the activation’s results. We've teamed up with TikTok and managed to make history together. The results of this initiative have far surpassed our expectations and we're convinced that this is just the beginning," added Alfredo Bermejo, LaLiga's Director of Digital Strategy.

    Among the millions of fans from over 40 countries who took part in the initiative, it is worth making special mention of some of the sports stars, celebrities and influencers who have shaken up social media with their videos.

    They include Espanyol’s Matías Ezequiel Vargas and former US football star Jimmy Conrad, as well as freestylers Javi Freestyle – the two-time Spanish champion – and Jenifer Rosas of Mexico.

    Also involved were celebrities from the music and showbusiness world, such as the Colombian Luisa Fernanda W, whose video proved the challenge’s most popular with over 1.1 million views.

    Creativity has been the common theme in this challenge launched by TikTok and LaLiga, in which we have seen some wacky and entertaining videos. One such example is Dani Duke’s upload, considered to be one of the most creative of all of those posted by people joining in the fun.

  • Budweiser Experiences announces multi-year global sponsorship with the Premier League and LaLiga

    Budweiser Experiences announces multi-year global sponsorship with the Premier League and LaLiga

    MUMBAI: Budweiser Experiences today announced multi-year partnerships with two of the top international football leagues, the Premier League and LaLiga. As a long-time partner of the FIFA World Cup™ and supporter of football leagues and several national teams worldwide, Budweiser Experiences is proud to expand its support for the world’s game and connect to more football fans every year. These new partnerships will activate across five continents and in more than 20 countries* including the United Kingdom, China, South Africa, India, Chile and Nigeria, bringing fans closer to their football heroes through a series of unique programs across the globe.

    Budweiser Experiences will launch its global ‘Be A King" campaign in conjunction with these partnerships. This campaign will inspire fans around the world by bringing them closer to the kings of the game. Activations will include limited edition packaging showcasing the iconic league trophies, exclusive viewing parties, broadcast media assets and content partnership designed to celebrate the greatness of the players on the field and the cultural impact of the players off the field. 

    “We are excited to kick-off these long-term partnerships with the Premier League and LaLiga, two world-class football competitions. These partnerships will allow us to further connect with key consumers and football fans across the globe,” said Pedro Earp, Chief Marketing Officer at AB InBev. “We are passionate about football, and so are our consumers, so we couldn’t be prouder to celebrate the sport, the players, and most importantly, the fans.”

    Commenting on the same, Kartikeya Sharma, VP Marketing – South Asia, AB InBev said “We are thrilled to partner with two of the top international football leagues – Premier League and LaLiga. Football has been a passion point for Indians and excitement around the sport has only grown over the years in the country. Tapping into this, we want to provide well-curated experiences as well as engaging content to our consumers, creating an opportunity to celebrate the spirit of the beautiful game together with fans locally as well globally.”

    Premier League Interim Chief Executive Richard Masters said: “We are delighted to announce Budweiser Experiences as a new Premier League partner. Budweiser Experiences has a track record of innovative football sponsorships, including partnering with the FIFA World Cup™ over many years. We look forward to working together to bring our new partnership to life and capturing the imagination of our fans all over the world.”

    LaLiga President Javier Tebas added: “We're committed to growing the passion for football around the world. This historic partnership will only add to the growing excitement and anticipation for this year’s season and we’re thrilled to have them as partners. The global visibility of Spanish clubs will be strengthened thanks to this agreement.”

    Extending their efforts in India, Budweiser Experiences will keep up with the sporting frenzy by hosting live match screenings across relevant POCs, specially curated fan parks along with in-home experiences. Through the course of the season, Budweiser Experiences will also curate exclusive digital content celebrating iconic players, team and match instances, encompassing on-field and behind the scene moments. Building a more local connect, Budweiser Experiences will also partner with native ambassadors, influencers and fan clubs, to effectively brew the fervour in the country. To add to the overall on-ground sentiment, exciting merchandise will also be made available, ensuring Indian fans are truly part of the occasion.

  • PUMA and LaLiga present the new Official Competition Football

    PUMA and LaLiga present the new Official Competition Football

    After signing the long-term agreement between PUMA and LaLiga, in which the sports brand became the official sponsor, PUMA presented the Official 2019/2020 Football today, which will be used for all of the LaLiga Santander and LaLiga 1|2|3 professional matches.

    LaLiga is entertainment, emotion, it is passion, it is a spectacle, it is much more than football and the football is the heartbeat of the competition. PUMA wants to pay homage to this passion and therefore presented a new design that incorporates the technology that was developed exclusively by the brand with a striking color combination that will be the secret weapon for incredible tricks and goals that will become part of history.

    With a 18 panel heat sealed structure, the new LaLiga football is a perfect sphere that guarantees better stability, a soft touch and reduced water absorption. The bigger panels allow a better connection with the sphere. One of the new details is located in the 1mm Hi-Solid Dimple PU (San Fang) casing which improves the aerodynamics and also provides high resistance to the graze and wear and tear, which creates better durability and high performance level.  The structure of this advanced design is similar to that of a golf ball to assure a straight path and better consistency in the shot.  Likewise, the incorporation of an additional POE foam layer improves the touch and increases the sensibility, which results in a firm touch and an improved rebound consistency. This football is reactive in the shots and has an explosive potential. The air chamber made of rubber with the PAL valve (PUMA AIR LOCK) assures excellent air retention.

    Talking about the design colors, PUMA has opted for a very daring combination with green tones that offer more visibility in the turn and trajectory as well as in the velocity. An attractive Glimmer green over white combined with the NRGY red of the PUMA logo will highlight the flight over the pitch.

    On a technical level, the PUMA sphere incorporates new details that improve the aerodynamics and resistance to the wear and tear, which will result in more durability and a higher performance level.

    For the first time, the sphere includes the LaLiga ‘beat’, one of the visual identity roots for the organization. It will be integrated in the football in the PUMA logo.

    For the presentation of the new sphere, PUMA has launched a campaign that is inspired in a mix of football, fun, dance and music that will generate a domino effect in which the football is the trigger.

    One of the highlights of the campaign is the production of a video where the rhythm is marked by the heartbeats of the players who are the stars. Oblak, Griezmann, Umtiti, Bartra, Cazorla and Suárez appear in the video with the music from the afrotrap band, Afrojuice, which was written especially for this occasion.

    Click here to see the campaign video

    The football marks the heartbeats of LaLiga, and PUMA wants to get to the heart of the players and all the fans of this great passion called football with their new ball.

  • LaLiga and GSIC launch the largest global competition for startups on disruptive solutions in the football, sports and entertainment industry

    LaLiga and GSIC launch the largest global competition for startups on disruptive solutions in the football, sports and entertainment industry

    MUMBAI: LaLiga and the Global Sports Innovation Center powered by Microsoft (GSIC) present the 2019 Startup Competition of The Original Inspiration Centre by LaLiga supported by GSIC, a joint initiative to identify the best technological developments in the sports and entertainment industry. The aim is to empower digital talent developing disruptive solutions in the football, sports and entertainment industry which can help continue LaLiga’s growth in the field of technology and innovation, by means of a global technological startups competition starting on 29 January. This milestone represents yet another step forward in the strategy for promoting innovation as part of the collaboration agreement between Microsoft and LaLiga since they began working together on the digital transformation of LaLiga in December 2016.

    The competition promoted by LaLiga and managed by GSIC is the result of an agreement signed in September 2018 and aims to create a gateway to the sports and entertainment industry for new companies around the world. The solutions presented in the competition must be based on four cornerstones:

    ·       Media: OTT, broadcasting, social media, digital content, new media, digital marketing, second screens, graphics, analysis, piracy.

    •       Fan engagement: fan profiles, social media, electronic sports, gamification, social listening, community, commercialisation, VR/AR/MR, digital games.

    •       Smart venues: security, fan engagement, ticket sales, fan experience, food and beverages, connectivity, cashless payments, access control and guest management.

    •       Sports performance: analysis, sports training materials, injury prevention, health and lifestyle, research.

    •       Others such as big data, artificial intelligence, machine learning, etc.

    Iris Cordoba, the general manager of GSIC, remarks that "we are committed to innovative companies and organisations that add value to the sports industry in their digital transformation processes. Forming part of this initiative allows us to support LaLiga's innovation strategy and offer the finalist companies membership of GSIC, which has a 200-strong company network, mentors and activities which will facilitate of possibility of launching a pilot project with LaLiga."

    Meanwhile, Minerva Santana, LaLiga's Innovation Director, assures that "at LaLiga we are committed to the development of the best technological innovations that help to improve the experience of our fans and the technological growth of our clubs. What’s more, with this kind of initiative, we reassert our commitment to empowering talent in the football industry."

  • LaLiga 1|2|3 matches to be broadcast via YouTube in over 155 global markets

    LaLiga 1|2|3 matches to be broadcast via YouTube in over 155 global markets

    MUMBAI: LaLiga has announced that all matches from its second division, LaLiga 1|2|3, will now be available for free via YouTube to millions of consumers worldwide.

    Starting today, the LaLiga YouTube channel will provide live English commentary from this season´s LaLiga1|2|3 matches in over 155 countries, bringing the competition to large global territories where no previous transmission had been in place.

    The regions covered in the deal (listed in the below table) include major markets in Africa, Asia, Europe and the Americas, with all content provided via geolocation. The broadcasts, which are due to begin from today, will provide a significant increase in coverage of LaLiga1|2|3, offering thousands of Spanish football fans around the world the chance to follow their favourite teams for free.

    For those not yet familiar with the competition, the channel will provide an exciting new platform to get better acquainted with the historic teams playing in the division, such as RC Deportivo, Real Zaragoza, Malaga, CA Osasuna and Cadiz CF.

    In addition to broadcasting the eleven matches from each game week, a 50-minute highlights programme will also be available to provide a summary of the major events from each match day.

    In Spain, matches will continue to be shown through existing broadcast operators beIN Connect, Orange, Telecable, Telefónica and Sky.

    Melcior Soler, director of the LaLiga Audiovisual department, said: “The way we consume live sports is being changed by a new generation of online broadcasters, and we are committed to using such channels to extend the appeal of our competitions. This move will strengthen the LaLiga 1|2|3 by bringing it to an entirely new global audience, in a format that we think will really appeal to the viewer.”

    LaLiga is continuing to grow its digital environments, having signed a landmark agreement with Facebook in 2018 to broadcast every LaLiga Santander match via the social media network in eight south-east Asian countries. Also in 2018, it increased its social media following to over 65 million, and agreed an OTT broadcast platform together with the Association for Spanish Professional Leagues.

  • Laliga lands on facebook in indian subcontinent

    Laliga lands on facebook in indian subcontinent

    MUMBAI: In a first-of-a-kind agreement, LaLiga and Facebook today announced that the platform will become the official home for all LaLiga Santander matches in the Indian subcontinent.

    The three-season deal commences with the 2018/19 campaign kicking off on Aug. 17. All 380 first division matches of Spain’s topflight football league will be available for free to people on Facebook in eight countries: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Maldives, Sri Lanka and Pakistan.

    The move marks a new dawn in sports broadcasting, bringing LaLiga and its clubs closer to fans than ever before. The Facebook community in the eight countries will be able to watch LaLiga Santander coverage on a live and on- demand basis via multiple devices. Every match will be available on the official LaLiga Facebook Page as well as individual club Pages.

    Fans will be closer to the action than ever before, with the opportunity to watch matches on the go and engage directly with the broadcast. For major matches, viewers in the region will be treated to interactive studio coverage hosted by one of the subcontinent’s faces of football, Joe Morrison.

    Analysis will be provided by a pool of experts including former Real Madrid defender and four time LaLiga champion Michel Salgado, as well as former Barcelona and Atletico Madrid midfielder Luis Garcia.

    In addition to the live matches, shoulder programming, including a full range of weekly preview shows and highlights, will be offered.

    LaLiga features the world’s best players and the world’s best clubs. The league prides itself in being at the forefront of broadcast innovation, delivering many hours of sporting spectacle to millions of viewers every matchday. Now with Facebook, LaLiga has broken new ground, signing its first broadcast agreement ever with a social media platform.

    LaLiga President Javier Tebas hailed the agreement: “We are thrilled to team up with Facebook to bring the millions of LaLiga fans in the Indian subcontinent even closer to the action. LaLiga sets the standard for football in the world and we are delighted that more people than ever before will have the opportunity to watch our matches live and for free through Facebook in the region.”

    Peter Hutton, Facebook Head of Global Live Sports Programming added “As home to the two most-followed sports clubs on Facebook and some of the world’s most iconic footballers, LaLiga has a huge global presence on our platform. Its popularity is notably visible in the Indian subcontinent, so we’re delighted to be able to serve the community of fans there with free, live LaLiga matches for the next three seasons. We see this as a great opportunity to not only bring people together around world-class football, but also help LaLiga reach new audiences and grow its visibility in a key development market.”

  • LaLiga giant Girona FC’s players nurture young talent

    LaLiga giant Girona FC’s players nurture young talent

    MUMBAI: LaLiga’ s club – Girona FC, today conducted a closed door football coaching session with the students of Don Bosco School and Junior Academy players of Kerala Blasters School at Jawahar Lal Nehru Stadium. Girona FC players’ Gorka Iraizoz Moreno, Cristian Portugues, David Timor, Kevin Soni, Yhoan Andzouana conducted the coaching session with the aim to establish football as a growing sport within India, while also giving students a unique opportunity to play and learn a major sport.

    This move came alongside the highly anticipated Toyota Yaris LaLiga World football tournament, for which Girona FC will be playing against ISL’s Kerala Blasters and A-League’s Melbourne City FC from 24th to 28th July.

    Girona FC is the first ever LaLiga team to visit India, and only the second from the top European leagues. It was an exceptional LaLiga 2017/18 campaign for the team and included a historic victory over Real Madrid CF. The Girona FC squad was announced ahead of the Toyota Yaris LaLiga World tournament and it includes marquee names on the list.

    Football is on the rise in India and LaLiga World has been making rigorous efforts to spread the awareness of various sports along with football.

  • Samsung Spain and LaLiga renew association till 2021

    Samsung Spain and LaLiga renew association till 2021

    MUMBAI: Samsung Spain and LaLiga, the country’s top football league, have announced the renewal of their collaboration for the next three years till 2021. Under the terms of the new deal, La Liga will benefit from “the most innovative technological solutions”, according to a media note.

    In reference to the renewal, Samsung Spain corporate VP Celestino Garcia said, “This new agreement represents a great opportunity for Samsung, given that we seek to promote innovation within sport by improving the user experience. Furthermore, it also sees us strengthen our commitment and support for the values fostered by football and who better to be doing this with than LaLiga?”

    With this partnership, Samsung will be able to associate its range of products with the La Liga brand, including limited editions of the most recent Galaxy smartphones bearing the league’s logo. The partners said they’re also preparing a contest for local app developers to find new ways to improve the league’s fan experience.

    Spanish football’s organising body president Javier Tebas said, “Joining forces with partners who will work with us on our journey towards digitalisation is a priority for us at LaLiga. This is one of the reasons why we’re pleased to have reached this agreement with Samsung, who will support us in our drive towards innovation.

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  • Newly promoted champions Barcelona aims to continue their unbeaten run in LaLiga

    Newly promoted champions Barcelona aims to continue their unbeaten run in LaLiga

    1.    Santiago Bernabeu all set to host Saturday’s football match between Real Madrid and Celta Vigo

    Los Blancos are eager to make amends for the unsuccessful LaLiga campaign and they will go all guns blazing at Celta Vigo in their last home game of the season. Cristiano Ronaldo picked up a minor injury in a 2-2 draw with Barcelona at the weekend and there is every chance coach Zinedine Zidane is going to rest him against Celta Vigo. Marco Asensio is expected in the starting line-up who is going to pose a big threat for the opposition defenders. The Galacticos, on the other hand, played out a 1-1 draw with Deportivo La Coruna in the local derby, with the team extending their winless run in LaLiga to five games. It is well known that Celta often struggle on the travels and considering their current form, they are not capable of spoiling Real Madrid’s party at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu.

    2.    Levante and Barcelona take on Estadio Ciudad de Valencia in what is expected to be one of the most entertaining games of the weekend

    Thanks to three consecutive wins over the likes of Malaga, Athletic Club and Sevilla, Levante secured the LaLiga survival and, as a result, coach Paco Lopez can breathe easier. Levante are eyeing their fifth consecutive win at home, but they will have a big fish to fry in Monday’s football match against the newly-crowned champions. Barcelona will aim to put icing on the cake on a very successful season and it is believed that they will stick to their attacking style of play against Levante. Leo Messi scored a wonder goal in a 2-2 draw with Real Madrid at the weekend and he is likely to prove a handful for the opposition defenders. However, seeing that Levante are tough to beat at home, a good entertaining game is expected when they meet.

  • The Valencian Community Derby: LaLiga’s 21st century rivalry

    The Valencian Community Derby: LaLiga’s 21st century rivalry

    For many Valencia supporters, their biggest local rivals are not city neighbours Levante, but Villarreal. Even though the two clubs are separated by 57 kilometres of Mediterranean coastline, this rivalry has blossomed in recent years and they’ll meet again on Matchday 36 of the 2017/18 LaLiga season.

    Europe on the line

    The right to be seen as the best team in the Valencian Community is up for grabs. Both clubs are very proud of the region they represent; in fact they both feature the red and yellow of the Valencian flag on their club crests. Even though Valencia currently sit above Villarreal in the LaLiga table, it was the team nicknamed ‘The Yellow Submarine’ who took home the bragging rights last time these sides met, claiming a 1-0 away victory at Mestalla.

    Another victory would be as delicious as a Valencian orange for Villarreal and for their fanbase, and go a long way to helping the side qualify for next season’s Europa League. Valencia have had an excellent campaign and are already set to play in next season’s Champions League but Villarreal’s European status is still to be confirmed; they’ll need every point they can muster between now and the end of the season.

    A star-studded spine vs. a magical midfield

    Valencia’s impressive season has been down to consistently strong performances from the team’s core, from goalkeeper Neto and midfield captain Dani Parejo to dynamic wingers Carlos Soler and Gonçalo Guedes and in-form strikers Simone Zaza and Rodrigo.

    Villarreal, meanwhile, boast one of the very best midfields in LaLiga with Rodri Hernández, Manu Trigueros, Samu Castillejo and Pablo Fornals forming a dynamic midfield diamond. Upfront, the experienced Colombian international Carlos Bacca is the side’s main goalscoring threat.

    Villarreal challenge Valencia’s historical dominance

    This derby is a relatively recent phenomenon. Valencia have a storied LaLiga history, having won the league championship on six occasions, but Villarreal have spent the majority of their history in the lower leagues, only securing a first promotion to the top flight in 1998.

    However, backed by businessman Fernando Roig, the brother of former Valencia president Paco Roig, the club quickly grew into a side capable of competing with their local rivals. The Yellow Submarine reached the semi-finals of the 2005/06 Champions League and have finished above Valencia in LaLiga on many occasions in recent years, including in 2004/05, 2007/08, 2008/09, 2013/14, 2015/16 and 2016/17.

    At first many Valencia fans welcomed the arrival of Villarreal as a LaLiga regular, but with the success of their neighbours to the north threatening their standing as the region’s top dog this fixture has taken on extra importance. Add in the memory of Valencia knocking Villarreal out of the 2003/04 Europa League semi-finals and you’ve got a true local rivalry on your hands. 

    A local derby known all over the world

    Valencia, as one of the most legendary teams in LaLiga history, have conquered the hearts of supporters across the globes with fan clubs ranging from London to Moscow. Villarreal, meanwhile, have attracted many international fans in such a short period of time thanks to their amazing success story, their unique all-yellow kit and a series of iconic players such as Argentina’s Juan Roman Riquelme and France’s World Cup-winner Robert Pires.