ALTERNATIVE HISTORY / 1961/62 / 14 CLUBS

La Liga 1961/62.
Without the usual suspects.

Atlético Madrid win our alternative 1961/62 La Liga on 33 points from 26 matches. Athletic Club follow on 30 points. That's a 3-point lead over second place. The scores are real. The trophy, regrettably, is not.

Yes, the two biggest clubs are very good at football. We know. For this table, we've removed every match involving Real Madrid or FC Barcelona. The remaining fixtures keep their actual scores. In our full-league calculation they were 3rd, rather than first.

Our championAtlético Madrid
Points33
Games counted182
Points for a win2
THE USURPER LEAGUE

The 1961/62 table, without Madrid or Barça

Every match against either excluded club has been removed, including its points, goals and games played.

#ClubPWDLGDPts
1Atlético Madrid261457+1833
2Athletic Club261187+2030
3Real Zaragoza261349+1830
4Elche261088+428
5Sevilla FC261169+428
6Valencia261079+227
7Real Betis26989-526
8Racing Santander2611312-325
9Real Oviedo269710-1325
10RCD Mallorca2610511-1425
11Osasuna269611-324
12Espanyol268810-624
13Real Sociedad268513-621
14CD Tenerife266614-1618
FOR COMPARISON

What changed?

With every club present, Real Madrid lead our all-club calculation. Without the two excluded clubs, Atlético Madrid finish first. Nobody has been awarded invented wins or imaginary goals.

HOW WE COUNTED

The rules. Such as they are.

58 matches involving Real Madrid or FC Barcelona were removed. Victories were worth 2 points under the rules of 1961/62. Remaining clubs keep their recorded results.

See the all-club calculation (for comparison)
#ClubPWDLGDPts
1Real Madrid301956+3443
2FC Barcelona301848+3540
3Atlético Madrid301569+1436
4Real Zaragoza3015510+1935
5Athletic Club3012810+1432
6Sevilla FC3012711+331
7Valencia3012711031
8Elche3010911029
9Real Betis3010812-1228
10Osasuna3010713-527
11RCD Mallorca3011514-1727
12Real Oviedo3010713-2027
13Espanyol3081012-1026
14Racing Santander3011415-1926
15Real Sociedad309516-1223
16CD Tenerife306717-2419

A note about the numbers

These are independent recalculations, not official LaLiga standings. Positions are ordered by points, goal difference and goals scored. Historic points deductions and the league's official head-to-head tiebreakers aren't recreated, so some rankings may differ from the official record.

Underlying match results: Jack-Tilley/es-espana (CC0 archive). Each match involving Madrid or Barça is excluded in full. Season-specific gaps and formats are noted where relevant.

Feel like arguing about the result? Good. That's rather the point.