Since its inception in 1992, the English Premier League has gone from strength to strength and has become the most watched league in the world.

It has attracted some of the best players, with clubs like Manchester City, Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United, bursting at the seams with world-class talent.

However, inconsistency in the Champions League, and sometimes dour clashes involving teams in the bottom half of the table has led to suggestions that the EPL is falling behind in terms of quality and technical ability.

UEFA’s current co-efficient ranking, which is based on each nation’s club performances in European competitions from the 2009-10 season to the 2013-14 season, currently ranks the Premier League as second in European stature behind La Liga.

Let’s take a look at the major continental leagues to get an idea of how English club football shapes up.

1. La Liga
Spanish teams have performed well in European competitions in the past 10 years with Real Madrid and Barcelona consistently reaching the final stages of the Champions League. What’s more, La Liga is undoubtedly home to the two best players on the planet in Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, as well as the most expensive in Gareth Bale.
La Liga is now seeing the emergence of teams like Atlético Madrid, who have begun to threaten the hegemony enjoyed by Real and Barca, adding to the league’s strength in depth.

2. English Premier League
The EPL is one of the most unpredictable leagues in the world, with four teams having been vying for the title this season.
With Manchester United in apparent decline, the re-emergence of Liverpool and the growth of Manchester City have ensured that the EPL remains as entertaining as ever.
Few leagues can beat the history and tradition of the English top flight also, and with five separate winners of the European Cup over the years, England boasts more individual winners of club football’s most elite trophy even if Spanish clubs have lifted the cup on more occasions in total.

3. Bundesliga
The rise of the Bundesliga is perhaps one of Europe’s most compelling success stories. German football underwent significant changes in the early 90s. These changes, together with a more frugal approach to money matters have helped the Bundesliga become hugely successful.
Last year’s Champions League final was an all-German affair, and Bayern Munich, although disposed at the semi-final stage this year have competed in the 3 of the last 4 finals. The Bundesliga is also Europe’s most-watched league with an average attendance per game above 40,000.

4. Serie A
The Italian League is not the power it once was. From 1985 to 1996, Serie A accounted for five Champions League winners. However, it’s been a different story ever since with only the two Milan clubs able to reach the European pinnacle. A rise in hooliganism and expensive ticket prices has caused attendances to fall, relegating Serie A to continental also-rans.
Juventus may lead the way at the top of the table in Serie A, but this season the ‘Old Lady’ were dumped out of the Champions League in the group stages and failed to reach the final of the Europa League when they were knocked out by Benfica in the semi-finals.

5. Portuguese Liga
The Portuguese Liga boasts some iconic names of world club football with Benfica and Porto both having twice won the Champions League and Sporting Lisbon established performers on the European stage.
Behind the dominance of the big three however, the competitiveness of the league perhaps comes into question with few other sides able to make serious inroads either domestically or in European competition.

6. French Ligue 1
The re-emergence of Paris St Germain as a footballing force, backed by the money of the Qatar Tourism Authority, as well as the return of fellow moneybags side Monaco from Ligue 2 has given the league a boost this season.
However, with attendances low – below the average gate recorded in the English Championship – and with three corruption scandals scarring its past, the majority of French national players are forced to look elsewhere for employment. Only Marseille have ever lifted the Champions League trophy, back in 1993.

European Football Betting

At Spreadex you can bet on all the leagues mentioned above (fixed odds football bets and football spread bets) as well as other European leagues including the Dutch Eredivisie, the Russian Premier League, Scottish Premier League and many more.

Beyond the European leagues you can also bet on global competitions such as Australia’s A-League, the MLS in America and Brazil’s Serie A to name but a few.

Spreadex also specialises in in-play betting on many matches across the leagues; live football betting where spread betting and fixed odds prices are updated as the match progresses to allow punters the chance to open or close bets at any point during a game.