Back page Soccer is one of the most celebrated sports and draws players and fans from different parts of the world.
For many years now, the Premier League has been the go-to league for punters who love the game and would like to make a buck or two from it. Virtually every popular football betting site like bet365, Betfair or Betway offers all forms of bets on the arguably most competitive and exciting league in the world.
However, the EPL isn’t the only league where punters can try their luck. Below, we will look at other pro-leagues you ought to try as the football season commences.
Major League Soccer (MLS) – USA
Popularly known as MLS, this league was founded in 1993 and serves as the American domestic soccer league. Its debut season occurred in 1996 and averages 2 million views per game.
In recent years, the league has benefitted from heightened media attention occasioned by the arrival of top-flight soccer stars from Europe.
A good example is a long-range strike by Zlatan Ibrahimović from forty yards out in 2018 when his team was playing against Los Angeles FC.
Serie A – Italy
Serie A played in Italy brings together all the best teams in the country, including AC Milan, Juventus, and Inter Milan and has gained another boost after Italy’s win at the Euro 2020.
The league has produced some of the most famous soccer stars in history: Michael Bradley, Wesley Sneijder, Zlatan Ibrahimović, and Daniele De Rossi.
The league runs concurrently with most leagues in the world, including the English Premier League. Traditionally, it begins in August and ends the following year in May.
While the league has hundreds of millions of fans globally, it’s not uncommon for it to be embroiled in controversy every so often.
The most notable controversy plaguing Serie A was the 2016 match-fixing scandal which continues to hound it up to date.
The Super League – Greece
If you love to follow the rivalry associated with soccer games, then you will, without a doubt, love what Super League Greece has to offer.
It’s a league characterised by intense rivalry amongst the leading leagues in Athens, the country’s capital city.
The most dominant clubs in this league include AEK Athens, Panathinaikos, and Olympiacos, traditionally referred to as the Big Three.
Together, they hold the most titles and have continued to dominate the domestic football league in Greece since it held its first championship game in 1927.
Apart from the big three, the other clubs that have managed to walk away with the trophy are Aris Thessaloniki, AEL, and PAOK.
Rivalry aside, the intense atmosphere present in its live matches is unbelievable and is one that you can always look forward to, especially after placing your bets.
Primeira Liga – Portugal
The Primeira Liga is as competitive as any of the other pro-leagues mentioned in this list, making it an interesting destination for top soccer stars.
Since it came into being, the league has benefitted from its share of leading soccer competitions in Europe, with many Portuguese teams managing to pass the group stages.
An example of clubs from this league that has made it to top-flight competitions includes Porto, which won the Europa League and the Champions League in 2003/2004.
Another example is Benfica which made it to the Europa League finals for two consecutive years, 2013 and 2014.
Eredivisie – The Netherlands
The Dutch Eredivisie has developed some world-class players including Luis Suarez and Ruud van Nistelooy. It’s also the top-tier league in the Netherlands.
It started in 1963 and has developed into one of the most recognizable leagues in the soccer world. UEFA ranked it as the 9th best soccer league in Europe during its 2019 rankings.
Clubs representing the Dutch Eredivisie are often ranked highly and considered top contenders in various tournaments.
Renowned soccer stars who started their trade in this league include Virgil van Dijk, Frenkie de Jong, and Mathijs De Ligt.
La Liga – Spain
To English speakers, the Primera Division in Spain is known as La Liga. It serves as the top league in Spanish football and has been around since around the 1920s.
One surprising fact about this pro league is that there are three teams playing in it that have never been knocked from it.
As a pro league, it’s best known for the presence of two powerhouse teams that continue to dominate club games throughout the continent.
Barcelona and Real Madrid also happen to have produced two of the most revered soccer stars in modern history. For example, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, who played for both teams respectively, scored the highest number of goals in a single season in 2011/2012.
While both superstars have moved on to other teams, the two powerhouses still lay a claim to some of the best superstars in European football.
Premier Liga – Russia
You cannot mention the Russian Premier Liga without mentioning Zenit, Spartak, Lokomotiv, and CSKA. These are the teams that have made this league a global powerhouse.
While many Russian clubs aren’t highly competitive in international competitions, the pro-league makes for enjoyable and exciting live matches.
The league recently introduced a limit on the number of non-Russian stars who can play for each team at any given moment.
It’s a move meant to protect the local players and aims to improve the quality of soccer played in the country.
The brains behind these restrictions also hope to nurture better talents for the country’s national team.
Summary
Although the premier league has always been considered the best for betting by punters, this list shows that there’s much more to look forward to, provided you are willing to explore.
The seven pro-leagues mentioned above provide the best betting opportunities for punters who would like to look beyond the English Premier League.
