The style of play is not the only factor which determines a person's favourite league. There are cultural and historical factors to take into account. Being aware of the general history of a league and of its leading teams can make a big difference in your appreciation of it. For example, until I read a bit about Italian football history, I had little idea of the north/south divide which polarises the country. So now I know that a Milan v Napoli clash has all the necessary ingredients for an explosive match. The media hype about north/south contests in the Premiership is a non-starter by comparison.

It's a similar story in Spain, an artifical country with intense regional rivalries.

I would love to watch La Liga and Serie A every week, along with the Premiership. But Historywoman would give me short shrift on that one, so I'll generally watch the Premiership matches and keep up to date with what's happening in the other two leagues. I love all three of them for different reasons.

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