How many games are there in the Premier League season?
England has a very strong connection to football and is perhaps home to one of the most prestigious and famous football tournaments played in the world. Generally contested by a total of 20 clubs, the English Football League or EFL hosts the Premier League, a corporation wherein the member clubs are the shareholders.
Since the Premier League is the most loved and watched football league played around the world, the Premier League schedule is of immense interest worldwide. The fact that all matches are generally played on weekend afternoons, i.e. the Saturday and the Sunday, ensures full attention and attendance of the football lover irrespective of where they are situated.
Season
This tournament is held from the month of August to the month of May with each team playing all the other 19 teams in a series of 38 matches each. These 38 matches comprise of a team playing 19 matches once at:
- The home stadium and
- Once at their opponent’s home stadium.
Thus a total of 38 x 20 matches are played in a season. The answer to the question of how many soccer games in a season is thus 760 for the Premier League. That is most certainly a huge number of matches and a delight for football lovers across the world. In fact not only are all the stadiums sold out on the match schedule days, punters and bookies too look forward to a weekend of nail biting action and betting thrills with a lot of money changing hands on these days especially with the Premier League team of the week also slated to be announced.
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Length of a game
Most people who are asked how long is a professional soccer game generally respond with 90minutes. This is the actual time that the players are playing with the ball on the field. But there is an ambiguity in the answer since the referee can add minutes to the end of each 45minutes. The 45 minutes that are allotted to each half of the game is started off and concluded based on the referee whose watch sets the time. There is no gong, buzzer or whistle which goes off to signify the start and the end. Thus while the length of a professional soccer game is 90 minutes, these 90 minutes depend on the watch of the man refereeing the match.
In fact the referee is also given the responsibility of taking into account any time wasted during the course of the play or in treating injuries. This time is added to the game after the 90 minutes are over to compensate their loss during the game. While there are guidelines set on the basis of which the referees operate, in instances of disputes regarding the time, the referee is the sole arbitrator and the best person to ask how long is a professional soccer game.
There is of course a break in the middle which allows players of this fast-paced body contact game some time to relax, take care of their injuries, if any, take energy drinks etc.
Premier League format
While the teams keep playing their matches according to a set Premier League schedule, each team plays against an opponent team twice in a double system of round-robin. The team receives a total of 3 points every time it wins and in case of a draw each participating team gets 1 point each. There is, however, no point awarded in case of a loss. Thus the teams get ranked according to:
- The total point accumulated which is the first criteria,
- The number of goals scored which is the second criteria and
- The goal difference which is the third criteria.
It is only in case of a tie is the second criteria and the third criteria considered. Even after that if two teams remain on an equal footing, they are deemed to be equals and are given the same rank. The Premier League team of the week is also decided on the basis of the same.
Of course if the tie happens to take place either in the championship, for qualifying to other championships or for relegation, then a tie-breaker match is played out at a neutral venue.
After the points table is made, the last 3 teams are relegated to playing in the Championship while the 2 top teams from there get promoted to play in the Premier League. An additional team is also promoted after a series of play-offs.
Historically the Premier League has 22 teams but it now has only 20 teams participating for the coveted chance of winning this prestigious event and the Premier League team of the week award. Ever since its inception in the year 1992, the Premier League has been one the most consistent football leagues taking place around the world.
Importance of playing in the Premier League
Given the fact that the answer to how long is a professional soccer game is only 90 minutes, and these 90 minutes make for nail biting and extremely tense 90 minutes wherein players sustain a lot of cuts, bruises and other harsher injuries, the question is why teams still want to play in the Premier League despite knowing how many soccer games in a season.
The answer to this is quite simple; there is a lot of prestige and honour associated with this league. In fact there are financial gains too which come along with a good performance at the Premier League, but it is the opportunity of showcasing one’s talent across the world which draws players to dream of playing in the Premier League.
The timeline or the Premier League schedule is quite tough and players are shuttling from one place to another to familiarise themselves with the field and the climate and to practice for an upcoming match. the pace is hectic, the fight very strong and the injuries quite severe; yet it is the grit, the determination and the passion the players have that keeps them going irrespective of knowing very well how many soccer games in a season and the gruelling schedule that they have ahead.
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