Sevilla take on Real Madrid as one of the chief beneficiaries of Spain's new TV deal world

One valid criticism of La Liga is the imbalance in the distribution of television money between the clubs. Spain’s big two take £204 million from the domestic television pot each season, with the other 18 Liga teams and 24 Segunda A teams sharing £245 million between them. It's not only domestic their rivals that want the disparity ended; Barça and Madrid’s European competitors also want to see a more equal system.

The resentment burns strongest in Spain, though, and during an interview before he joined Manchester United, Ander Herrera was critical of the way the money is distributed.

“In England it’s divided fairly,” he said with obvious anger in his voice, in part because he’d played for two huge clubs, Real Zaragoza and Athletic Bilbao, both of whom had average crowds over 30,000 and both of whom received far less television money than the smallest Premier League teams. Cardiff City, who finished bottom of the Premier League last season, received over twice as much from television last season as Spanish champions Atletico Madrid, who got £31 million.

Barcelona and Real Madrid, meanwhile, picked up £103 million each. Even with the huge Premier League TV deal, not a single team in England got that much.

Spain is aware of the problem and was stung by accusations that their league was like ‘Scotland in the sun’, but Barcelona and Madrid have been reluctant to push for the equality of England. They have their cake and enjoy eating it, but the rest of the clubs have long threatened to strike.

The Spanish government stepped in and announced on Thursday that they will introduce a law in 2016 to stop Barcelona and Real Madrid negotiating their own television contracts. A system similar to the centralised one in England will likely follow, to the delight of the all the clubs in Spain - apart from the big two, of course.

The distribution will be based on the team’s results in the previous season, results in the last five seasons and the ‘social weight’ of the club. The ratio between the big two and the bottom clubs was 1:7 and will fall to 1:4.5, with the ultimate intention being to bring it to 1:3.5.

What’s staggering is that the smaller Spanish clubs have continued to be successful while receiving relatively little from television. Atletico won the league on a budget a quarter of the big two, while Sevilla are the reigning Europa League champions and again reached the final four of this season’s competition. They’ll face Fiorentina as they aim to become the first team to win the competition four times.

Unai Emery’s side are also fifth in La Liga, level on points with Valencia in fourth and in the hunt for that final Champions League spot. They’ve played 53 games so far this season, but far from tiring, they’re unbeaten in 15. Sevilla are the only team in Spain who remain unbeaten at home all season and held Barcelona to a 2-2 draw recently.

On Saturday they’ll host Real Madrid and hope to make it three straight wins against Carlo Ancelotti’s team in the Sanchez Pizjuan.

Another defeat for Madrid will likely end their title hopes with three games to play – although Barça still have to play away at third-placed Atletico Madrid. Diego’s Simeone’s champions are nine points behind Barça and unlikely to retain their title, but they’re unbeaten in 11 league matches and still on target for their second highest points total in club history. Simeone laughed off suggestions on Friday that he’ll let Barcelona win as revenge for Madrid’s late Champions League victory last week.

Real Madrid will arrive at Sevilla’s airport on Friday just ten minutes after Barcelona, who play at bottom-of-the-table Cordoba. The title rivals are unlikely to see each other, though their fans waiting in arrivals to see their heroes will.

The Andalusian teams who make up a quarter of the league have played a key role in the title race. Malaga, one of the other five Andalusian teams in La Liga alongside Granada, Almeria, Cordoba and Sevilla, beat Barcelona at Camp Nou and drew with them at home.

Three of the Andalusian teams are in the bottom four and two are likely to go down, but Sevilla’s city rivals Real Betis look certain to return to the top flight. They lead the second division by six points and have averaged 30,000 crowds – only a few hundred less than neighbours Sevilla. Over 39,000 watched their recent game against Valladolid. This weekend Betis play the team with the smallest crowds, Llagostera, who average 2,393 – a 192% increase on last season.

The return of Betis will mean the resumption of Spain’s most passionate cross-city derby. Sevilla recruit exceptionally well and have an outstanding youth system, while Betis have had to promote young players after spending so long in administration.

Both will benefit enormously from the impending fairer television deal, which will help them keep hold of their best players. Sevilla have historically lost their finest talents to Real Madrid and more recently, with Daniel Alves and Ivan Rakitic, to Barcelona.

Spain’s biggest two are still likely to poach the best players from their rivals, but more television money will help Spanish clubs outside the big two keep hold of the best talents they bring through - and not just players, but coaching staff too. Spanish football will be better for it, as it will be for Betis being back in the top-flight and the resumption of the Seville derby.