Real Madrid benefit most from penalties in La Liga: Study

Real Madrid receive the most "help" from referees in La Liga, according to a data published by Spain's center for Investigation History and Statistics of Spanish Football (CIEFE).

Many fans have long complained that football giants from the capital city receive "help" from referees. A study published by CIEFE on Monday shows that in 85 seasons of the Spanish football league, Real Madrid have been given more penalties than any other team, reports Xinhua.

They have been awarded 487 penalties, while FC Barcelona have been awarded 460, Atletico Madrid, 437, Valencia 414 and Athletic Club Bilbao 373.

Real Madrid, Barcelona and Athletic Bilbao have never been relegated in the 85 year history of la Liga.

When it comes to penalties against these theams, the figures change significantly: Valencia head that list with 360, followed by Espanyol with 358, Athletic Club with 342 and Barcelona with 332.

Real Madrid are ninth in the list with just 267 penalties awarded against them; a significant difference when compared with Athletic and Barcelona.

In total, 6,514 penalties have been awarded in La Liga of which 4,830 ended in goals and the remaining 1,684 were either saved by the keeper or sent wide of the target.

The most effective goalkeeper against spot kicks is Valencia's Diego Alves who has stopped an incredible 44 percent of the penalties taken against him.