"It's a privilege to be part of LaLiga in Austria and Germany"

Being able to commentate on LaLiga every week is very special. The best football in the world is played in Spain, which is something that LAOLA1.tv's thousands of Austrian and German viewers fully appreciate.

They are all captivated by Real Madrid, FC Barcelona and Atletico Madrid, but the intensity and attraction of Spanish football goes above and beyond the big names. Smaller clubs such as Rayo Vallecano, with coach Paco Jemez and a set of passionate supporters, have also captured the imagination of the Austrian and German audience.

The presence of Austrian and German footballers in LaLiga adds a further level of intrigue for the LAOLA1.tv viewers, be they world-renowned stars such as Toni Kroos or Shkodran Mustafi, or lower-profile players such as Patrick Ebert or Andreas Ivanschitz, who have both excelled in recent seasons. Our viewers consider it an honour and an important step forwards when our players are coveted by and eventually sign for any of the LaLiga clubs.

The greatest sense of expectation, however, undoubtedly surrounds El Clasico. It is a global phenomenon that triggers unrivalled passion and sends the LAOLA1.tv online viewing figures through the roof.

The debates that we spark on our programmes are similar to those in Spain and appeal to our viewers' emotional instinct, although the odd humorous anecdote or focus on the magic that Lionel Messi and co. can conjure up also pique interest and guarantee us success. Everybody has an opinion when it comes to LaLiga

The tradition of following LaLiga is deeply rooted in Austrian and German culture thanks to the legacy left by players such as Hans Krankl, Bernd Schuster and Toni Polster. Even Bolivian president Evo Morales was visibly enthusiastic about having the opportunity to sit downwith Krankl and discuss his time at Barcelona during a visit to Vienna.

One of the most keenly watched starlets in Austrian sport in recent years is Philipp Lienhart, a promising centre-back who has received plaudits for his defensive work at Real Madrid Castilla. The youngster did appear in Rafa Benitez's first-team squad on occasions and the whole nation is now hoping he breaks through in the Zinedine Zidane era. If he does burst on to the scene, it would be an added guarantee that Central Europe's infatuation with LaLiga will only continue to go from strength to strength in future.

As a company, as a newsroomand as sports commentators, we are proud to be part of the LaLiga product and, of course, we hope to enjoy many more hours of enthralling football by your side.