1996–97 La Liga

The 1996–97 La Liga season, the 66th since its establishment, started on 31 August 1996 and finished on 23 June 1997. Four or five clubs were relegated to Segunda División at the end of the season as the number of clubs was reduced to 20 starting from the 1997–98 season. This was the last season played with 22 teams.

Promotion and relegation
Teams promoted from 1995–96 Segunda División
 * Hércules
 * Logroñés
 * Extremadura

Teams relegated to 1996–97 Segunda División
 * Albacete
 * Mérida
 * Salamanca

Clubs and locations
1996–97 season was composed of the following clubs:


 * It was the last season with 22 teams in La Liga. To reduce the number of teams in the league, the last four teams, CF Extremadura, Sevilla FC, Hércules CF and CD Logroñés, were relegated and the fifth-to-last team, Rayo Vallecano, played a relegation playoff and was also relegated.