Barcelona have the highest attendances, just ahead of Real Madrid, whilst Athletic Club Bilbao and Real Betis have the biggest crowds outside the big two.

• By Heath Chesters    Follow @HeathISF

The official half-season attendance figures were released this week and just like last season, Granada CF were the only team to enjoy average crowds above 90% of their stadium capacity.

Only two La Liga matches have seen capacity crowds this season. Granada CF v Atlético Madrid and Real Madrid v Atlético Madrid. Following a trend of decline over recent seasons, even the visits of Real Madrid or Barcelona, no longer serves to attract capacity crowds at the stadiums of their rivals.

Whilst Barcelona have once again registered the highest average attendances, Real Madrid fill the higher percentage of their stadium. Outside the the big two, Athletic Club Bilbao and Real Betis attracted the biggest average attendances  but both fall some way short of the capacity of their stadiums.

The teams least able to fill their stadiums, were Espanyol and Real Zaragoza, with average attendances below 50% of their capacity. The lowest actual average attendances, were Rayo Vallecano with an average crowd of 9,170 and Getafe with a 9,011 average.

These statistics are a stark comparison to stadium attendance averages in England and Germany, which sees most teams in their top two divisions, exceeding 90% of their stadium capacity. The major cause suggest analysts, is the high price of match tickets in Spain, which is almost twice the average cost of England and Germany.

During the 2012-2013 season, the majority of La Liga clubs have seen a dramatic fall in average attendances, due in no small part to the high entry prices, high levels of unemployment and the economic crisis.

Earlier this week though, we reported how the LFP has submitted proposals to each of the clubs in the top two divisions, pushing for up to a 50% reduction in match ticket prices, in return for a better TV deal, more akin to the German model.