Marca API: is there official access to the data of the Spanish portal

In the modern digital world, sports data is valued as highly as the game itself. Developers, sports media, analysts, and betting platforms face the daily necessity of obtaining accurate and up-to-date information about matches, player statistics, and odds. This is where sports APIs — tools come to the rescue that allow for the automation of data retrieval without manual searching on websites and in news.

One of the most popular solutions for developers is API-sport, which provides a wide range of data across many sports, with the possibility of live updates, statistical reports, and archival information. But is there a Marca API, official access to the data of the Spanish sports portal? We will discuss this below and compare it with API-sport to understand which service is more advantageous to use.

What is API and API-sport?

API (Application Programming Interface) is an interface for programming applications that allows for the retrieval and sending of data between services. In the sports industry, APIs are becoming a key tool for accessing statistics, match results, and betting odds.

API-deporte — this is a platform with a rich history and wide popularity. It covers more than 40 sports, including football, hockey, basketball, tennis, and esports. Data is available both in live mode and as historical archives. Among the features of API-sport:

Support for WebSocket for instant match updates.
High accuracy of statistics and odds.
Easy integration with Python, JavaScript, mobile applications, and CMS.

API-sport differs from other platforms in that it offers universal coverage and flexibility, which is often lacking in local or specialized services.

Marca API: is there official access to the data of the Spanish portal?

Currently, Marca, one of the largest sports portals in Spain, does not provide an official API for public access. There are only third-party solutions that aggregate data from the site or use parsing, which can be unreliable and legally limited.

Data provided by the API

Although Marca publishes match statistics, team lineups, transfers, and forecasts, there is no official API for direct access to this data. Any attempts at integration through unofficial tools may violate the site’s rules.

Unlike Marca, API-deporte provides:

Real-time match results.
Odds for betting and calculating outcome probabilities.
Team lineups and detailed player statistics.
Transfer history and match events.

Deportes soportados

API-sport covers a wide range of disciplines:

Football, hockey, basketball, tennis
Esports (LoL, Dota2, CS:GO)
Handball, baseball, American football.

Marca is limited to football themes and local sports events, which makes API-sport more versatile.

Tecnologías y formatos

API-sport supports modern technologies:

REST and WebSocket
JSON and XML formats

This allows for flexible integration of data into mobile applications, web platforms, and analytical systems. Marca, in the absence of an official API, does not provide such capabilities.

¿Cómo acceder a la API?

To work with API-sport official access — is the most reliable and secure way to integrate data. The process looks as follows:

Registration on the platform — you need to create an account on the official API-sport website.
Obtaining an API key — after registration, the user receives a unique key that identifies their requests. Without this key, access to the data is impossible.
Choosing a tariff — the platform offers several tariffs, from a free trial to PRO subscriptions with extended features. Tariffs vary by the volume of allowed requests per minute, available data (live, statistics, archives), and update speed.

Using official access guarantees data reliability, compliance with rules, and legality of integration.

RapidAPI, SportRadar y otras plataformas proporcionan acceso a BetsAPI y Livescore API a través de sus canales. Esto es conveniente para los desarrolladores que necesitan integraciones listas y SLA confiables.

In addition to direct registration, API-deporte you can connect through third-party aggregator platforms, for example:

RapidAPI — convenient for quick testing and small projects. However, the cost is higher, and request limits and update speed may be restricted.
SportRadar — provides access to similar sports data, but tariffs are usually more expensive and do not always include the full match archive.

Third-party providers are useful for experiments and small projects, but for serious integrations and commercial applications, it is better to use official access.

Los planes gratuitos generalmente incluyen acceso limitado a datos históricos y estadísticas básicas. Las suscripciones de pago desbloquean:

Free tariffs provide limited access:

A small number of requests per minute.
Access to basic match statistics and team compositions.
Limited live data and lack of complete match and transfer history.

Planes de pago opens up all the possibilities of API-sport:

Full access to live match data with minimal delay.
Extended statistics for players, teams, and competitions.
Access to the archive of matches, transfers, and detailed event history.
The ability to integrate into commercial projects without speed limitations.

Thus, paid plans are suitable for betting platforms, analytical services, and media where high accuracy and data speed are required.

Número de solicitudes por minuto/hora

Even on paid plans, there are technical limitations:

The number of requests per minute – depends on the chosen plan, but is usually higher than most alternatives.
Data update speed – live data is updated instantly via WebSocket, which reduces latency compared to regular polling.
Limits on data types – some types of statistics may only be available on higher plans.

These limitations are necessary for the stable operation of the service and to prevent server overload, making API-sport a reliable and predictable tool for professional data work.

Integración de API

Ejemplos de conexión (Python, JavaScript)

Python:

importar solicitudes

url = «https://v3.football.api-sports.io/fixtures»
headers = {«X-RapidAPI-Key»: «YOUR_API_KEY»}
respuesta = solicitudes.get(url, encabezados=encabezados)
imprimir(respuesta.json())

JavaScript:

fetch(«https://v3.football.api-sports.io/fixtures», {
headers: { «X-RapidAPI-Key»: «YOUR_API_KEY» }
})
.then(response => response.json())
.then(data => console.log(data));

Integración en CMS y aplicaciones móviles

API-sport easily integrates into:

WordPress through plugins and custom blocks
Android/iOS applications via REST and WebSocket

Uso de datos en vivo a través de WebSocket

Live data via WebSocket provides minimal latency and instant updates, unlike standard polling, which is critical for betting and sports analytics.

¿Dónde se utiliza?

Betting and odds scanners – real-time outcome probability calculations.
Sports analytics and forecasts – generating predictions based on statistics.
Media and fan applications – news, reviews, and broadcasts.
Fantasy Sports and esports – managing rosters and match events.
BI systems and Big Data projects – integrating statistics for analysis and reporting.

Ventajas y desventajas

Advantages API-deporte:

Wide coverage of sports and competitions
Alta velocidad de actualización de datos
Accuracy of statistics and odds
Support for modern formats and technologies

Contras:

Paid subscription for full access
Limits on the number of requests
Basic technical training is required for integration

The Marca API does not officially exist, so there are simply no advantages to official access.

API alternatives

There are several popular alternatives to API-sport in the sports data market, each with its own features. SportRadar is considered one of the most reliable solutions: its data is accurate and updates quickly, however, the subscription cost is quite high, making the service less accessible for small projects. RapidAPI acts more as an aggregator, offering connections to many different APIs, but often there are limitations on the number of requests and data update speed. The Odds API is more focused on odds and betting, providing minimal information about teams and players, which makes it convenient for betting platforms but not a universal tool for analytics.

Compared to these services, API-sport wins in versatility, speed, and data completeness: it covers over 40 sports, provides live updates, and rich statistics, making it the optimal choice for developers, analysts, and media platforms.

En resumen

The Marca API is not officially available, so it cannot be used legally. API-sport is a universal solution for developers, analysts, media, and betting platforms. It provides wide coverage, accurate data, and integration with any applications.

API-sport registration: https://app.api-sport.ru/register

Our TG channel with updates: https://t.me/apisportru.

Preguntas frecuentes

Is there free access to the Marca API?
No, there is no official access to Marca data via API.

What sports does API-sport support?
Football, hockey, basketball, tennis, esports, and over 40 other disciplines.

Can API-sport be used for betting?
Yes, data on odds and results is suitable for calculating probabilities.

How to connect API-sport to the application?
Through REST or WebSocket, using the API key. Examples in Python and JavaScript are available above.

Is the API suitable for predictions and analytics?
Yes, thanks to historical and live data.

What limitations does the free plan have?
A limited number of requests, basic data without live updates and advanced statistics.