Believe, for this is real. Atlético Madrid are the crowned champions of Spain, having toppled super-powers Real Madrid and Barcelona over the course of a 38-game season. With the mantra of “one match at a time”, Diego Simeone’s men have achieved the unimaginable.
Score, and hang on for dear life! This has apparently been Atlético’s game plan in their last three home games, all of which they have won by the same 1-0 margin. After getting off to a great start against Villarreal on Saturday, opening up the scoring within the first 15 minutes of action, los Rojiblancos spent most of their time warding off the Yellow Submarine.
Atlético’s defence of the Copa del Rey final is becoming more and more of a possibility, and we are now just one match away from a possible semi-final next week against last year’s runners-up Real Madrid.
Atlético will travel to their city neighbours in Vallecas this Sunday for their return match, set for 19:00 CET.
Juanfran Torres will be able to play against FC Barcelona this upcoming Saturday after his booking in Málaga was dismissed. Last week, the full-back saw his fifth yellow card for “knocking down an opposition player in the dispute of the ball”, according to the referee’s official report.
Rumours about a possible transfer of the “other Diego” are making the rounds, with the player’s father saying that an Atlético representative will meet with Wolfsburg today to negotiate his transfer back to the Manzanares.
Despite their clear superiority for most of the afternoon, Atlético struggled to dispose of Celta Vigo at the Vicente Calderón on Sunday.
Ultimately, a Diego Costa brace was enough to extend the club’s record league start to eight straight wins.
Before yet another international break starts, Atlético receive struggling Celta on the eighth match day of La Liga. Kick-off at the Vicente Calderón is set for 12:00 CET on Sunday.
What can we say? You wait 14 years to win a derby, and suddenly two come along in four months. Both at the Bernabéu. On Saturday night, Atlético move five points clear of their local rivals at the top of La Liga.
They say a year at Atlético is like ten at another club, and it doesn’t half ring true. Four years have passed since the red and whites last played in the UEFA Champions League, but for fans, it feels like many more. However, the wait comes to an end on Wednesday, as Russian side Zenit St. Petersburg visit the Calderón in the opening match of Group G.