2013-14 Season Review – Atletico

Diego Simeone and his Atletico Madrid side delivered one in the eye for critics who, throughout the campaign, were adamant that the red and white bubble would burst and Atleti would end the season empty-handed.

Keeping everyone guessing until the final round of matches, Atleti stole Barcelona’s crown with a decisive draw against the Catalans, earning their first La Liga title since 1996.

Los Colchoneros had sounded a warning last season, finishing third and ensuring the title race had three competitors for all but the final phase. This time round, they never slipped out of the top three and by the time of that crucial clash with Barca, their historically superior city rivals in white had been eliminated from contention.

The Primera season is the proverbial marathon but Atleti sprung out of the blocks like Usain Bolt, sprinting to eight straight wins including a first at the Santiago Bernabeu for 14 years – Real Madrid’s first home League defeat for nearly three – before surprisingly tripping up at Espanyol. Normal service was resumed and, despite a draw at Villarreal, Diego Costa and company blasted seven past Getafe.

Atleti stuttered – losing at lowly Almeria and Osasuna and then at Levante towards the end – but their rivals had similar slip-ups and when the decider came, Simeone and his men had captured the hearts of neutrals with their cussed brand of aggressive, pressing football.

Meanwhile, they had been brushing aside all-comers in their first Champions League campaign since 1996-97 and were unbeaten until the final. Zenit, Porto and Austria Vienna were their group-stage victims and Milan fell spectacularly in the Last 16, crashing 4-1 at the Vicente Calderon as Simeone’s men shifted into a higher gear.

When Atletico put out Barcelona and Chelsea in the quarter and semi-finals respectively, Europe at last sat up to take notice and regretted having underestimated Simeone’s men for so long. Ironically, having already won La Liga, Los Rojiblancos went into the final against their neighbours as underdogs.

Entering stoppage time in Lisbon with a 1-0 lead, Atleti succumbed to Sergio Ramos’ equaliser and, running on empty, were blown away in the extra half-hour. The 4-1 scoreline was harsh on Simeone and his team, but the extent of their impact on the Spanish and European game over the course of the season cannot be under-estimated.

Much of source of Atletico’s success lies in their sense of collective endeavour. A team largely without superstars – Costa has yet to attain that status while David Villa has it behind him – Atleti played for each other and their Coach all season long. Diego Godin’s leveller to prise the title from Barca’s grasp had a feel of inevitability even before it was scored.

Pichichi winner Costa – 27 goals in 33 games – and goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, who secured the Zamora, conceding just 24 times in 37 appearances – laid the foundations for La Liga success, but if ever a team exemplified a team ethic, it was Simeone’s Atletico.

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