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Atletico Madrid's victory in the UEFA Super Cup gave the fans and players a taste of silverware ahead of the new Spanish League campaign. The 2013/2014 LaLiga champions outclassed and outfought Real Madrid, as Los Rojiblancos scored twice in extra time to earn a 4-2 victory over their city rivals.
This win is of added significance, given the pain Real Madrid have inflicted on Atletico in recent finals. The 2018/2019 campaign could well be the one where Atleti leap ahead of their cross-town rivals, as they look to improve on last season's runners-up finish behind FC Barcelona.
Atletico Madrid has a team which combines discipline, experience and creativity, along with a manager who is peerless when it comes to motivating and marshalling his side. Stalwarts such as Diego Godin, Juanfran and Filipe Luis provide the backbone needed to navigate a team through the challenges and obstacles provided by a league campaign. The attacking flair and the firepower of Diego Costa, Antoine Griezmann and Thomas Lemar should provide the goals and assists needed to send Atleti close to the summit of LaLiga.
Five of Atletico's starting eleven against Los Blancos on Wednesday helped guide Atletico to the 2013/2014 LaLiga title; their first league victory since 1996. Ten out of the eleven who started that day also contributed to last season's Europa League victory, proving that Atleti certainly know their way around silverware.
Attack wins games but defence wins titles
Diego Simeone's defence is one of the most combative and well-organised units in all of Europe. Jan Oblak, Diego Godin and Jose Gimenez help contain the opponent's offensive threat, while Juanfran and Filipe Luis provide the energy required to support any Atletico attack.
In last season's Europa League, Atletico went into their semi-final against Arsenal brimming with confidence. However, after only ten minutes on the clock, the Spanish side went down to ten men, after Sime Vrsaljko picked up two careless yellow cards. The Gunners then piled on the pressure during the first period, as Simeone's side tried to keep the score at 0-0. Alexandre Lacazette's goal 17 minutes into the second half was nothing other than inevitable, as the Gunners put themselves ahead and in control of the tie.
The resilience of the entire backline and Diego Simeone's sharp tactical expertise ensured the Spanish side stayed in the match. With just eight minutes of normal time to go, Antonie Griezmann found an all-important equaliser, showing the more clinical and potent side of Atletico. This seemingly one-sided match ended 1-1, as Simeone's eleven dispatched their English opponents in the following leg to progress to the final. The Spanish side went on to win the Europa League in emphatic fashion, as they swept aside French outfit Marseille to win their third trophy in five seasons.
In the 2013/14 LaLiga Team of the season, four out of the five defensive positions contained players from Madrid's title-winning squad, with Thibaut Courtois, Diego Godin, Juanfran and Filipe Luis all making the grade. It is little wonder that Godin was the subject of a deadline day transfer to Manchester United, as part of Jose Mourinho's desperate pursuit for a centre-half. Atletico also demanded a world-record fee for their star goalkeeper Jan Oblak; hardly surprising given his status as one of the world's best goalkeepers.
Antoine Griezmann signing a contract extension until 2023
The 27-year-old Frenchman looked all set for a move away from Spain, as many of Europe's top sides looked to make Griezmann their marquee signing. These rumours intensified when the striker went on to the French TV show Quotidien and confirmed the interest of potential suitors.
When asked about the chances of joining Manchester United (out of ten), Antoine replied, "six", clearly showing that his head had been somewhat turned. Barcelona looked to pounce on United's failure to sign Griezmann and snap up the French star but the Atletico hitman remained loyal to La Rojiblanco and rejected Barca's advances.
The Frenchman's tally of 79 goals in 143 LaLiga appearances certainly makes him one of Europe's most prolific strikers. The 27-year-old is also capable of lending his team-mates a hand, with a total of 23 assists during his four seasons in Madrid. So what makes Griezmann so deadly for La Rojiblanco?
Diego Costa is one of the keys to Griezmann's success. The Spaniard's physical presence allied with his partner's movement allows Atletico to score from a variety of situations, ranging from set-pieces to solo efforts. Griezmann actually enjoyed his most prolific season alongside Croatia's Mario Mandzukic; a player who fits the mould of Diego Costa, given his strength and aerial ability.
The Frenchman's versatility is also a significant factor behind his goalscoring prowess. The former Real Sociedad winger is capable of playing alongside a strike partner in a 4-4-2 formation or leading the line himself in a 4-3-3, with wingers either side of him.
Real Madrid and Barcelona are not fully settled
Since the turn of the millennium, only two teams have finished above Real Madrid and Barcelona to win Spanish football's most prestigious prize; Atletico Madrid and Valencia CF.
Holding off the challenge of Real and Barca looks an impossible job, especially given the Blaugrana's near-invincible 2017/18 campaign, where they won the league by a staggering fourteen points. Part of the reason why FC Barcelona strolled to victory involved Real Madrid and the dramatic manner in which their title defence unravelled. Los Blanco's poor start meant they were out of last season's title race by the start of 2018 and are still in the process of rebuilding their team.
They are missing the goals and the sheer genius of Cristiano Ronaldo, as Madrid look to adjust to Julen Lopetegui's style of football, moving from an attacking style to a more pragmatic method of play. Los Blanco's failure to lure Eden Hazard away from Chelsea means they do not even have a direct replacement for the 33-year old striker.
FC Barcelona's transfer policy has also been a cause for much debate in recent years. The Spanish giants looked to have signed a replacement for Neymar in Ousmane Dembele, as they secured the French winger for a fee of £135.5 million from Borussia Dortmund. However, the purchase of Brazilian winger Malcom from Bordeaux suddenly puts Dembele's future in doubt. The deadline day sale of Yerry Mina to Everton also raised question marks, given the fact he was only signed in January and should have been a replacement for Gerard Pique.
