Atletico on cusp of La Liga glory but Real Madrid ready to pounce
Barely a week has gone by this season without Diego Simeone pronouncing his mantra of “one game at a time” and now it really rings true, with Atletico Madrid one match away from winning La Liga.
If Simeone’s team beats Real Valladolid today, it will be crowned champion for the first time since 2014 and few could argue given it will have been top of the table since December, AFP reported.
But Real Madrid is lurking, only two points behind, and ready to dip its neck over the line at the last moment. Real has not led La Liga since October 17. points but that would see the trophy returned to Real Madrid, which would sneak it on head-to-head.
In some ways, Atletico might benefit from the situation being clear. It will almost certainly have to win to claim the title and can look for victory from the start.
Valladolid scrapping for survival
Valladolid might have been relegated already had results gone against it last weekend but instead it is still fighting to be the one team out of three that survives.
Huesca and Elche are the others scrapping to finish 17th, with both of them two points ahead of Valladolid, the trio sandwiched between alreadyrelegated Eibar and Getafe, which are safe.
It means only a win will give Valladolid hope, a scenario that could play into Atletico’s hands if it encourages its opponent to attack, opening the spaces that were denied by the defensive approach of Osasuna, who so nearly spoiled Atletico’s chances last weekend.
Luis Suarez’s 88th-minute winner, which completed a stunning turnaround after Renan Lodi equalized only six minutes before, had the feeling of a pivotal moment, a dramatic twist to prove decisive in who harnesses the prize. Yet Real Madrid’s priority on Sunday was survival and it beat Athletic Bilbao at San Mames to take Atletico to the last day, when the tension will be at its highest.
Simeone admitted “anxiety exists” among his players but in 10 years in charge he has tried to expunge the fatalist tendencies that haunted the club for so long.
Real Madrid have benefitted before, when Atletico conceded in the 93rd minute in the 2014 Champions League final in Lisbon and lost in extra-time. Atletico went close in the 2016 final in Milan too, only to be beaten by Real Madrid on penalties.
Now Simeone’s team is within touching distance again, the difference this time that Real Madrid has no control, its own success now depending on what happens at the Jose Zorrilla stadium, 200 kilometers away.