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Atletico Madrid are the La Liga champions for the 2020/21 season, and deserved praise is flooding across social media for Diego Simeone and his team.
The La Liga title was decided yesterday. Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid were separated only by a point going into their respective games. Despite Los Blancos' win over Villarreal, Atletico Madrid's triumph over Real Valladolid meant that they secured their first league title since the 2013/14 campaign.
We look at 10 amazing facts about Atletico Madrid's La Liga triumph.
#10 Atletico Madrid concede the fewest goals on average during a league-winning season
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Diego Simeone's Atletico Madrid are renowned for their defensive strength and it was on display once again throughout the 2020/21 campaign.
Atletico Madrid's defense, led by their world-class goalkeeper Jan Oblak, showcased their defensive superiority as they clinched the league title. Jose Gimenez, Kieran Trippier, Stefan Savic and Mario Hermoso all played key roles in defense alongside Oblak.
#9 Marcos Llorente registers double figures for goals and assists
Eyebrows were raised when Atletico Madrid paid Real Madrid £27 million to sign Marcos Llorente in 2019.
He has proved to be a shrewd acquisition, though. A defensive midfielder during his Real Madrid days, Llorente has been transformed into a more attacking player at Atletico Madrid and has even been utilized as a striker on occasions.
The results have been stunning. The Spain international made 37 league appearances this season, scoring 12 goals and 11 assists. Clubs are said to be monitoring his progress at Atletico Madrid.
#8 Jan Oblak secures the Ricardo Zamora Trophy for a record fifth time
One of the best goalkeepers in the world, Jan Oblak has been a consistent presence for Atletico Madrid since his arrival from Benfica in 2014.
The 28-year old won his fifth Ricardo Zamora Trophy, an award given to the goalkeeper who has the lowest goal-to-game ratio. With this he becomes the only non-Spanish goalkeeper to win the prestigious trophy five times. Oblak conceded just 25 goals in 37 league games.
Also Read: 5 players who have stepped up at the business end of the 2020/21 season
#7 Atletico Madrid win the league with the fewest points for a winning team since 2007/08
It was an exciting La Liga title race, with Atletico Madrid, Real Madrid and Barcelona involved for much of the season.
It was certainly an entertaining season for the neutrals. Atletico Madrid deserved to win the league in the end, but they did so by registering the fewest points for a winning team since 2007/08, with 86 points. Simeone and his men will care little though.
#6 Luis Suarez's goals earn Atletico Madrid 21 points this season
In one of the most controversial deals of last summer, Luis Suarez joined Atletico Madrid from Barcelona after enjoying a stellar spell at the Catalan club.
There were doubts as to whether the 34-year old could perform at the highest level at his age, but Suarez has shown that he still has a lot to offer. He was Atletico Madrid's talisman this season, scoring 21 goals in 32 league games.
#5 Luis Suarez has won more La Liga titles than any other player since his arrival
Luis Suarez signed for Barcelona in 2014 from Liverpool for £73.5 million, and established himself as one of the best strikers of the modern generation.
He scored 198 goals in 283 games in all competitions for Barcelona, winning four La Liga trophies and a Champions League trophy. Suarez's league win with Atletico Madrid is his fifth La Liga triumph.
#4 Jan Oblak becomes joint record holder for most appearances as a goalkeeper for Atletico Madrid
Jan Oblak, as mentioned before, has been a constant in the Atletico Madrid first XI since his arrival from Benfica for a fee of £14.5 million.
The Slovenia international has made 303 appearances in all competitions for the club, equalling Abel Resino's record for most appearances as a goalkeeper for Atletico Madrid. Still only 28, Oblak's legacy and longevity for Atletico Madrid could potentially go unmatched.
Also Read: Premier League 2020/21: Top 10 players this season according to ratings
#3 Diego Simeone wins his eighth title as Atletico Madrid manager
Diego Simeone is an Atletico Madrid legend. The Argentine won the La Liga once with Atletico Madrid as a player, and has now won two as manager.
This is Simeone's eighth title as Atletico Madrid boss. Alongside two La Liga titles, the 51-year old has led the club to two Europa League titles, as well as the Copa del Rey and Supercopa de Espana. Atletico Madrid have also reached the finals of the Champions League twice under Simeone's management.
#2 Only Simeone, Jose Gimenez and Koke remain from their last league win
When Atletico Madrid shocked the footballing world by winning the league in 2014, it was built on a core of players like Diego Godin, Diego Costa, Juanfran and Thibaut Courtois among other names.
Only two players have lasted since that incredible season. Spanish midfielder Koke, who was vital during the 2013/14 season, is now the club captain. Meanwhile, Uruguayan centre-back Jose Gimenez was a highly-rated prospect during that season and is now an important part of Atletico Madrid's backline.
#1 Atletico Madrid's first title win since 2014
A lot has changed since Atletico Madrid's triumph during the 2013/14 season. They are no longer regarded as underdogs, but seen as serious contenders on a consistent basis for the league title.
With Real Madrid and Barcelona both faltering, Atletico Madrid grasped their opportunity once again. They have invested heavily in the squad and signed players for big-money while the sales of stars like Thomas Partey, Rodri, Antoine Griezmann and Lucas Hernandez has proved to be a minor stumbling block rather than a big problem.
Also Read: 5 best teams in Premier League history
