Real Madrid & Barcelona, beware: Why Diego Simeone & Atletico Madrid can soak up the La Liga title-race pressure

Simeone and Atletico’s destructor-in-chief Diego Costa

Rewind to August 2013. Atlético Madrid are preparing for the 2013/14 season without Radamel Falcao, who has left for Monaco. Atlético have signed David Villa and Leo Baptistao as strikers to help replace the Colombian. Realistically, there were not many who would have listened if had they been told Atléti would be top of La Liga with five games remaining and in the semi-finals of the Champions League.

Atletico Madrid Results – La Liga 2013/14

However, come back to the present day. It has happened and the Liga and Champions League double is not far out of reach. With, as stated, just five games left, Los Rojiblancos are three points clear of cross-town rivals Real Madrid and four points clear of Barcelona. Simeone’s men are on course to complete the seemingly impossible task of thwarting the duopoly.

Tiredness, however, has become a major problem due to the club not having the tremendous squad depth that their title rivals have. Diego Simeone’s style of treating every game as if it were a cup final is taking its toll. The players look tired – determined, still – but tired.

In La Liga, the club have benefitted from injuries to key players in Barcelona (Messi, Iniesta) and Real Madrid (Bale, Alonso, Ronaldo). It could be argued that a certain amount of luck has helped them along the way, but Cholo has already said this.

The final push through this tough season could see Atlético come away with both trophies – with what would be their first Champions League trophy, as well as their first Liga title since Simeone was captain in 1996.

The games against Chelsea could perhaps be the most complicated of the remaining fixtures. Simeone vs Mourinho for the first time since Atlético beat Real Madrid to win the Copa del Rey last season. A brilliant tactical battle, which will be made more complicated by Thibaut Courtois. UEFA ruled that the keeper was allowed to play against his parent club, but will he want to? He would surely be despised if he was part of an Atlético side who knocked Chelsea out. It may not be worth the risk for the youngster, if he wants to have a future in London.

On the other hand, it will be a huge boost for Atlético if the Belgian chooses to play, and on top of this, Diego Costa’s recent injury was confirmed as a wound, rather than a break. Costa’s presence in the side would dramatically increase Atlético’s chances of going through to the final.

La LIga league standings and current forms

It is all about coping with the immense pressure. Of course, they will want to try and win the title before their clash with Barcelona. Win the next four games and the club have it in the bag. This would mean that they could focus less on their trip to Barcelona on the final day and place more emphasis on a potential Champions League final.

If anyone can complete the seemingly impossible triumph, it is Diego Simeone, who has moulded the club in his own image. The fighting spirit the club has shown to get into this position, above all expectation, is almost unbelievable. It’s now or never for Atléti.