The 10 greatest underdog teams in football history

#4 Atletico Madrid, La Liga 2013/14

Diego Simeone's Atletico Madrid toppled giants Barcelona and Real Madrid to win La Liga in 2013/14

Sure, Atletico Madrid aren’t a smaller club in the classical sense, but for them to be able to topple the might of city rivals Real Madrid and Barcelona – home to most of the world’s best players – in 2013/14 when those clubs appeared to be at the peak of their powers was a huge underdog story easily worthy of a spot on this list.

This was Atletico’s 10th league title, but they were also the first side to break the Real/Barcelona dominance since Valencia did it in 2003/04.

The title win was masterminded by former Argentine international Diego Simeone, who’d taken over the club back in late 2011. Despite finishing 3rd in La Liga in the previous season, they’d sold their top scorer Radamel Falcao to Monaco in the summer and barely spent a penny to replace him – instead bringing in David Villa in a cheaper move.

But with up-and-coming stars like Diego Costa, Koke and Thibaut Courtois playing great football, Atletico found themselves leading the pack.

Going into the last game of the season they were three points ahead of Barcelona, but fate had brought the two sides together in that last game, in the Nou Camp nevertheless.

Atletico needed at least a point and managed to pull it off, drawing 1-1 in the famous stadium to capture their first La Liga title since 1996. On a shoestring budget, Atletico had beaten Europe’s two biggest clubs.