Top 5 Contenders for next season's Champions League Spots from La Liga

#1 - Atletico Madrid

Atletico Madrid are, perhaps, fan favourites to make it to the Champions League

Equalling their bitter city rivals Real, Atletico have picked up five points from their opening trio of fixtures and anything less than third at the end of the campaign will be deemed a failure.

In a summer like no other in terms of transfers, Los Colchoneros were stung by a transfer embargo which rendered them unable to add to an already stellar squad, albeit aside from the sneaky acquisition of Vitolo from Sevilla who is on loan at Las Palmas until January.

The departure of defender Theo Hernandez to Real Madrid was frustrating but the bulk of the Atletico squad remains in tact with Antoine Griezmann still spearheading the attack and Diego Simeone still pulling the strings on the sidelines.

The delayed transition to the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium means Atletico are yet to play a home game in the league this term and on their travels fortunes have fluctuated, although the 5-1 demolition of Las Palmas showed a glimpse of the exceptional flair still embedded within the heart of the team.

Add this to a watertight defence, comprised of veteran Diego Godin and promising starlet José Giménez, and it's not far from the perfect blend.

Issues at Barcelona could play into Simeone and Atletico's hands who will too undoubtedly capitalise on the lifting of their embargo in the winter window to strengthen and push on to the end of the campaign.