Atletico Madrid stumbled over the La Liga finish line in the end, no doubt exhausted beyond comprehension and with barely a team to put on the park.
Atletico Madrid were facing Barcelona at Camp Nou on the final day of the Spanish league season. With Atletico needing a draw or better to secure the title, and Barça a win, it was as close to a straight shootout for silverware as the conventional league format allows.
And for the club that has often sought to define itself by poetic failure, it all seemed to be tragically, predictably going the other way.
Diego Costa, Atletico’s talisman throughout this remarkable campaign, didn’t make it past 15 minutes through injury.
The second he declined the opportunity to chase a 50-50 ball, you knew he would have to depart. As if Costa would ever, could ever refuse a scrap if his body would allow it.
Only seven minutes later, Arda Turan, Atletico’s next best attacking player, went the same way.
A Barça side that has made a habit of winning titles over the past six years appeared to be remembering how it was done. That suffocating press and pass game had returned at the last second, ready to save the day for Catalunya.
Inevitably, Atletico fell behind as a remarkable near-post volley from Alexis Sanchez brought glory within touching distance for Barcelona.
It didn’t even have to come to this. Leaders throughout the final stages of the season, an Atletico win against the mediocrity of Levante or Malaga in the preceding fortnight would have secured the title and rendered the Camp Nou visit a victory lap, with the conqueror lording it over the conquered on his own turf.
Instead, a small squad, clearly running on fumes after a gargantuan season, spluttered to a loss and draw.
Costa sobbed on the bench with a shirt over his face, literally unable to watch. Nor could Turan hold back the tears when passing manager Diego Simeone as he was substituted. You could hardly blame them.
Yet they pulled together for one period of genuine dominance in the tireless bullying style that has served them so well. After David Villa agonisingly hit the post, Atletico’s other other Diego – Uruguayan defender Godín – headed home a corner early in the second half.
From there it was mostly a bus parking job to make Mourinho proud. Only substitute Sosa, on for another broken Colchonero in Adrián, showed any real intent to extend the ‘lead’.
It was ugly, tired, desperate football.
But the manner in which they ultimately secured the title hardly matters. This is a side that avowedly, dogmatically emphasises substance over style. Atletico Madrid got the single point they needed, and for the first time since Valencia a decade ago, a team other than Barcelona or Real Madrid is the champion of Spain.
Little has really changed in Spanish football – that is almost certain. The massive structural inequities in Spanish football ensure the Real Madrid-Barça duopoly has gone nowhere, and will almost certainly correct this anomaly in short order.
Wealthier clubs, too, are doubtless circling for Atletico’s best, and they will be hard-pressed to resist.
Incidentally, former Sevilla president José Maria Del Nido – perhaps the greatest proponent of increased financial parity in recent times – is currently disgraced, imprisoned, and set to remain so for the foreseeable future. This, I think, serves as a nice metaphor for the prospects of any systemic change.
While you wouldn’t dare discount them entirely, Atléti will be very hard pressed to do it all again in the Champions League final next week. They have clearly been drained for weeks now, and will remain so next Saturday. Costa and Turan look almost certain to play no part at all, while opponents Real Madrid have enjoyed a virtual week off.
But it is precisely for these reasons that this victory ought to be savoured. This is genuine sporting Cinderella stuff; unquestionably the most difficult, unlikely league title I can remember. And certainly the most enjoyable, from the perspective of someone who does not actually support the victor.
Bravo to Atletico Madrid’s three Diegos – Costa, Simeone, and ultimately Godín – for allowing it to be. And long live the sporting underdog.
Are you the ultimate team manager? Pick your own superstar team and go head to head with other football fans for glory and cash prizes on Draftstars. Imagine what you could be buying instead. Set a deposit limit.
Nestory Irankunda was denied a parting gift in his final A-League appearance before heading overseas, with Central Coast's Danny Vukovic pulling off a spectacular…
The Liverpool great was enjoying himself with the Borussia Dortmund fans and tried to rope in Jadon Sancho to the celebrations.
It would prove costly for PSG as they went down 1-0 to Borussia Dortmund in the first leg of their Champions League semi.
Borussia Dortmund won the first leg of their Champions League SF clash with PSG 1-0. They could've improved their aggregate with another goal but…
Borussia Dortmund have given themselves a huge chance of making an unlikely UEFA Champions League Final appearance with a pulsating 1-0 win over PSG.…
Most Singaporean fans know that the most important way to build up their Premier League is to increase domestic interest to get people to attend matches and boost the atmosphere.
