ATLETICO MADRIDS TITLE CREDENTIALS The 2013/24 La Liga season is getting very interesting. Couple of weeks back I was backing Real Madrid to win their 33rd title, but after losing two games on the trot, against Sevilla last night, and before then at home to defending champions Barcelona, their hope seemingly slipped away and they might very well be chasing the shadows and fierce rivals Atletico and Barcelona. Only three points separate Real Madrid from the leading pack, but with both of them having played Real Madrid home and away, it will take some beating to overturn the deficit. The dominance of Real Madrid and Barcelona in the Spanish elite division is overwhelming, Real Madrid clinched 32 titles, which translates into 40%, while Barca were winners on 22 occasions (27%). No other team has won more than 9 titles, Atletico Madrid the only club to have won 11% of the titles since 1929 when the Spanish Football League commenced. Outside the two Spanish giants, Valencia were the last to win the title in 2003/04. Since then, I have been looking forward for another team to break the hegemony. It looks like Atletico Madrid have taken the gauntlet and can be the dark horses, if they keep their consistency. Diego Simone has done a good job with the team, he has a balanced team and in Diego Costa the team can boast of a reliable and consistent goal scorer. It is a mantra in football circles that to win anything you need a consistent goal scorer; example can be cited with Manchester Uniteds acquisition of Robin van Persie last season, Liverpool are vying for the EPL title because of the prolific partnership between Daniel Sturridge and Luis Suarez, the duo are banging in the goals consitently. On the other hand, in my opinion, Arsenal fell out of the title race because they do not have consistency upfront. If Atletico Madrid are to break the hoodoo, they need to continue the run of form. With nine games to go, the Primiera Liga title is too close to call, any of the three teams have a chance, with Barca and Atletico having the better chance mathematically. Should Atletico failed to maintain the coherence, Barcelona will pounce, with Real Madrid having an outside chance.
Posted on: Thu, 27 Mar 2014 10:25:53 +0000
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