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Date Published: 12/09/2023

Atletico Madrid have a strong chance of winning La Liga this year

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Will ‘Atleti’ beat Barcelona and Real Madrid this season?

Atletico Madrid have a strong chance of winning La Liga this year

Atletico Madrid are always there or thereabouts where the title race in La Liga is concerned. But after being declared champions in 2020/21, Atletico are keen for more success, and Diego Simeone will be going all out to make it happen. And many think they’re in with a strong chance this year.

Last season, Barcelona made all the running in La Liga and left the other two members of the ‘big three’ – Atletico and Real Madrid, in their wake. Xavi’s Barca finished ten points clear of Real and eleven of Atletico, and many think they’re in a good position to do the same this term; this is underlined when looking at the football betting odds associated with La Liga. But it doesn’t mean Atletico won’t be in the mix, and under Simeone, they will certainly fancy themselves to succeed.

It’s often the case, and it’s not necessarily a bad thing, but you have to capitalise on situations that present themselves in football. And you could say that Real Madrid losing key players Thibaut Courtois and Eder Militao to serious injury and Karim Benzema swapping La Liga for the money-laden Saudi Pro League is huge for Atletico. While Real have brought in new players, they are weaker than last term, while Simeone has been plotting and building ready for another title challenge.

Barcelona will be out to defend their crown as you'd expect, but again, they've seen players such as Ousmane Dembele leave, with long-serving players Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets also calling time on their careers at Camp Nou. Ilkay Gundogan is one of several to arrive, but Xavi has brought in elder statesmen, with the club's financial situation still precarious, and this apparent turmoil could and probably will work in Atletico's favour.

Another player whose permanent switch away from Barcelona has been confirmed this summer is Antoine Griezmann, an Atletico legend and a member of what should be one of La Liga’s most feared strike forces this term. Alongside Memphis Depay, Simeone has goal-getters who are also creative and capable of wreaking havoc against any side in the division. And they also have Alvaro Morata too, so there’s strength and quality in depth.

While it may not appear to be the case when a player such as Joao Felix leaves, if the twenty-three-year-old Portuguese star does move on as expected, it could see Atletico rake in a hefty transfer fee, especially if he joins one of the big-spending Saudi Arabian outfits. In turn, Simeone could reinvest the cash to add even more strength and quality to his well-constructed squad.

And it’s this that gives Atletico a strong chance of winning La Liga this season. While there has been a bit of chaos and disarray elsewhere, things are calm at the Civitas Metropolitano, and they will continue to be from here on in. Simeone is also the type of manager who will set the tone in terms of the mentality needed to get the job done.