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Atletico end 18-year La Liga drought

Atletico Madrid were confirmed as La Liga

champions on Saturday, breaking an 18-year

drought for the club.

Atletico's triumph – their first since 1996 –

ended a nine-year spell where only

heavyweights Barcelona or Real Madrid won the Liga trophy.

Despite leading the league by as much as six

points in April, Diego Simeone's side were

made to work until the very last day of the

campaign for their 10th Liga title, with a

tense 1-1 draw at the second-placed Barcelona.

Barcelona could have won the league

themselves with victory, and went 1-0 up

through a stunning Alexis Sanchez strike –

only for Atletico defender Diego Godin to

power home a headed equaliser just after

half-time.

Atletico were denied the chance to win the

title last week after being held to a nervy

1-1 home draw against Malaga, which

followed a 2-0 defeat at Levante.

That forced them to win the league at Camp

Nou and that they did, giving them a vital

boost ahead of next week's UEFA Champions

League final against cross-town rivals Real

Madrid in Lisbon.

That Atletico have been able to combine a

sustained push for continental silverware

alongside a successful league campaign is

testament to the season they have had.

Simeone, involved as a player in the club's

1996's success, has implemented an intense,

pressing style and that, and the excellence

of striker Diego Costa has played a key role

in their success.

Costa has netted 36 goals in 51 appearances

in all competitions this season, but could be

a doubt for the Champions League

showpiece after limping off with a hamstring

problem at Camp Nou.

Their defence has also been outstanding,

conceding just 26 goals , with Chelsea loanee

Thibaut Courtois enjoying another excellent

campaign in goal.

Atletico's triumph comes in their second full

season under Simeone, who succeeded

Gregorio Manzano in December 2011.

The champions finished with 28 wins from

their 38 league games and were applauded

by the home faithful at full-time.

[OPERA SPORTS]

Kofi Oppong Kyekyeku

I am a Ghanaian Broadcast Journalist/Writer who has an interest in General News, Sports, Entertainment, Health, Lifestyle and many more.

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