Over 200,000 people lined the streets in Madrid on Sunday to celebrate with the league champions. It was a release of 18 long years of frustration that had included relegation, promotion, memorable triumphs, crushing losses and the selling of many prized assets. You can be sure there's still some with headaches knocking around now following the title capture at the Camp Nou, and who could begrudge them?
While all attention might now be on Real Madrid's quest for the fabled Decima in Lisbon, nothing should detract from the quite remarkable season that Los Colchoneros have enjoyed, even if their city rivals do get the better of them on Saturday. They are a far cry from the team formerly known as El Pupas, the cursed ones.
Over 38 games they amassed more points than any other side in Spain. The duopoly was shattered. A Barcelona side that has been dubbed the greatest ever side to have played club football, and Real Madrid, employers of the two most expensive players in the history of the game, were both left behind. In accruing 90 points, Diego Simeone's side finished three clear of both, usurping the club record 87 points attained in 1995-96, when the Argentine himself was at the forefront of the title charge as a player.
- Corrigan: 2013-14 La Liga season review - Walker: 10 factor to Atletico's title glory - Cox: The Real vs. Atletico tactical battle
Many people thought that Atletico's role as a third wheel was merely a cameo. While it was nice to see them challenging, they didn't realistically have the squad to maintain their charge on three fronts (let's not forget they reached the semifinals of the Copa del Rey): that was the common consensus. As the saying goes, "Two's company, three's a crowd," and order was expected to be restored.
But somebody forgot to tell Los Rojiblancos. They carried on fighting; surpassing all expectations in what could well be the best season in the club's 111-year history.
Last summer, when striker Radamel Falcao swapped the Spanish capital for life in Monaco, it seemed there was absolutely no chance that the nine-point gap between the side that finished third and second-placed Real Madrid would diminish, let alone the astronomical 24 points that separated them from champions Barcelona.
Real Madrid spent big on Asier Illaramendi and Isco, while galactico signings Neymar and Gareth Bale arrived at Barcelona and Real, respectively. Atleti's biggest-name signing? David Villa. A man deemed over-the-hill by Barcelona. Maintaining such a gap with the top two would have been a win in itself.
If Real Madrid are to finally win their long-awaited Decima on Saturday, they will have to do so the hard way, denying Atletico their Primera. It is a trophy that they came within a minute of winning 40 years ago, when the late Luis Aragones, the club's legendary former player and manager, put them 1-0 up against Franz Beckenbauer's Bayern Munich. Simeone said on Saturday that he thought Aragones himself was "defending in our box" during the second half. There would be no more fitting a tribute to the club great than denying the old enemy their historic night.
As Rory Smith wrote earlier this week, Los Colchoneros work on a comparatively minuscule budget compared to Real Madrid and Barcelona. Their wage bill is even usurped by English Championship side Queens Park Rangers. He correctly points out that both the Doyen Investment Group and agent Jorge Mendes have helped them access players beyond the realms of their financial reality, but also says that this should not detract from the job Simeone has done; and he's right.
A back five that has barely changed, through a combination of form and injuries, conceded only 26 league goals. Of the 204 goals scored by Real Madrid and Barcelona in La Liga, only three came against the champions. More impressively, perhaps, is that Atletico are the first side since 2008 to reach the Champions League final undefeated.
Koke's emergence in the centre of midfield has also proven crucial. The 22-year-old has scored seven times, including the winner against Barcelona in the quarterfinals, and provided 18 assists. Not bad for a man who admits he was ready to leave his boyhood club. The reason he stayed? Simeone, of course.
Arriving in December 2011 with the club in disarray, the Argentine has completed a turnaround as vast as any seen in the modern day game. The Europa League has been won, as has the European Supercup. Real Madrid were humbled on their own patch in the Copa del Rey final last season. His tenacity and success as a player have been transferred into his managerial career. The side buy into everything he says. "He has changed our mentality," glowed midfielder Tiago after the semifinal victory over Chelsea.
No matter the result on Saturday, this has been an extraordinary season in which Atletico have defied all the odds in being crowned La Liga winners. The Champions League would certainly be the cherry on top, but should they fall at the last hurdle, there will be no shame, no embarrassment, and knowing Simeone, no regrets.