MADRID: When the final whistle blew, Diego Simeone broke out into a broad smile, laughed and breathed a sigh of relief. A few moments later, Luis Suarez was sitting on the field weeping profusely while on a video call.
After a seven-year wait and a dramatic final round Atletico Madrid had won the La Liga title. Fans and players later celebrated together outside the stadium in Valladolid, with more supporters rejoicing back in Madrid.
Atletico outlasted second-placed Real Madrid after coming from behind to defeat Valladolid 2-1 on Saturday and finish two points ahead of their city rivals after almost losing a lead that they had held since the ninth round.
Suarez, who was let go by Barcelona against his wishes last season, scored the winner for Atletico who won their first league title since 2014 in a wild finish that had plenty of twists with the two remaining title contenders playing at the same time.
Real couldn’t repeat as champions despite rallying to defeat Villarreal 2-1 at home and giving Atletico a very late scare. A win for Real and draw for Atletico would have kept the title with Real on the head-to-head tiebreaker.
Suarez’s goal came as redemption in what he called his toughest year. He was key for Atletico throughout the season after practically being handed to the team by Barca.
The Uruguay striker was deeply moved after the match and broke down while apparently talking to his family on the phone.
“This has been a hard season for the situation I had to go through, starting the season the way it did, being disrespected [by Barcelona] and having Atletico open its doors to me,” Suarez said. “I will always be thankful to this great club for that.”
Simeone said of his evergreen 34-year-old striker: “Suarez is a man of character. He’s defiant, he’s a goalscorer.”
The results left Atletico top at the end of the 38-round season, giving Simeone’s team their second league title in 25 years. Atletico’s previous league title before 2014 was in 1996, when Simeone still played for the club.
As players chanted and celebrated on the field, several hundred Atletico fans held their own celebrations outside the Jose Zorrilla Stadium in Valladolid. Some players later joined them on their way to the team bus, sharing hugs and chanting together, many without masks despite the coronavirus. Police had to intervene to keep some of the fans away. The trophy will be presented to the club on Monday.
Atletico’s 11th league title ended a seven-year dominance by Barca and Real in Spain. Since 2014, Barca had won the league four times and Real twice, including last season.
“It has been such a difficult year, with so many people dying,” said Simeone, who won a record eighth title with the club since arriving as coach in 2011. “For Atletico to win the title this season, it’s different. It was a difficult year, just like our own history. This was one of the best years for Atletico to be the champion.”
After embracing his family, Simeone jumped on the team bus as his players were celebrating and singing “We Are the Champions.”
Real were trying to win back-to-back league trophies for the first time since 2007-08. They finished the season without any title for the first time in a decade.
“We did what we needed to do, and they did what they had to do too,” said Real coach Zinedine Zidane, whose future at the club remains uncertain. I will discuss with the club in the next few days, quietly. But not now. We will see in the next few days.
“We have to congratulate Atletico. I believe the team that wins the league deserves it. My players gave it their all until the last minute, so I have no reproaches for my team.”
Barca were out of contention entering the final round and closed its season with a 1-0 win at last-placed Eibar without Lionel Messi, who was allowed to start his vacation early. The Catalan club secured third place after Antoine Griezmann scored an 81st-minute winner.
Atletico have led the league since December but they have done nothing the easy way this season, with their 10-point lead in February cut to two in May and their position at the top relying on numerous slip-ups from both Real and Barca.
Atletico risked losing the lead on Saturday after Valladolid jumped ahead with a goal by Oscar Plano in the 18th minute, but Angel Correa equalised in the 57th and Suarez sealed the win in the 67th for his 21st league goal with Atletico.
REAL FALL SHORT
Like last weekend, when Atletico needed two late goals to beat Osasuna and stay in the lead, things changed quickly at the top in a tense round.
A win by Atletico would clinch the title no matter what but they went down a goal early to open the door for a Real comeback. From an Atletico corner, Yannick Carrasco lost the
ball and Valladolid broke at speed, pinging passes through midfield and finally through to Plano, the former Real Madrid youngster who pulled away and fired past Jan Oblak.
At the Alfredo Di Stefano Stadium, Real captain Sergio Ramos, who was with the substitutes, tried to alert his team-mates that Atletico were losing, but it took only a few seconds before Real also conceded. Gerard Moreno’s poked pass caused confusion at the back, with Yeremi Pino prodding Villarreal into the lead two minutes after Valladolid’s goal against Atletico.
In Valladolid, Simeone was down on a knee, shaking his head. He raised his arm and looked back to his bench, apparently searching for answers as his team appeared nervous and continued to struggle.
Both title contenders were trailing at half-time but Atletico came out with renewed vigour and a crucial few minutes fell their way.
Real thought they had equalised against Villarreal with a header by Karim Benzema in the 55th, but video review determined he was offside. The play was still under review at the Di Stefano when Atletico took the lead in Valladolid two minutes later.
Correa scored after dribbling past two opponents outside the area and finding the net with a low shot between the legs of a defender.
Valladolid might have scored again but Shon Weissman headed over with the goal gaping and then Atletico took the lead, a gift of a pass-back by Sergi Guardiola allowing Suarez to skip clear.
Suarez slid the ball past Jordi Masip before ending up under a pile of Atletico team-mates.
Atletico weren’t safe yet, though, as Real rallied with Benzema Benzema curving a delightful finish into the top corner in the 87th and Luka Modric striking in stoppage time to give the defending champions a chance.
There were only a few minutes left in Valladolid, though, and Atletico held on for the victory and the title.
Real Sociedad secured fifth place and a Europa League spot with a 1-0 win at Osasuna.
Sixth-placed Real Betis won 3-2 at Celta Vigo and also guaranteed a spot in European competitions.
Seventh-placed Villarreal will play in Wednesday’s Europa League final against Manchester United and can secure a spot in the Champions League with a victory.
Valladolid and Huesca joined Eibar as the three relegated teams for next season. Eibar had already been demoted last weekend.
Elche escaped on Saturday after beating Athletic Bilbao 2-0 at home. Huesca drew 0-0 against Valencia, also at home.
Valladolid, owned by former Brazil great Ronaldo, played two straight seasons in the first division after the Brazilian took over.
Published in Dawn, May 24th, 2021