LA LIGA 2013-14 the season when... ATLETICO MADRID STunneD SPAIN Barcelona normally battle with Real Madrid for the title, but this time their challenge came from Madrid’s other team!
WHY IT MATTERED Diego Godín celebrates his It was all change in Spain this famous goal! season! For the first time in ten years the La Liga title was not won by either Real Madrid or Barcelona. Instead it was Atlético Madrid who triumphed. It was Atlético’s tenth THE STORY OF THE SEASON championship in total and their first one since ! The big three clubs all took turns home defeat by Barcelona, with as top dog. Barcelona began in a Lionel Messi getting a hat-trick! sensational way, beating Atlético led until the last day – Levante ! They were when they played Barcelona in the up by half-time, then Nou Camp! Barça needed to win had a rest for most of and led at half time. But in the the second half. th minute a header from Barça were defender Diego Godín top for the first gave Atlético the draw matches until – and the title! losing to Valencia. A week later, Atlético replaced them but Godín gave Atlético dropped to third after being the lead against beaten by Almeria. Real in the Champions Like Barça, Real Madrid Heartbreak League final but Real were scoring freely and for Lionel equalised in injury time Diego Godín rises got their chance to be Messi and went on to win ! highest to head leaders in February but Real had already beaten Atlético to the title were knocked off the top Barcelona in the after a sensational Spanish Cup final. 46
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TOP FACT Gareth Bale’s home debut for Real on September 28, 2013 was memorable for the wrong reasons. Diego Costa scored the only goal as Atlético beat them for the first time in 14 years! WHAT HAPPENED NEXT?
The following season, league leaders Barcelona went to Atlético’s ground for the last match. They needed to win to make sure of the championship. It was exactly one year since Atlético’s draw at the Nou Camp! This time Barcelona won to become La Liga winners, two points ahead of Real Madrid. Atlético were third, points behind the champions. Two weeks later Barcelona won the Spanish Cup, beating Athletic Bilbao in the final. They completed a treble with another win over Juventus in the Champions League final.
LA LIGA 2013-14 DID YOU KNOW League Atlético Madrid The Spanish league awards a trophy to the Spanish Cup Real Madrid goalkeeper who had conceded the fewest Top Scorer Cristiano Ronaldo, Real Madrid (31) goals. This season it was won by Thibaut Player of the Year Cristiano Ronaldo, Real Madrid Courtois of Atlético Madrid! Coach of the Year Diego Simeone, Atlético Madrid 47
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