Third in La Liga. First with a Champions League final. Third. Then third with a Champions League final.
Diego Simeone’s Atletico Madrid have become an increasing force in the collective consciousness of world football fans in the past four seasons, and as they prepare to go again ahead of the new campaign, they’ll be confident that this one offers plenty of opportunity.
Neither Barcelona nor Real Madrid look to have improved hugely over the summer, with the strongest starting XIs still broadly similar to last season’s when Atletico finished three points off Barca in La Liga and lost on penalties to Real in the Champions League final.