While Barça sealed the league by winning the derby, its Champions League rival, Atlètic de Madrid, lost in Seville with a team full of substitutes and youth players from the academy. With seven matchdays left in the championship, Simeone's team is exactly 22 points behind the leader, but the coach did not seem disheartened. "I have a plan and I will not deviate," he warned.

The accounts before they are will play the derby at the MetropolitanIt wasn't that, no matter what happened, everything was going well for Barça. The theory was as follows:

A week of resurrection for Atlético de Madrid, capable of defeating Real Madrid in a beautiful derby, with chances at both ends. Xabi Alonso's first defeat as manager in La Liga opens the door for Barça, who could snatch top spot from a team that has been overwhelmed by the intensity of the Colchoneros. It's been 75 years since Atlético Madrid led by five goals. The last time was in 1950, in a 3-6 win at Chamartín when Helenio Herrera was managing Atlético. "We had to enjoy this game," said Simeone, who was breathing heavily. If just a few days ago Atlético were losing 2-1 to Rayo Vallecano and seemed eliminated from the title race, they now climb up the table thanks to the comeback against Rayo Vallecano and today's well-deserved victory. Six points from two derbies in five days.

When Diego Pablo Simeone, better known as the Cholo, landed on the Atlético de Madrid bench, Guardiola's Barça were the reigning Champions League champions, José Mourinho was managing Real Madrid, and Artur Mas was governing the Generalitat (Catalan government). On December 23rd, it will be fourteen years since an Argentine—an idol during his time as a footballer—with little coaching experience (he had only managed Argentine teams and a brief stint in Italy) arrived at the old Vicente Calderón. More than a decade later, he has managed to change the way Atlético fans think and establish a style of play that is now at the center of debate among fans. "El Cholo is no longer sacred to many fans. The public still cheers him, but he is no longer untouchable," Fran Guillén, who has called Atlético matches on DAZN, told ARA.

Espanyol's season of consolidation in the elite, the one that breaks with Rastar Group And leaving behind a decade with one European qualification and two traumatic relegations, they started on the right foot. A change of ownership, an increase in season ticket holders, a sales success for the new shirt (yesterday the queue was out of the store), an unbeaten run in the preseason... all the hype The turmoil surrounding the Perico club since Joan Garcia's departure was met with a rejuvenated Atlético de Madrid, once again a contender for everything, in the 37th minute with a superb free-kick from Julián Álvarez. But a set piece executed by Edu Expósito and finished off by Miguel Rubio and a real stunner from Pere Milla late in the match unleashed a party at the RCDE Stadium, in ecstasy over the colossal performance of Manolo González's men, which sent Simeone to the corner to think.

Barça continues to lead the League despite the suspension of its Saturday's match against Osasuna. Atlético de Madrid have surprisingly lost at Getafe in a match they were winning 0-1 with 15 minutes remaining. The red card for Ángel Correa, who will not be able to play this coming weekend against Barça in La Liga, was the start of the collapse of the colchoneros, who have conceded two goals in five minutes, both from Mauro Arambarri (2-1).

Barça continues to lead the League despite the suspension of its Saturday's match against Osasuna. Real Madrid's 2-1 win over Rayo Vallecano means that both teams are now level on points, but Hansi Flick's men are ahead with a game in hand. Atlético de Madrid, who had the chance to go top on their own, lost in a shocking fashion at Getafe in a game they were winning 0-1 with 15 minutes to go. The red card for Ángel Correa, who will not be able to play this coming weekend against Barça in La Liga, was the start of the collapse of the Colchoneros, who have conceded two goals in five minutes, both from Mauro Arambarri (2-1).