Is Atletico Madrid the real deal?

By Edgar Gómez | Aug 15, 2019

According to the Portuguese and Spanish press, Atletico Madrid has anticipated all the competition and will pay 120 million to Benfica to have the Portuguese forward Joao Felix in the Spanish capital as the club's new headliner, in Madrid, Spain on June 18, 2019. Manchester City, of Pep Guardiola, was the other club that was in the race for the Portuguese international. This will be the biggest transfer of Portuguese football. (File Image) (Photo by Pedro Fiúza/NurPhoto via Getty Images) /

Is Atletico Madrid really going to compete this season for La Liga?

After a disappointing end of season for Atletico Madrid, and a summer that included several important exits, they seem to have risen from the ashes and looking forward towards a new season.

The arrival of João Félix, Marcos Llorente, Kieran Trippier and Héctor Herrera have sparked this new profound hope after seeing Antoine Griezmann leave for Barcelona, Lucas Hernandez to Bayern Munich, Diego Godin to Inter Milan, among others.

Nevertheless, the additions of Mario Hermoso, Felipe, Renan Lodi, Ivan Saponjic, Nicolás Ibáñez and Francisco Montero also bring an added hope that this season will be different.

But can these new additions give the Wanda Metropolitano side what they need to compete in La Liga and in UEFA Champion’s League this season?

Atletico Madrid went through the summer without losing a single game, which included a 7-3 win over city-rivals Real Madrid.

Los Rojiblancos performed well in their encounters this summer, their midfield looks to be more in sink with each other, creating new opportunities for those at front.

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Felix’s performances have been far from spectacular. He’s a magnificent player but with little experience. However, there is hope that he will flourish into one of the best La Liga players under the tutelage of Diego Simeone.

Perhaps Los Colchoneros shouldn’t get ahead of themselves and believe that this is the season they will win the precious UEFA Champions League or that prestigious La Liga title, but it may well be the start of what will be the best team in La Liga and perhaps Europe in the upcoming years.

Real Madrid and Barcelona are far more prepare this season to compete for all titles, this despite Real Madrid’s flukes in the pre-season. Not that Barcelona has been spectacular but at least the Catalan side has had better performances.

With both sides still in the race for Neymar Jr., only time will tell who will reign once again this season in La Liga.

But, it is likely to have Atletico Madrid in the mix of things.