EI Atlético will play it tomorrow in Bilbao in the first of the six finals that the Madrid team must play. And the rojiblancos can look back and to raise their morale remember what happened there in the 2013-14 season, in which Atlético ended up taking the league title. Simeone's team visited the Athletic fiefdom on matchday 31 of the championship. The game was played on March 29, 2014 and Cholo's men won 1-2, with goals from Diego Costa and Koke. Atlético left Bilbao convinced that they would be champions. Those three points gave him an extra morale that was decisive in winning the championship.
Simeone lined up the following eleven that day: Courtois; Juanfran, Miranda, Godín, Filipe Luis; Koke, Gabi, Mario Suárez, Sosa (Arda Turan, 56 '), Raúl García (Cebolla Rodríguez, 81'); and Diego Costa (Villa, 89 '). Atlético also had to overcome Munian's initial goal, who scored six minutes into the game. But Diego Costa tied in the 22nd minute and Koke scored the winning goal in the 55th minute. Atlético's footballers celebrated their victory in a big way, aware of the great step they had taken.
Koke, now Atletico captain, is the only footballer who is still in the Madrid team of those who played in Bilbao. And there is the curious circumstance that Raúl García defended Atlético's colors and is now at the Basque club. A Raúl García who with his goals was key for Atlético to take its tenth league title.
The victory against Athletic launched Simeone's team into the final stretch of the championship. The Cholo team later beat Villarreal (1-0), Getafe (0-2), Elche (2-0) and Valencia (0-1). Atlético's existence was somewhat complicated with the defeat against Levante (2-0) with three games remaining. Then he drew at home against Malaga and the title was played on the last day against Barcelona. Godín's goal is already in the history of the Madrid entity.
Atlético now have three consecutive away games: Athletic, Elche and Barcelona. Then he will play two at home, before Real Sociedad and Osasuna, and the championship will end in Valladolid. Bilbao can once again mark the path of Atlético. Simeone's team has played six league games since then in Bilbao, with a balance of three wins, two draws and one defeat (2-0, on March 16, 2019). Last season, in the first game after the break suffered by the pandemic, Atlético tied one goal, both by Diego Costa.