Simeone takes off another ballast

Atlético's triumph is not one more, of course. The 1-0 means the first victory against Barça in the league since the arrival of Simeone, which has needed 18 attempts to do so (before, 11 defeats and 6 draws, including 1-1 in the 2014 League). In fact, you have to go back even further to get to the last time Atleti (pre-Simeone) managed to beat Barça in the league: It was in 2009-10 (2-1, with goals from Forlán and Simao). Then there were rojiblancos triumphs in the Champions League and in the Spanish Super Cup, But in this championship, where they have competed face to face for the title on several occasions, Atleti could never celebrate the three points.

Simeone celebrated the 1-0, but without excesses: “We had not won, it is true, although we were very close on more than one occasion. Especially last season, both at home (0-1, Messi), and at the Camp Nou (2-2)”. El Cholo seemed aware that the challenge that seemed impossible was not really so.

Now, mattresses have reversed the trend in some way. Last night it was 1-0, in June the draw in Barcelona and in January, Atlético managed to beat the Catalans. It was in the Spanish Super Cup that was played in Saudi Arabia. The rojiblancos came back with goals from Morata and Correa for a 3-2 that put the team in the final and that, in addition, caused the dismissal of Valverde as a culé coach.

On the other hand, this league triumph, in addition to breaking a historic streak in the Atleti-Barça, serves so that those of Simeone move their adversary away at an unusual distance. Since February 1996 the rojiblancos have not been seen with nine points of advantage over Barça. That year, with Simeone as the rojiblanco footballer, Atleti was champion …