ADVERTISEMENTWelcome to The Corner where we take a look at the football championships across European.
Atlético campeón
Diego Simeone did it. For the first time in 18 years and tenth time in the club’s history Atletico Madrid were crowned Spanish Champions. Diego Godin scored to help Atletico draw with Barcelona in the final match of the season and win the title.
Godin said: “We suffered, we fought. Nobody has ever given us anything and we knew this season would be the same. We had to fight until the end and we succeeded. Everybody said that Atletico deserved the title but nobody deserves titles. You have to fight and suffer in order to get it.”
Atletico have now broken the recent domination of Barcelona and Real Madrid who between them had won the crown since 2005.
Barca had enjoyed a rich vein of form in the last few campaigns but were the biggest losers this time around ending the season without a trophy.
Coach Gerardo Martino met this season-long defeat with his resignation.
Barca’s Brazilian star Neymar could now be asking himself if Real Madrid might have been a better first European club destination.
Real finished the term in third place only 3 points off the Champions, but have already lifted the Kings Cup, beating Barça in the final, and are now firmly focused on winning the Champions League.
Coach Carlo Ancelotti wanted a treble-winning season in his first term in charge but two titles is the maximum now, providing they can beat Atletico in the May 24th Champions League final.
A shift in Manchester dominance
It was a tight fight in the Premier League and was also decided on the final day of the season.
Manchester City enjoyed the domestic double under the guidance of Manuel Pellegrini. Firstly they won the League Cup for the first time in 38 years and then the league – their second in three years.
The UEFA financial fair play fine won’t ruin that party.
Liverpool finished the campaign scratching their heads wondering how it all went wrong.
Well, if it wasn’t for a home defeat against Chelsea last month and Crystal Palace’s comeback draw earlier this month the story would have be different as thanks to a stunning season the Reds were in the title mix till the end.
After a disastrous season Manchester United finished 7th and now have a year to put things right again. But for the first time since the ’88-‘89 season the Red Devils will miss out on all European football next term.
Bayern celebrate domestic double
ADVERTISEMENTAfter dominating the Bundesliga – which they won in record time – one and a half months early – Bayern Munich went on to win the Cup title beating arch rivals Borussia Dortmund.
It was the 17th Cup triumph for the Bavarians – whose only stain on an otherwise spotless season was their Champions League semi-final exit.
It was a disappointing end to a mediocre season for Dortmund who lost the German Cup, were out of Europe in the quarter-finals and ended the domestic league second a whopping 19 points off Bayern’s pace.
To add insult to injury Dortmund also lost a few key players to their rivals Bayern in the transfer window which certainly didn’t help coach Jurgen Klopp.
Juventus break points tally record
ADVERTISEMENTThree consecutive Serie A titles. Thirty pieces of league silverware now in the trophy cabinet and 102 points garnered in a single season for a European record in a championship. These are the numbers of Juventus, unbeaten at home till the end. The Old Lady rules Italian, but failed to do the same in Europe.
There’s always next season for Juventus in Europe – the same can not be said for Ac Milan, who for the first time in 15 years will not be present.
The Rossoneri ended a disappointing 8th in the Serie A.
Not even a change of coaches could help improve the former powerhouse club, who were far from their vintage best.