Diego Costa’s goal 50 seconds into the Atletico Madrid’s Super Cup final match against Real Madrid was exactly the type of play manager Diego Simeone sought to replace since the striker left the club in the summer of 2014. Costa took a long ball from Diego Godin (Godin’s second long ball to Costa in under a minute), flicked it over Sergio Ramos, then flicked it past Raphael Varane into an impossible angle inside the box, and blasted a shot near post past Keylor Navas. And though the match had no impact in the La Liga standings - it was just the Super Cup - Atleti’s 4-2 extra time win over their city rivals was a mental victory. Simeone, forced to sit in a box suite after a suspension last season, said after the match that Real Madrid hadn’t lost an international final since 2000. His side symbolically got over the little details that eluded Atleti in their past two Champions League finals losses. Likewise, expectations have risen with their summer additions. It’s either Barcelona or Atleti for the La Liga title this season. 

And more than the win was the manner in which they won. It was a pure, idiosyncratic display that only Atleti could produce. Costa’s second goal to tie at the match in the 79th minute again demonstrated the ugly beauty of his style. He kept the ball in play with an overhead kick. Ageless right back Juanfran tracked the ball down and squared to sub Angel Correa. The 23 year old dribbled through a tight space before cutting back to Costa for a tap in. There was no rhyme or reason, only a frenetic madness. Costa created and finished the chaos.

Atleti’s pressure and intensity were on full display for their third goal. Costa curved his pressing run to force Ramos into a lazy pass to Varane, who had no angle to receive the ball. Substitute Thomas Partey stripped Varane, and after playing a quick one-two with Costa, cut his pass back to Saul for his strike. The coordinated pressing and energy in extra time was expected for Simeone’s side. But like with Costa’s first, this one had a moment of technical quality sprinkled on top.

Still, Atleti weren’t finished. Costa again tracked down a long ball inside Real Madrid’s box, attracting four defenders before laying off to Vitolo. Last summer’s signing swung a pass to find Koke’s late run, who then slotted it back across Navas. Simeone could only pace back and forth in his box. Atleti’s 4-2 win was no fluke: by holding onto their game changing attackers and with Real Madrid losing Ronaldo, this is the first season in which Atleti’s squad is valued more than Julen Lopetegui’s side. 

While Atleti’s foundation will always be in their defensive solidity, this season’s attack gives them an opportunity to transcend their role as La Liga’s third team. No striker in the world is better at creating goals out of nothing than Costa. It was this indefinable quality that Simeone spent more than nine figures in attempting to replace since the striker left for Chelsea. The names lie in the wreckage: Mario Mandzukic, Jackson Martinez, Kevin Gameiro, Raul Jimenez, Luciano Vietto, and a return of Fernando Torres. Each is a productive striker in their own right, yet they didn’t have Costa’s x-factor. But then again, who else this side of Luis Suarez would enjoy spending 90 minutes throwing snot at Pepe and Ramos? Costa told Simeone that he had to sign him if he wanted to win titles because of his fight and his “faith in all the balls in each game” that lead to goals. So Simeone brought back the original version last winter. And Costa repaid his manager with a title.  

They also kept Antoine Griezmann this summer. That we’ve waited this long to mention their stalwart and often one player counter attack highlights their depth, but also Costa’s importance in giving room to his striking peer. Griezmann explained how Costa keeps defenders busy so he has more “freedom to try things” around the box as he’s not under pressure to create every chance. The French striker did as well as any in replicating Costa’s abilities, but the pressure seemed to weigh upon him to the point of a rumored Barcelona move. But with Costa threatening that there was no coming back for him if he decided to leave, Griezmann announced his return to Simeone’s side (on Twitter, of course).

Atleti reinforced their midfield with Thomas Lemar and Rodri’s signing from Monaco and Villarreal respectively. Rodri has the almost impossible task of replacing midfield captain Gabi. The 22 year old Rodri can fill the center midfield role, but like Costa, the 35 year old represents much more in terms of personality and intensity in defining an Atleti side. Rodri meanwhile draws comparisons to Sergio Busquets in his composure and passing. Maybe he’s not the no-nonsense tackler, but his relationship with Saul does add possessional nuance to their side.

But Lemar especially showed his importance against Real Madrid. He displayed his positional versatility in starting on the left wing while covering in the middle. Much like the search for a center forward, Simeone has had difficulty in finding wingers for his style. Oliver Torres, Yannick Carrasco and Nico Gaitan were potential solutions, but they each lacked balance. It is also important to note that Simeone’s wingers in his breakout 2014 season weren’t actually wingers, but center midfielders playing wide. 

Koke, deemed the next great Spanish playmaker, was the breakout center midfielder turned passing winger of those sides. We’ve yet to see the now 26-year-old fulfill that promise, and it may be fair to ask how he would have developed his on-ball creativity in another system with him as the focus. Likewise, perhaps the 23 year old Saul will never turn into a top defensive midfielder nor world class box to box player. But both are essential in making the overall team function and difficult to break down. Simeone’s midfield isn’t filled with extremes. Rather, it requires attacking and defensive balance from each of its midfielders. The whole is much more than its parts. And this season, the quality of the individual parts is higher than it’s ever been under Simeone.

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“A lot will be demanded”, Simeone succinctly said in his preview of what to expect from his side this season. His excitement in focusing on the team collective was a far cry from his mental state three seasons ago after losing to Real Madrid in the Champions League final for a second time. In the immediate aftermath of the loss, he said he was planning to think about leaving the club. There were rumors of an eventual move to Inter, and other rumors that he stayed to open their new stadium. But that restlessness quieted down, replaced by the excitement of beating their rivals in a cup final and of an upcoming season. Perhaps all Simeone needed was a new stadium, a new midfield, and Costa’s return. 

With Real Madrid in flux with a new manager, Atleti have a clear opportunity to challenge Barcelona for the league. We often speak of windows when analyzing the potential of a given era, and 2018 represents the seventh year of Simeone’s project with Atleti. Who could have predicted this paradigm shift when he took over 2011? No manager has become as synonymous with one team since. And by getting through his Champions League disappointments and a transfer ban with renewed energy, we can imagine Simeone continue to through players and team with his tried and tested 4-4-2 formula. 

This upcoming season doesn’t feel like an iteration of Atleti, but an entirely new sequence. It may be due to Costa’s return or Rodri replacing Gabi, or perhaps Koke or Saul taking the reins of the side. Of course, they can continue to win matches 1-0, as is their bread and butter. But they can also score four goals if necessary, as they did against Real Madrid. In describing the difference between Griezmann’s role with France and with Atleti, the Argentina manager explained that “no one has the truth in football, you can win in different ways.” Those nuances make Atleti as dangerous as they’ve ever been under Simeone.