For decades, Barcelona and Real Madrid ruled La Liga, claiming every title between from 2004-05 until Atletico Madrid disrupted the duopoly in 2013-14, ironically winning the league at holders Barcelona.
Normal service was resumed the following season and the Blaugrana and Los Blancos have continued to share the championship.
However, this year the stranglehold is under serious threat and Atleti won’t have their own way either with Real Sociedad and Villareal making promising starts.
Spanish footballing royalty enduring turbulent times
The current problems affecting Spain’s two biggest teams are similar with both dogged by poor recruitment and succession planning.
When Real Madrid claimed their historic third straight Champions League, their midfield included Toni Kroos, Luka Modric and Casemiro.
All three have been great players and key figures in Real’s European domination but many expected them to have been replaced by now by younger stars but the trio remain constants for Zidane at 30, 35 and 28-years-old respectively.
The £150m signing of Eden Hazard from Chelsea last year has also not worked out with the Belgian spending more time on the treatment table, making just 27 appearances for the Spanish champions.
Currently, Madrid sit fourth, with three defeats, the same number after 10 games this season as they did in the whole of their 2019-20 title-winning campaign.
They are even faltering in the Champions League after a second loss to Shakhtar Donetsk meaning they have to beat Borussia Monchengladbach next week to guarantee progress.
Zidane, who is under increasing pressure, has seen his side already concede nine goals in five matches, their worst defensive record at this stage of the competition.
Lionel Messi looks on dejected during their match against Valencia CF in La Liga on 19th December 2020
As for Barcelona, they had the small matter of Lionel Messi falling out with the president Josep Maria Bartomeu and demanding to be allowed to leave the club in the summer.
Eventually the Argentine legend was persuaded to stay and Bartomeu resigned but it will not be a surprise if he joins former boss Pep Guardiola at Manchester City next summer.
Eventually the Argentine legend was persuaded to stay and Bartomeu resigned but it will not be a surprise if he joins former boss Pep Guardiola at Manchester City next summer.
They were also not helped by the Covid pandemic, meaning they had to sell Luis Suarez to Atletico with the current squad recently agreeing wage cuts that will save the club £110m.
So far hiring Ronald Koeman to replace Quique Setien has not gone to plan, with news of Guardiola’s new two-year deal at City a further blow.
After nine games, albeit with a couple of games in hand on others, the Dutchman’s side are languishing in seventh, already 10 points behind leaders Socieadad.
Surprisingly for their famed La Masia academy, a dearth of players from their production line has affected them although teenagers Ansu Fati and Pedri have already shown their considerable talent and appear to be the future at the Nou Camp.
Barcelona manager Ronald Koeman looks on during the La Liga match against Levante UD on the 13th December 2020
Sociedad look to take advantage
Current leaders Sociedad, who finished sixth last season, made one of the most eye-catching summer signings when they persuaded Manchester City legend David Silva to join them instead of Lazio.
They did lose Martin Ødegaard to Real Madrid after the 21-year-old returned to the Bernabeu after his season-long loan which many thought would have a huge effect on Imanol Alguacil’s men with the Norwegian having contributed five goals and six assists.
However they did manage to hold on to Mikel Oyarzabal amid interest from Manchester City and only a draw last time out against Villareal denied them the chance to make club history by winning seven consecutive matches for the first time ever.
A key reason to their success the previous season was the signing of striker Alexander Isak from Borussia Dortmund with the 21-year-old plundering 16 La Liga goals as well as a Copa del Rey quarter-final double as the Basque side claimed a famous win at the Bernabeu en route to their first final since 1988.
Atletico hoping to repeat 2014 title success
Atletico Madrid’s Diego Godin and Juanfran show off the 2013-2014 La Liga trophy. Atletico Madrid last lifted the La Liga trophy in 2014, and will look to repeat the feat this term.
Second-placed Atleti are typically Simone-like in defence with just two goals conceded in nine matches but have increased their attacking threat after scoring just 51 times in 2019/20.
Jose Giminez has grown into a leader and expertly marshalls the rock-solid backline, ahead of the ever-dependable goalkeeper Jan Oblak.
Joao Felix was signed for an eye-watering £113m from Benfica in 2019 but struggled in his first campaign at the Wanda Metropolitano.
However, the youngster looks to have stamped his authority on Los Rojiblancos in 2020 with seven goals in his last seven starts and the signing of Luis Suarez has given them the proven goalscorer they desperately needed.
Suarez marked his debut in impressive fashion as he scored twice and set up another despite playing just 20 minutes with Felix also grabbing a goal and assist.
Unai Emery excelling again in familiar climes
Villareal are also part of the chasing pack under Unai Emery with the Spaniard showing his managerial prowess in the more comfortable surroundings of his native country.
Despite disappointing spells at Arsenal and PSG, the 49-year-old has pedigree in his homeland, having previously led Valencia to three successive top-three finishes and claimed three consecutive Europa League titles at Sevilla.
The Yellow Submarine finished fifth last season, 10 points off the Champions League place with three defeats in their final five matches put paid to a return to football’s premier European competition.
In an effort to build on their performances in 2019, they signed exciting Japanese talent Takefusa Kubo on loan from Real Madrid, Francis Coquelin from Valencia and raided the English market for left-back Pervis Estupinan and centre-back Juan Foyth (on loan) from Watford and Tottenham respectively.
The January signing of Paco Alcacer for a record €25 million from Borussia Dortmund has proved inspired with the striker netted four times in 2019 and already scoring five league goals this term.
Aside from a 4-0 thrashing by Barcelona, Villarreal have made a decent start sitting third after 11 games and have 10 points from four Europa League matches to leave them on the brink of qualification.
Even with the less heralded sides showing impressive early season form, it would not be a surprise to see Barcelona and Real to eventually exert their renowned dominance but fans in Spain will hope Villarreal, Socidedad or Atleti can continue to upset the natural order.