How Diego Costa and Atletico Madrid Are Challenging La Liga's Status Quo

La Liga is criticised for being a "two-horse race." You have to go back to 2008 for the last time the top two places were not occupied by Real Madrid and Barcelona, when Villarreal finished second.

The last time a team other than Los Blancos or Barca finished top of the Primera Division was 10 seasons ago, when Valencia finished ahead of Barcelona under Rafael Benitez.

The last round of fixtures saw the current champions Barcelona run out comfortable 4-0 winners at home over Granada and Real Madrid stroll to a 5-0 victory over Almeria. Just the usual weekend for the regular competitors in the title race. Despite Cristiano Ronaldo netting once again as he looks to have one hand on the Ballon d'Or, and the £85.3 million player Gareth Bale also scoring, it was neither Madrid or Barca which made the weekend headlines.

Now for the first time this season, Atletico Madrid upstaged both their city rivals and current table toppers Barcelona. Not content in just scoring four or five goals, Atletico fired in seven goals during their game with Getafe. The stars from both Real Madrid and Barca were also upstaged, though they have been on a number of occasions this season in La Liga, by Diego Costa, Tiago and co.

The 25-year-old Costa scored an outrageous overhead kick, which added an exclamation mark to his already incredible season. Ronaldo is very much the favourite to claim this year's Ballon d'Or for being the world's best player, but there is a strong argument for Costa as the best player in Spain this season.

He only came on as a substitute against Getafe but still managed to steal the spotlight with a moment of genius. 

The Brazilian's emergence as one of the world's best strikers has been a bumpy road. He has been back-up to Sergio Aguero and Diego Forlan, and was just the right-hand man for Radamel Falcao, but since the Colombian left Costa has thrived in his new role. However, he is only the icing on a very tasty cake.

Atletico started last season well but ultimately could not keep up their consistent form or compete with rivals Real Madrid or Barcelona when they met in La Liga.

The apparent stranglehold Los Blancos has had on Atletico for so many years is a key factor in the inability for them to see out a challenge, but that changed in last season's Copa del Rey final.

The team in the red and white stripes conquered Real Madrid after extra-time, winning 2-1 in the Santiago Bernabeu.

It could have been seen as just a blip at a time when Real Madrid were imploding with Jose Mourinho in charge, but Atletico dispatched Real again when they met earlier this season.

In the same stadium the Copa del Rey was won, Atletico put in their most important performance of the season to claim their most important three points so far. They had proven they could beat Real Madrid and they did so in style.

It was a big night for Real as Bale was expected to make his home debut, but the former Tottenham player and his team-mates were outplayed by a collective rather than individuals.

The 1-0 victory was a demonstration of how strong this team had become thanks to the triumph in the cup. Diego Godin, the rock at the back, Tiago, the brains in midfield, and Costa, who scored the game's only goal, put in memorable performances. 

Tiago has been a catalyst for Atletico's fluid attacking football, which is gaining results and is also more entertaining than what is being offered by Barcelona and Real Madrid. David Villa, Koke, and Raul Garcia all complement Tiago and turn his distribution into opportunities and goals.

Garcia has begun to thrive off the mobility of Atletico's attackers by occupying the area while the likes of Villa are elsewhere. They are challenging the status quo, and unlike last season, their challenge should be taken seriously.

The master of design, Diego Simeone has quickly become one of Europe's top managers thanks to his meticulous mentality. Despite drawing both legs of the Spanish Super Cup and only losing on away goals to Barcelona, the Argentinian admitted his side cannot compete with Barcelona.

Even though both games were extremely tight as the aggregate scoreline suggested, Simeone saw a gap between his Atletico and Barca. We will find out in January if that gap has been bridged.

Whether they can actually win the title is another matter. They will undoubtedly be taking each game as it comes until the winter break. Soon after is the clash with table-toppers Barcelona, but just staying in the race until May will be a huge step forward.

If they fall away at the end, Atletico will still be admired because neutrals want a change in La Liga, and they want the alternative to be entertaining. Just like the Newcastle United side of 95/96—with players like Peter Beardsley, David Ginola and Faustino Asprilla—which caught the imagination in England as they challenged Manchester United.

They fell short in the end, but they are still talked about as one the great Premier League sides of the 90s. For casual observers of Spanish football it is no longer just a choice between Real Madrid or Barcelona. Atletico Madrid is quickly becoming everyone's guilty pleasure, Diego Costa many's favourite player, and Simeone many's favourite manager.