5 underdog league triumphs to inspire Leicester City
The duo leading the Leicester City charge - Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez. Football is the most romantic of games. Or, at least it was. Nowadays, a lot of people grumble about rich clubs paying exorbitant transfer fees and obscene salaries in order to secure championships, and build dynasties. But, through all the grumbling, football always provides us with moments to remind us why we love this game so.This year, it’s the improbable EPL challenge of little Leicester City Football Club. The deadly pace of Jamie Vardy and the silky skills of Riyad Mahrez, backed by the steel of N’Golo Kante, they are now in with a real shot of achieving immortality after dispatching Manchester City 3-1 away from home.With the whole world backing the Foxes to achieve the impossible, here are 5 equally impossible stories of teams that have done it before:
#1 Atletico Madrid (2013-2014)
Diego Simeone achieved the impossible with the other club from Madrid – Atletico. Diego Costa announced his presence as one of the finest strikers on the planet with an explosive campaign, banging in 27 goals, while Koke was the creator in chief with 13 assists.
But, it was a defensive masterclass over the course of 38 games that allowed Atletico to end the decade long domination of their hated neighbours – Real Madrid – and Barcelona.
Conceding just 26 goals all season, on loan Chelsea keeper Thibaut Courtois was an impregnable wall behind a defence lead by the best player of the season – Diego Godin. In addition to his astounding defending, he also scored the crucial goal that held Barcelona to a draw on the last day of the season, and allowed Atletico out of Real’s shadow for the first time in 18 years.