Can Diego Simeone's Atletico Kick the La Liga Giants Off the Top Spot?

Diego Simeone is perhaps most well known in England for 'that' incident with David Beckham in the 1998 World Cup that got the England hero sent off, and the rest they say is history. 15 years later and Simeone is at the helm of his former club, Atletico Madrid, who are in the midst of a 100% start to the season. Despite great success since taking over from Greogrio Manzano in 2011- winning the UEFA Cup and following Super Cup, as well as the Copa Del Rey against city rivals, Real Madrid- such a run may have come as a bit of surprise to some at the beginning of the season, particularly after losing their main man Radamel Falcao to Monaco. A huge fee cushioned the blow, but for Los Rojiblancos to continue their success of recent years they had to ensure the squad was added to sufficiently over the transfer window, and this is exactly what Diego Simeone has managed to do. Perhaps Atletico's greatest achievement this season is breaking their hoodoo against Real Madrid, beating them for the first time in the league in since 1999. This has propelled the former Argentine international into the spotlight and he is deservedly being seen as one of the most promising managers in Europe. Could this start to the season be a sign of things to come? and could Atletico go one step further and break up the dominance of Barcelona and Real Madrid?

Scout Report: Ruben Pardo

Real Madrid have had a busy summer, signing the likes of Gareth Bale and Isco in high profile deals. Perhaps one signing that hasn't been as glamorous, but important nonetheless was Asier Illarramendi. This has had repercussions at his former club, Real Sociedad where pressure has grown on young midfielder Ruben Pardo. Comparisons have been drawn between the two as they can both play as deep lying playmakers, and whilst Illarramendi has been drafted into Madrid to be the replacement for Xabi Alonso, the domino effect has been that fans and pundits alike have now begun to look at Pardo as Illarramendi's successor at Sociedad. Interestingly, the 20 year old has quashed comparisons between the two- perhaps trying to relieve some of the pressure off himself, stating "While everyone says it, I do not consider myself a replacement for Illarramendi. I'm working to try to play every possible minute. I'm young and I want to do my best and try to help as much as I can." With his ability to drop deep and spray passes across the pitch, Pardo had himself been linked with a move to Madrid as a possible replacement for Alonso, but the youngster will have to wait his turn, and perhaps positively for his career can gain more experience and more first team action at Real Sociedad, for the next season at least.