Madrid

For most of the past 40 years, Atlético Madrid has been the New York Mets of Spanish soccer to Real Madrid's Yankees—a gritty, sometimes comically inept afterthought in a city known for championships.

Formerly known as "The Mattress"—because their red-and-white jerseys looked like mattress covers, the club has a manager who dresses like a gangster, a sponsorship deal with the tourist board of Azerbaijan, and a nasty habit of losing its best player every season.

This year, it's also closing in on the league title. With five games left to play in the season, Atlético is three points clear of Real in second, with Barcelona four points behind in third. The club, which last won the domestic league in 1995-96 but was relegated four years later, has also reached the semifinals of the Champions League, Europe's elite club competition, after knocking out Barcelona.

"Among the rest of the league, there's definitely enthusiasm to see somebody fighting for La Liga with Madrid and Barca," Atlético forward David Villa said.