Atletico Madrid Growth will continue

For the first time, Spanish clubs lead the way in UEFA's club classifications, with Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid and Barcelona topping the table in first, second and third place respectively, while Sevilla are chasing behind in sixth.

Atleti's rise from fourth to second in the rankings is perhaps the most surprising news, as the Rojiblancos have never been to such heights before.

Ahead of the 2014 Champions League final, following Atletico's LaLiga triumph, MARCA ran with a headline: "Atletico, titles and money."

While at the time it seemed as though their appearance in European football's pinnacle event seemed like it would be a once-off, since then the club have solidified their place among the continent's elite.

Diego Simeone has always played down the stature of Atleti, saying "we must compare ourselves with Sevilla and Valencia," but they are competing with Real Madrid, Barcelona and Europe's other top sides.

While most clubs are where they are because of their riches, in the case of Atleti it is largely down to the tireless work of Simeone, his staff and players who consistently push the boundaries of what they should be able to achieve.

Going against logic

It would make sense for Atletico to have been picked apart by Real Madrid, Barcelona and other European powerhouses and fall back down to challenging with the likes of Sevilla and Valencia, but it has not been the case.

While players have left regularly and en masse, 2015, 2016 and 2017 have not seen Atleti fall away; instead, they have consolidated themselves as an elite club, despite their modest finances.

Improvements every year

Deloitte's annual report placed Atleti's revenue of 228.6 million during 2015/16 as only the 13th highest in Europe, with 2016/17's figures not scheduled for release until February 2018.

Despite this, and spending less on salaries than 13 clubs across Europe, Simeone's side are regulars in the Champions League semifinals, even appearing in two finals in recent years.

Barcelona spend almost three times the amount Atleti do on salaries, while Premier League sides Manchester United, Chelsea, Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool all pay out considerably more than the Rojiblancos.

Why are Atleti so efficient?

One of the most telling statistics that highlights Atletico's efficient management of their financial resources comes from UEFA's coefficient rankings.

For every million euros spent, Atleti have gained 585 UEFA points, while their most direct competitors in recent years - Real Madrid (244), Barcelona (208) and Bayern Munich (207) - are some way behind.

Of Europe's biggest earning sides, Atleti are, by some way, the most financially responsible and efficient.

A continuous cycle of improvement

The longer they stay at the top, the more chances they have of becoming one of the so called 'super clubs' that continue to dominate European football.

Their move to the Wanda Metropolitano will lead to increased revenues and higher ticket sales, as well as offering state of the art facilities to attract new supporters.

With their new home on its way and their consistent appearances in the Champions League's final four, Atletico Madrid have become an attractive club for players to join, more so than a stepping stone to bigger things.

Capitalising on the television rights

The new distribution of television money in Spain will help the club to close the gap between themselves and city rivals Real and Barcelona.

Furthermore, LaLiga are anticipating a growth in worldwide audiences and expect to be able to compete with Germany's Bundesliga, Serie A and even the Premier League, whose 20 teams all earn more from television rights than Atleti do.