In claiming their first La Liga title since 1996, Atletico Madrid finally managed to break the monopoly exercised by Barcelona and Real Madrid for the previous nine seasons. Since the 2004-05 campaign, Real and Barca have shared nine titles and a dominance of Spanish football with Champions League finance and other extras allowing lavish spending on their respective playing staffs. Atletico's 1-1 draw at the Nou Camp proved that such spending does not always guarantee success.