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The public matters had been resolved. The private dealings would never see the light of day.
The true winner wasn't Simeone, who'd spoken out. Not Alemany, who'd been exposed. Not even Florentino, who'd orchestrated the pressure campaign.
The winner was Rubiales, sitting quietly in his office. He'd used the crisis to remove a troublesome subordinate and finally bring the Referee Committee under his direct control.
Politics, as always, favoured those who waited.
"What about the remaining matches?"
Burgos sat across from Simeone in the manager's office.
"Old friend, we've reached the final stage. Everyone knows each other's systems by now. Tactics matter less than psychology at this point. As long as we can withstand the pressure, those four points will be an insurmountable gap."
"I'm still worried."
"Don't be. They're under more pressure than us. Don't forget—they still have the Champions League and Copa del Rey."
Simeone was right. Both clubs faced unprecedented strain. At this stage of the season, the decisive factor wasn't formation or strategy.
It was nerve.
The thirty-fourth round of La Liga arrived.
Barcelona played a day earlier, travelling to the Mendizorrotza Stadium. They dispatched Alavés 2-0 with ease, narrowing the gap to a single point.
All the pressure shifted onto Atlético.
The following day, Atlético hosted Valencia.
Burgos commanded from the touchline—Simeone was serving his suspension. The manager himself sat among the home supporters, phone in hand, relaying instructions. A Football Association official present chose not to notice.
The match proved agonising. Burgos would later tell Simeone directly: the pressure had been almost unbearable.
André partnered Griezmann up front. The opening was perfect.
Ninth minute. Griezmann's through ball found André inside the box. A composed low finish.
1-0.
Everything appeared to be going Atlético's way.
Thirty minutes later, that optimism had evaporated.
Valencia sat fifth, desperately needing points to secure European football. They matched Atlético's 4-4-2 and refused to be intimidated.
Thirty-sixth minute. Santi Mina collected the ball on the right side of the penalty area, produced a clever flick to beat Godín, and delivered a cross. Gameiro met it at the near post.
1-1.
The equaliser transformed the match. Valencia seized control, pinning Atlético back. Only Oblak's brilliance kept the scores level at halftime.
In the dressing room, Burgos followed Simeone's instructions: Thomas off, Lemar on.
The substitution proved inspired.
Less than five minutes into the second half, Atlético regained the lead.
André dropped to the edge of the box, exchanging quick passes with Griezmann and Lemar. Then a delicate chip over the defence found Lemar's run into the area.
Facing the onrushing goalkeeper, Lemar lifted a calm finish into the net.
2-1.
Forty-ninth minute.
The remainder of the match became a midfield battle. Neither side created clear chances. As the clock wound down, both teams seemed to accept the scoreline.
Then everything changed again.
Seventy-eighth minute. Mina delivered another cross from the flank. This time, it struck Saúl's arm as he dropped back to defend.
The referee pointed to the spot immediately.
Atlético panicked. Less than fifteen minutes remained.
Parejo placed the ball. Low finish, straight down the middle. Oblak guessed wrong.
2-2.
Burgos made an attacking change: Correa for Filipe. A forward replacing a defender.
Atlético were gambling everything.
The gamble paid off.
Eighty-ninth minute.
André drifted to the right wing, combined with Arias in a quick one-two, and shook free of his marker. As he approached the penalty area, a sharp stop and direction change left another defender grasping at air.
He drove inside, drawing the entire Valencia defence toward him.
Then—a perfectly disguised pass, threaded to Griezmann, who'd been completely forgotten.
One touch. Powerful finish.
3-2.
Griezmann sprinted to André and leapt onto his back. On the touchline, Burgos wiped tears from his eyes. He'd rarely commanded from the sideline alone, and the pressure had nearly broken him.
In the stands, Simeone celebrated like any other Atlético supporter—screaming, jumping, embracing strangers.
For Valencia, the late goal was devastating.
For Atlético Madrid, it was salvation.
Final score: Atlético Madrid 3-2 Valencia.
Three points secured.
The gap over Barcelona: restored to four.
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