I'm not really surprised about Atletico Madrid determination to win the trophy again. Diego Simeone has spent quite enough time in this league, to deliver more than one league title to the club. But it's quite unfortunate that they are having one of the best seasons when both Madrid and Barcelona are flying high. Last season it was only Real Madrid that were having a good season, if Atletico had been in this form then it would have been better. In a three horse race, I don't just see the possibility of Atletico Madrid winning. I'm not underrating them but it's just the reality.
Atletico Madrid in last two decades is the most challenging club in La Liga against Barcelona and Real Madrid. There is another good challenger, Sevilla, but big difference between Atletico Madrid and Sevilla is, Atletico Madrid won two La Liga titles while Sevilla won no title.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_LigaReal Madrid titles: 2000–01, 2002–03, 2006–07, 2007–08, 2011–12, 2016–17, 2019–20, 2021–22, 2023–24
Barcelona titles: 2004–05, 2005–06, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2012–13, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2017–18, 2018–19, 2022–23
Atletico Madrid titles: 2013–14, 2020–21
Valencia titles: 2001–02, 2003–04
You can see only Valencia won La Liga titles since 2000 but they won those titles in early of 2000s and if we only consider last 20 years, Atletico Madrid are the only club managed to win La Liga titles within domination era of Barcelona and Real Madrid.