Top Spanish outfit Atletico Madrid is hoping for the best when the season kicks off despite a few stumbles on the way in the pre season games.

The team is set to open the La Liga at home against newly promoted Alaves on Sunday. The third placed team in the last campaign is hoping to cause an upset as they did a few years ago to lift the La Liga.

Barcelona are the defending champions and they remain the favourite to lift the forthcoming season despite quite a few stumbles in the pre season friendly games losing 4-0 to Barcelona. Atletico made the trip to Cadiz for the Ramon de Carranza title but a controversial penalty given to the host Cadiz cancelled out the earlier goal to make it 1-1. The game went to a penalty shootout but the UEFA Champions League finalist lost. Jose Gimenez, Yannick Ferreira Carrasco and former Liverpool and Chelsea man Fernando Torres lost their kicks, handing victory to the hosts from the Segunda Division.

Diego Simeone’s men proceeded to play the third place playoff match against a Nigerian Premier League All Star side. Kevin Gameiro made his first start but it was another new signing Nico Gaitan that gave Atletico Madrid their first goal in the first half. Abdulrahman Bashir got the equaliser six minutes from tine after sending a great opportunity in the 70th minute wide, forcing Diego Godin to get the match winner with a minute to spare.

Antoine Griezmann didn’t get a chance as he was on break after a tough time at the Euro 2016 for France. Simeone will definitely be glad that Carrasco, Gaitan and Godin have been finding the net as they have a tough season ahead of them.