“If you look at games like Atletico Madrid against PSV Eindhoven, you can see the difference in quality with Juventus, who are knocked out already,” lamented Bayern Munich president Karl-Heinz Rummenigge last month, after his club had eliminated fellow European giants Juve in the Champions League last 16.

On Friday night, Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone was asked how his lowly side had overcome star-strewn neighbours Real Madrid to win the 2013 Copa del Rey final 2-1 in extra-time.