The 2007-08 campaign was a pivotal season of resurgence for Atlético Madrid, delivering a crucial 4th-place finish in La Liga which earned the club their first UEFA Champions League qualification in over a decade. In the wake of captain Fernando Torres' departure, Los Colchoneros invested in stars like Diego Forlán and Simão. Spearheading the ambitious new attack was the sensational young striker Sergio Agüero, whose 20 league goals proved decisive in the successful push for a coveted spot in the European elite.