Real Madrid vs. Atletico Madrid
Venue: San Siro
Kick off: 7:45pm
As Madrid derbies go, the stage does not get much bigger than the Champions League final, and it will be the second time in three years that Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid have gone head to head for the coveted European trophy.
Real were triumphant in the 2014 final in Lisbon as they earned a 4-1 victory after forcing the clash into extra time.
Diego Simeone’s men will be looking to exact revenge at the San Siro in Milan on Saturday evening, and if successful, they will be crowned European champions for the first time while also denying Zinedine Zidane’s team from sealing the club’s 11th European title.
It is fair to say that Real Madrid are the kings of Europe given that they are the most successful club when it comes to European competitions.
Los Blancos have won a record 10 European titles, and this weekend’s showdown will mark their 14th final in the elite tournament, which is more than any other team.
The club were expelled from the Copa del Rey after fielding an ineligible player, but since Zidane took over in January, the club revived an ailing league campaign, eventually finishing one point behind champions Barcelona and guiding the team to the Champions League final.
The highly-paid and high-maintenance stars of Real are in contrast to the gritty and hard-working unit that has been sculpted at Atletico, but Zidane has players that can turn a game on its head.
Ronaldo, for example, has scored 16 goals in 11 Champions League appearances this season, equalling the competition’s all-time record of 17 in a single season – the Portuguese star set that record two years ago.
The statistics sit in Real’s favour heading into the showpiece as they have won their last four Champions League finals (1998, 2000, 2002, 2014).
Simeone has played down suggestions that his team are on a quest of revenge. In fact, the 46-year-old Argentine has opted against using the “negative” term and instead prefers to describe their Champions League showdown against Real as a “new opportunity”.
Simeone may not be out for revenge tonight, but victory will definitely taste sweet if his side manage to overcome their local rivals after falling to defeat in the 2014 Champions League final in Lisbon.
Real Madrid possible starting lineup: Navas, Carvajal, Ramos, Pepe, Marcelo, Modric, Casemiro, Kroos, Bale, Benzema, Ronaldo.
Atletico Madrid possible starting lineup: Oblak, Juanfran, Gimenez, Godin, Luis, Saul, Augusto, Gabi, Koke, Torres, Griezmann.