There have been many titanic battles between Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid over the years, including this season, so it is a fitting way to end the campaign with another intriguing clash of the Madrid sides in the biggest game in European football.
Having sealed their first La Liga title since 1996, Atletico will be looking to prove more people wrong and claim their first ever European Cup to complete a historic double. Meanwhile, success is much more accustomed to their neighbours and Los Blancos have been waiting for this match for twelve years, the much sought after Decima has long been a priority at Santiago Bernabeu.
The two sides have met four times already this season, Atletico came out unbeaten in their League encounters whilst Madrid put Los Colchoneros to the sword in the Copa del Rey – you would not be surprised if the final went all the way to penalties.
People have been desperate to write off Atletico all season and it will be no different this weekend in the Portuguese capital with Carlo Ancelotti’s men favourites and some bookies offering odds as long as 3/1 on the Spanish Champions. Diego Simeone's side will relish the underdog tag, people have written them off all season and they have proven everyone wrong continuously.
A squad that includes few so called 'big names' and small in size, they have defied the odds all season. Every blow they've had this term they have reacted instantly. As two of their stars limped off at Barcelona and went 1-0 down, you would have been hard pressed to find someone who backed them to lift the title. Those two stars Diego Costa and Arda Turan are both major doubts for the final and although both would be a big miss, all season players have stepped up to the task.
Madrid have injury doubts of their own with the likes of Pepe and Karim Benzema facing a battle to be fit whilst Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale have been declared fit although are unlikely to be 100 per cent The influential Xabi Alonso will be missing through suspension so it is by no means a foregone conclusion.
Madrid have had the luxury of resting players over the past couple of weeks and that could come into play in the latter stages whilst the Atletico squad is battered and bruised and almost running on empty. Whatever the line-up it is set to be an intriguing tactical battle and the onus will be on Madrid to break down a stubborn Atletico side whilst being careful not to be hit by a sucker punch.
It may well be a cagey affair early on as both sides test the water but once that first goal goes in, that will set the tone for the rest of the game. Will Atletico defy the odds again and complete the dream season or will Madrid's obsession for the Decima end and crown an impressive season? Something has to give and the stage is set for a cracker.
