After 124 matches in just 8 months, the curtain comes down on the UEFA Champions League with a blockbuster of final that pits two of Madrid's most fiercest rivals - Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid.
It will be the second time in as many years that Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid trek across Europe to do battle for supremacy, having made a 625km journey to Lisbon in 2014.
On that day, Atletico were a minute away from their first Champions League title when central defender Sergio Ramos cancelled out their 1-0 lead and forced the game into extra time.
A rebooted Real Madrid, eager to achieve their 10th Champions League title and write their club’s name into the history books, romped home 4-1.
There will no doubt be vengeance in the hearts of Diego Simeone’s men, who were so cruelly deprived of glory, particularly those who were there that night in Lisbon.
But they will be up against a Real that ended the La Liga season with a bare cupboard, a travesty in the culture of the Bernabeu.
But before these gladiators take to the field, there will be a sweet little detour to inspire them – R&B angel Alicia Keys will debut her new album in the prematch performance.
After that, it will be up to the acumen of the coaches and the grit, strength and flair of the 22 men on the field.
Having transformed Atletico into one of the big boys, Simeone is now regarded as one of Europe’s finest coaches. He was on the verge of turning that state to “one of Europe’s great coaches” in 2014 before that devastating 93rd minute in Lisbon.
Entering that club of Champions League winners will be extra special for him if he does so with Atletico, a team that he gave his best playing years to and where his coaching style was perfected. He may not have another chance to do this with this team because he is being head-hunted by Europe’s big clubs and is likely to end up in England.
Tthe most remarkable name in the Atleti outfit is that of Fernando Torres, whose mild resurgence this season has masked an average stay in La Liga after his return from England.
Although the likes of Antoine Griezmann, Koke, Jan Oblak and Diego Godin have entered the realm of stardom thanks to the elevation of the team, they still reside in the shadow of their glamorous rivals.
But as the head-to-head record of this season shows, name recognition does not a football match win. A hard-fought first-round clash at the Vicente Calderon Stadium in October ended in a 1-1 draw, while in the second round in February, Real were booed and heckled by the Bernabeu after a tame 0-1 defeat.
What transpired in both games is that the formidable Real attack, which is second in the world only to Barcelona’s MSN, just could not handle the Alcatraz defence of Atletico.
And therein might lie the key to Atletico securing its first Champions League trophy. The stingy defence is also the launchpad for some ferocious attacks that leave opposition teams puffing.
The intensity of the Atletico play – which sees the ball ending up at the feet of Koke, Griezmann or Torres – has seen Zidane adding an extra two hours of daily training ahead of Saturday so his charges can keep up.
It will be the second time in as many years that Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid trek across Europe to do battle for supremacy, having made a 625km journey to Lisbon in 2014.
On that day, Atletico were a minute away from their first Champions League title when central defender Sergio Ramos cancelled out their 1-0 lead and forced the game into extra time.
A rebooted Real Madrid, eager to achieve their 10th Champions League title and write their club’s name into the history books, romped home 4-1.
There will no doubt be vengeance in the hearts of Diego Simeone’s men, who were so cruelly deprived of glory, particularly those who were there that night in Lisbon.
But they will be up against a Real that ended the La Liga season with a bare cupboard, a travesty in the culture of the Bernabeu.
But before these gladiators take to the field, there will be a sweet little detour to inspire them – R&B angel Alicia Keys will debut her new album in the prematch performance.
After that, it will be up to the acumen of the coaches and the grit, strength and flair of the 22 men on the field.
Having transformed Atletico into one of the big boys, Simeone is now regarded as one of Europe’s finest coaches. He was on the verge of turning that state to “one of Europe’s great coaches” in 2014 before that devastating 93rd minute in Lisbon.
Entering that club of Champions League winners will be extra special for him if he does so with Atletico, a team that he gave his best playing years to and where his coaching style was perfected. He may not have another chance to do this with this team because he is being head-hunted by Europe’s big clubs and is likely to end up in England.
Tthe most remarkable name in the Atleti outfit is that of Fernando Torres, whose mild resurgence this season has masked an average stay in La Liga after his return from England.
Although the likes of Antoine Griezmann, Koke, Jan Oblak and Diego Godin have entered the realm of stardom thanks to the elevation of the team, they still reside in the shadow of their glamorous rivals.
But as the head-to-head record of this season shows, name recognition does not a football match win. A hard-fought first-round clash at the Vicente Calderon Stadium in October ended in a 1-1 draw, while in the second round in February, Real were booed and heckled by the Bernabeu after a tame 0-1 defeat.
What transpired in both games is that the formidable Real attack, which is second in the world only to Barcelona’s MSN, just could not handle the Alcatraz defence of Atletico.
And therein might lie the key to Atletico securing its first Champions League trophy. The stingy defence is also the launchpad for some ferocious attacks that leave opposition teams puffing.
The intensity of the Atletico play – which sees the ball ending up at the feet of Koke, Griezmann or Torres – has seen Zidane adding an extra two hours of daily training ahead of Saturday so his charges can keep up.
