The Spanish league has been by far the most exciting in Europe this season. The title race went down to the last day, with Atletico Madrid pipping Barcelona to it with a point against them at the Camp Nou on May 17. Their city rivals Real Madrid were victorious in the Copa del Rey, also against Barcelona, a month before that.
Although domestic competition is over in Spain, the Champions League final on Saturday sees an all-Spanish affair and the first between two teams from the same city. One of the two will claim the double this season, but will it be Real or Atletico who come out on top in the biggest game in club football? Here, Sports Mole considers both sides' chances.
Real Madrid:
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1. History
Real will enter the final as the favourites, which is hardly a unique occurrence for them. Their last Champions League victory was in 2002, when Zinedine Zidane scored one of the best European Cup final goals in a win over Bayer Leverkusen. On their side they have history as the most decorated club ever to have played in the Champions League.
Although they are on a 12-year drought, they have won the cup in its current form on three occasions, but more than this they have a very impressive conversion rate in finals. They have qualified for 12 finals and have managed to convert nine of them into victories. No side can touch Real for success, but in a match against local rivals will history count for much on the night?
2. Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale
What will count for a lot on the night are the players who will line up. In Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale, Real have two of the best attacking threats in world football, operating in the space in behind the lone striker, which will be Karim Benzema. The Portuguese has 54 goals in 44 games for club and country this season, which is a quite astonishing record.
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Bale may have started slowly in Spain, but he looks more at home each passing week. It was his winner that claimed the Spanish Cup for Real against Barcelona and few would be surprised if he had a similar impact against Atletico on Saturday. He has hit the net 21 times in 40 Real games this season and Atletico simply must keep both him and Ronaldo quiet if they are to win the trophy.
Atletico Madrid:
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1. Big game performances
Saturday will be Atletico's first Champions League final, but not their first European final. It does mean, however, that this will be arguably the biggest match in the club's history, which is something that the players will need to contend with. In Diego Simeone they have a coach who will prepare them as well as can be for such a big occasion, which he has certainly proven he can do already this season with some huge performances at key times.
Atletico needed to avoid defeat at the Camp Nou last weekend in order to clinch the Spanish title, and even at 1-0 down they showed no pressure at all to level things and take the crucial point. In six games with Barca, Atletico were unbeaten (five draws) this season, although they have lost twice in four clashes with Real, with one win. They also turned it on when it mattered at Stamford Bridge with a magnificent 3-1 win in the Champions League semi-finals. It is only their record against Real that slightly lets them down this season, but that is the one that matters at this stage.
2. Can key players return?
While Real's big-name players will be fit and firing on Saturday, some of Atletico's face a battle to be able to play. Their key man and a big reason why they won the La Liga title this season, Diego Costa, picked up a knock in the draw with Barca and has been a strong doubt for the game ever since. He will reportedly undergo controversial treatment before the game, but if he does not make it Atletico's chances look very much slimmer.
As well as Costa, Arda Turan has been a world-beater in Spain this season. However, he hurt his knee in the same match against Barca and is also a doubt for the game. With Turan setting up Costa for goals, Atletico are capable of beating anyone and with them they would have every chance of winning on Saturday. A lot rests on whether they are firstly fit, and secondly completely ready.
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Sports Mole says: It will be hard-fought, but we think Real will take it 2-1.
Matt Domm
