11 things you need to know ahead of the Champions League final

Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid will contest the Champions League final

 

Real Madrid will attempt to win a record 11th European Cup when they face Atletico Madrid in Milan this weekend.

The Spanish giants are the most successful team in the history of the competition but have beaten Saturday's opponents just once in their last 10 meetings.

Diego Simeone's Atletico appear to have Real's number and their extra-time defeat in the 2014 Champions League final will only serve as extra motivation for the Rojiblancos.

Here is all you need to know ahead of the game...

1. When is the match and where can I see it?

The match will kick off at 7.45pm on Saturday 28 May.

BT Sport are broadcasting the match free of charge. Here are five ways you can watch it.

 

2. Team news

Real Madrid: Raphael Varane is the only player from either team to be ruled out of the match. He has a thigh problem.
Cristiano Ronaldo limped out of training this week but says he will be fit to start against Atletico. James Rodriguez and Alvaro Arbeloa should also be available.
Atletico Madrid: Diego Godin is fit after recovering from a thigh injury.

  

3. Predicted sides

Real Madrid:

 

 

Atletico Madrid:

4. Reasons for Real Madrid fans to be optimistic

• Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema are all fully fit.

• Real Madrid have won the Champions League 10 times as opposed to Atletico, who have never won it. Zidane's men could have the stronger nerve when it comes to the crunch.

• Real Madrid are in fine form going into the match. They've won nine and drawn one of their last 10 matches

5. Reasons for Atletico Madrid fans to be optimistic

• Atletico have lost only one of their last 10 matches against Real Madrid since the 2014 Champions League final.

• Real Madrid have scored just two goals in their last five matches against Atletico.

• Antoine Griezmann is in fine form, having scored 13 goals in his last 18 appearances.

   

  

   

  6. Last 5 meetings

• Real Madrid 0-1 Atletico Madrid (February 2016)

• Atletico Madrid 1-1 Real Madrid (October 2015)

• Real Madrid 1-0 Atletico Madrid (April 2015)

• Atletico Madrid 0-0 Real Madrid (April 2015)

• Atletico Madrid 4-0 Real Madrid (February 2015)

   

  7. Recent form

  Real Madrid - Last 5 games
  
• Deportivo 0-2 Real Madrid (La Liga)
  
• Real Madrid 3-2 Valencia (La Liga)
  
• Real Madrid 1-0 Manchester City (CL)
  
• Real Sociedad 0-1 Real Madrid (La Liga)
  
• Manchester City 0-0 Real Madrid (CL)
  

Atletico Madrid - Last 5 games

• Atletico Madrid 2-0 Celta Vigo (La Liga)
  
• Levante 2-1 Atletico Madrid (La Liga)
  
• Bayern Munich 2-1 Atletico Madrid (CL)
• Atletico Madrid 1-0 Rayo Vallecano (La Liga)
• Atletico Madrid 1-0 Bayern Munich (CL)

8. Real Madrid's key man

  Who else?

Cristiano Ronaldo appears to have survived a fitness scare in training and should line up alongside his teammates from the start in Milan.

It's a measure of how utterly unbelievable Ronaldo has been during his Los Blancos career that this season's tally of 51 goals is his joint lowest for six years.

He's been criticised this season for failing to stamp his influence on Real Madrid's most important matches, but he went some way to putting that argument to bed with the winner in April's El Clasico win at the Nou Camp.

Gareth Bale stepped up to rescue Madrid on a couple of occasions in Ronaldo's injury-enforced absence last month, but the Portuguese remains undoubtedly Zidane's prized asset when available.

9. Atletico Madrid's key man

 

French attacker Antoine Griezmann is Atletico's biggest threat going forward.

The 25-year-old's record of 32 goals this season is well short of Ronaldo's tally but his strikes have come at invaluable times for his team.

Griezmann's goals were decisive in Atleti's quarter-final win over Barcelona and the semi-final success against Bayern.

His pace, trickery and clinical finishing will cause problems for Real's defence.

 

10. Betting odds

Real Madrid to win in 90 minutes: 6/4
Real Madrid to lift the trophy: 8/11
Draw: 21/10
Atletico Madrid to win in 90 minute s: 11/5
Atletico Madrid to lift the trophy: 11/10

 

11. Quote corner

Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane: "The only failure is not to give everything on the day. We have had time to prepare properly so let’s see how it goes on Saturday.

"It’s not enough just to have the ball. We are playing against a team that not only defends well – people talk about how well they defend – but Atletico Madrid are a very complete side.

"Pressure is always there when you are Real Madrid manager. I like it. I had it as a player and now it is even greater as a coach."

Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone: “I anticipate them playing like they did against Manchester City.

“Casemiro gives them defensive strength and in the Champions League they have played on the break in almost every game.

"They have used that to get space; tactically, I think they’ve been very good.”