The first ever European Cup Final to be contested by two teams from the same city takes place on Saturday as two sides from the Spanish capital head over the border to Lisbon. It is a big moment for both as Real Madrid look to win their 10th European Cup in their history, which would put them three clear of the nearest challengers in Milan. This is a moment the club have been waiting for since 2002 and none of the fans would have expected to have had to wait over a decade to have another chance to win the Champions League.
Carlo Ancelotti can also make history by becoming the second manager to win three European Cups after Bob Paisley and it would just continue the love affair with the competition for the Italian who also won two European Cups as a player. Real Madrid couldn't quite hang on to their title challenge in Spain, but the feeling has been that the club have focused on this game ever since they beat Bayern Munich in the Semi Final.
It has been a strong Champions League campaign for the most part for Real Madrid as they have won 10 of their 12 games in the competition this season. They were beaten 2-0 at Borussia Dortmund in the Quarter Final which saw Real Madrid hanging onto their place in the competition after a 3-0 home win in the first leg, but they have won 7 of their last 8 games in the Champions League outside of that defeat.
Real Madrid beat the reigning Champions League winners, Bayern Munich, 0-4 in the second leg in Germany, but they then failed to win any of 3 games in the Spanish La Liga following that game. They at least built a little momentum by beating Espanyol 3-1 in the League last weekend and now will look to add the biggest prize in European football to the Copa Del Rey that they have won already.
Xabi Alonso is suspended after getting himself a silly booking in Munich in the Semi Final, while Pepe and Karim Benzema have knocks to overcome. Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale are both available.
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