Check out our match pack for the first leg of the Champions League semi-final between Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid on Tuesday night.
The game kicks off at 1945 BST at the Bernabeu, live on BT Sport 2.
Real Madrid v Atletico Madrid: Our prediction
Manager Diego Simeone and Atletico revisit an all-too-familiar situation in this competition as once again their cross-city rivals stand between them and potential glory in the Champions League.
This will be the fourth year on the spin the pair have met in the competition as the tally stands at 3-0 to the hosts – two victories have come in the final to boot as we now reach desperation levels for the Argentine to at last deliver that European triumph.
They will once more play the role of underdog but an encouraging recent run of results that now stands at three unbeaten at the Santiago Bernabeu must at least be the foundation for some optimism to set up next week’s second leg.
A rampant 5-0 LaLiga thrashing of Las Palmas at the weekend with them 3-0 up and cruising inside the first 18 minutes makes for pleasing reading as well but surely Simeone’s approach will be far more circumspect with the prized asset of a clean sheet seemingly attainable.
They have conceded just three times in their last 12 outings (one coming away to this rival at the start of last month) but such a stupendously miserly record must be under some threat as Atleti battle an untimely rash of injury problems at the back.
Simeone could well find himself going into battle without as many as three first-choice defenders that will necessitate a reshuffle possibly involving Stefan Savic and Koke having to play out of position – both are undoubtedly experienced heads but exactly the sort of fine margin to be exploited.
Simeone’s opposite number Zinedine Zidane made the exact same point about how tight it is between the pair in his pre-match press conference.
"We are not favourites,” he observed.
“It is 50-50. Each year Atletico improve, and they always make it difficult for us. They always fight, battle and know their weapons.
"We also have our weapons and we will try and think about our own game. We will try and do something new.”
That something could be unleashing an in-form Isco, who has been selected by the Frenchman to replace the sidelined Gareth Bale ahead of James Rodriguez.
The Spaniard was rested at the weekend with this game very much in mind and a wonderful display prior against Deportivo with a goal and an assist could mean he steps forward as the feature player who can unlock that depleted visiting defence.
Real, along with Juventus, remain the only clubs not to have been beaten in the competition this season while they hold the record on their own of having won both legs in the last-16 and quarter-final encounters against Napoli and Bayern Munich.
Atletico are also tasked with conquering a formidable European record as well if they want an advantage to take back to the Vicente Calderon – Real are unbeaten at home in two years in the Champions League which equates to 13 games – 11 wins, two stalemates and a healthy 37-8 aggregate in their favour.
The rampant attacking capabilities has the ability to paper over the cracks of a very leaky rear-guard that just can’t keep a clean sheet – they have managed only two in 19 matches stretching back to January.
It is perhaps in that area a bet then presents itself.
They may have had the rug whipped from under them by Barcelona in a dramatic recent encounter but I don’t see a mistake of that nature here – add in a spirited Atletico effort along the way and a home win with both sides to score makes appeal.
Prediction: Real Madrid 3-1 Atletico Madrid
Real Madrid v Atletico Madrid: Press Association preview
Zinedine Zidane does not think Real Madrid are favourites in their Champions League semi-final against Atletico Madrid, despite his side holding the upper hand in recent meetings with their city rivals.
Tuesday night's first leg at the Bernabeu sees the two teams meet in the competition for the fourth successive year. Real have won on all three previous occasions, including in two finals in 2014 and 2016 as well as a quarter-final in between.
"We're not favourites. It's 50-50, as it always is in the knockout stages," said Zidane at his pre-match press conference.
"We know each other very well. The rivalry with Atleti hasn't changed since I was a player. It's a derby in the capital. It's intense, but the rivalry remains the same.
"We need to do everything well tomorrow. If we do, then we'll see. We have to prove we are good enough. We will do everything in our power to win Tuesday night's game and we can't think about the return leg yet.
"To make it through to the semi-finals means you have done a very good job. We hope to go another step further.
"Atletico Madrid in the last four or five years have been very good, they get better every year and they are a tough test. We find them tough rivals.
"Atletico never give in, they keep fighting and they know what their strengths are. They are very good at getting the best out of their side. But let's see, we have got plenty of strengths too and we want to focus on our game plan.
"We know how they play, their strengths and weaknesses - and they know ours. We cannot invent anything new. We are looking forward to the tie, that is for sure and, whatever we do, we have to play to our full potential."
Zidane has been boosted by the news that Raphael Varane is fit after a hamstring injury. However, fellow centre-half Pepe is not available.
Zidane gave little away about his team selection, refusing to be drawn on whether the likes of Isco or James Rodriguez would replace the injured Gareth Bale.
Atletico look like they will have defensive problems at the Bernabeu, with Jose Gimenez and Juanfran likely to miss out.
With Sime Vrsaljko already out, centre-half Gimenez was filling in at right-back for Jaunfran against Las Palmas on Saturday when he was injured.
Without any right-back available, Diego Simeone could play Stefan Savic in the position and bring youngster Lucas Hernandez into the middle, although it is unlikely he would break up the Savic-Diego Godin partnership for such a big game.
Simeone told his pre-match press conference: "I see a match in which they make a strong start. They will try to hurt us in the first minutes with the intensity of their players.
"We will have to take the match to where we feel more comfortable. Two very big teams are going to play each other this Tuesday."
He added in quotes reported on the Atletico website: "We will put together a team that competes with the heart of any fan of Atletico de Madrid."
Real Madrid v Atletico Madrid: Opta facts
This is the fourth season in succession that these city rivals face off in the Champions League knockout phase; Atletico are yet to claim victory over Los Blancos during this recent run (D2 L2).
This is a re-run of the 2013/14 and 2015/16 finals; Real Madrid claiming a 4-1 win and a penalty shootout victory respectively to lift the trophy on both occasions.
Real and Atletico have met in a European Cup/Champions League semi-final before, Los Blancos progressing through to the final after three legs against their city rivals during the 1958/59 campaign; they went on to lift the trophy.
Atletico Madrid have reached the semi-finals of the Champions League for the third time in four seasons. They had never reached that stage previously (since 1992/93).
Real Madrid have reached the Champions League semis for the seventh consecutive season, a record in the history of the tournament.
Atletico Madrid have lost only one of their 10 Champions League games this season (W7 D2).
Since 2010/11, Real Madrid have won 35 of their 41 Champions League games at Santiago Bernabeu (D4 L2). Their two defeats during that time came against Barcelona in April 2011 (0-2) and Schalke in March 2015 (3-4).
Real Madrid have also never failed to score in their last 35 Champions League home games, longest ever run in the competition. Barcelona were the last team to leave the Bernabeu with a clean sheet (2-0 in April 2011).
Real Madrid, alongside Juventus, are the only unbeaten team in this season’s Champions League (W7 D3). They have also only lost one of their last 12 knockout games (W8 D3), it was against Wolfsburg in April 2016 (0-2).
Real Madrid have scored at least two goals in each of their 10 Champions League games this season. However, they have also failed to keep a single clean sheet in those 10 games.
Atletico Madrid are the lowest scoring team in this season’s Champions League amongst the four semi-finalists (13 goals in 10 games).
Real Madrid have won all four of their knockout games in this season’s Champions League despite conceding the opening goal in each of them.
Real Madrid’s last 11 Champions League goals have all been scored from the 47th minute onwards.
Atletico Madrid have kept 27 clean sheets in 46 Champions League games under Diego Simeone since 2013/14 (59 per cent), five more than any other team over that period (Real Madrid 22).
In the last round, Cristiano Ronaldo became the first player to reach the 100-goal mark in the Champions League. He’s scored 0.75 goals per game in the knockout stages (49 in 65 games), a better rate than in the group stages (0.71).
Antoine Griezmann has scored or assisted 50 per cent of Atletico's goals in the Champions League since last season (12 goals and three assists).
Real Madrid v Atletico Madrid: Classic matches
Atletico Madrid 3 Real Madrid 1 - Copa del Generalisimo final, June 26, 1960
Having endured a decade of Real dominance, Atletico gained some level of revenge by beating a Real side coming towards the end of their golden age.
Winning the trophy at the Bernabeu made it all the sweeter for Atletico, who had to come from behind after Ferenc Puskas put Real in front, but goals from Enrique Collar, Miguel Jones Castillo and Joaquin Peiro completed a famous turnaround.
Real Madrid 1 Atletico Madrid 3 - LaLiga, October 30, 1999
Atletico won at the Bernabeu for the first time in nearly a decade thanks to two goals from Jimmy Floyd-Hasselbaink and another from Jose Mari after Fernando Morientes had scored Real's opener.
It was a momentary high, though, in a season which would go down as one of the worst in Atletico's history as they were relegated while Real went on to become European champions again.
Real Madrid 1 Atletico Madrid 2 - Copa del Rey final, May 17, 2013
Diego Simeone's first Madrid derby ended in a 4-1 defeat at the Calderon but he learned quickly and masterminded Atletico's first win over Real in 14 years - and with it came his third piece of silverware for the club.
Cristiano Ronaldo headed Real in front but Diego Costa quickly equalised to force extra-time, in which Miranda struck Atletico's decisive goal.
Real Madrid 4 Atletico Madrid 1 - Champions League final, May 24, 2014
Atletico were on the brink of becoming European champions in Lisbon but Sergio Ramos broke their hearts in stoppage time to cancel out Diego Godin's opening first-half goal.
Three goals in extra-time, led by a Gareth Bale header, ladled a bucket-load of gloss on the victory that clinched 'La Decima' - Real Madrid's 10th European Cup.
Real Madrid 1 Atletico Madrid 1 (Real win 5-3 on penalties) - Champions League final, May 28, 2016
Ramos was again a cause of Atletico misery, putting Real ahead early on. When Antoine Griezmann crashed a second-half penalty against the crossbar it seemed Atletico's luck was out again but substitute Yannick Carrasco scored to force extra-time.
Penalties were needed - and Atletico's luck was out. Juanfran was the only man to miss leaving it to Ronaldo – who else? – to tuck away the decisive penalty and it was Real's night again in Milan.
Real Madrid v Atletico Madrid: Sky Bet odds
Real Madrid are Sky Bet’s 3/4 favourites to establish a first-leg lead, with Atletico Madrid 19/5 while the draw is 13/5. Diego Simeone’s men are also 5/4 outsiders to qualify and 7/2 to win the competition, with Real heading the outright market at 13/8. Cristiano Ronaldo is the 3/1 first goalscorer favourite and enhanced to 10/1 to score from outside the area in Sky Bet’s Price Boosts, while Antoine Griezmann is an 11/2 chance to net first.
