Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid know each other extremely well, and there will be no tactical surprises.

The two clubs from the Spanish capital have met on five occasions in the last 12 months, with the honours evenly split at two wins apiece and one draw (if you include Atletico’s extra time Copa del Rey as a win).

They know each other’s strengths and weaknesses, and both have a clear understanding of how they can go about winning the game.

As always with two well-matched teams, the outcome could well be decided by the small details and the ability of the respective teams to win the key battlegrounds all over the pitch.

We know where those battles will be – the question is, who will prevail?

Central midfield
Aside from the fitness of Cristiano Ronaldo, easily Real Madrid’s biggest concern is the absence of Xabi Alonso, who recklessly earned a suspension by fouling Bayern Munich’s Bastian Schweinsteiger when his team were already 4-0 in the semi-final.

Alonso’s absence is even more important due to the fact that Real don’t have viable cover. Asier Illarramendi, the most likely replacement, has endured a poor first season at the Bernabeu since last summer’s move from Real Sociedad, and looks mentally unready for the task of taking on Atletico’s ferociously competitive central duo of captain Gabi and either Tiago or Mario Suarez.

Without Alonso, there has to be a question mark whether Real can establish the control and stability which would give Luka Modric and Angel Di Maria the opportunity to make them tick.

Atletico are capable of simply bullying their opponents off the ball and, in recent weeks, Illarramendi has sadly looked a prime potential victim of bullying.

Width
Madrid forwards Ronaldo and Gareth Bale, it goes without saying, will play a key role in Real’s attacking plans for the game and could easily prove to the the match-winners.

But a point that’s less often grasped is just how important fullbacks Juanfran and Filipe Luis are to Atletico’s offensive strategy. They are the catalysts for their team’s attacks, using their composure on the ball and excellent crossing ability to provide the width, allowing Koke and Arda Turan to drift into more central positions.

So it’s crucial for Ronaldo and Bale, as well as attempting to create chances and unleash shots on goal, to take care of their defensive duties by effectively man-marking their opposite numbers. If they don’t, Atletico could get plenty of joy down the flanks. 

Atletico’s set-pieces
The two most important goals in Atletico Madrid’s recent history have both been scored by central defenders with headers from corners: Diego Godin to secure the title against Barcelona last week, and Miranda to win last season’s Copa del Rey against Real.

Those cases are far from isolated examples of Atletico’s set-piece prowess, with Diego Costa (if fit), Raul Garcia, Tiago and Mario Suarez also very dangerous in the air, while Koke and Gabi can both be counted upon for excellent deliveries into the box.

Furthermore, Diego Simeone and his assistant Mono Burgos regularly dream up creative set-piece routines to catch the opposition unawares, nearly winning the title with one when David Villa forced a brilliant save from Malaga’s Willy Caballero two weeks ago.

Real will know all this, but their dead-ball defending has been very poor at times this season, with badly-defended goals from corners for Valencia’s Jeremy Mathieu and Real Valladolid’s Humberto Osorio recently helping to end their La Liga challenge.

Goalkeepers
Considering how little there is to choose between the teams and their excellent defensive records, it would be no surprise if this final becomes the sixth in 14 years to go all the way to a penalty shootout.

If that’s the case, we will have the fascinating sight of Iker Casillas going head to head with Thibaut Courtois – arguably the former best goalkeeper in the world up against the man who will likely inherit that label for the next decade.

Casillas has a mixed record in shootouts, helping Spain to crucial spot-kick wins against Italy (in 2008) and Portugal (in 2012) in their European Championship successes, but also ending up on the losing side for Real against Bayern Munich in the 2012 Champions League semi-final.

Belgian international Courtois, on the other hand, has not yet appeared in a shootout, but his size and shot-stopping ability makes him a formidable barrier from the 12-yard mark and there could be no better way for the on-loan Chelsea keeper to wave goodbye to his current club than inspiring them to a dramatic victory.