Simeone is expected to set up in a 3-4-2-1, with Jan Oblak behind a back three of Marc Pubill, Cristian Romero and David Hancko. The wing-backs, Giuliano Simeone and Alejandro Grimaldo, will be asked to provide width and defensive discipline in equal measure. In midfield, Marcos Llorente and Morten Hjulmand form a double pivot built on legs and interception rather than creativity. Ahead of them, Kang-In Lee and Alex Baena operate in the half-spaces, looking to slide passes into Jonathan David or arrive late in the box themselves. It is a shape designed to frustrate first and create second. Atletico will press in bursts, drop into a compact low block when needed, and try to spring counters through the wide areas. The danger comes from Grimaldo's delivery and Baena's ability to find pockets between the lines.

Mourinho's Real Madrid are expected to line up in a 4-3-3, and the emphasis will be on controlling the midfield dogfight. Tchouameni sits at the base, with Guler and Cucurella returning to the fold according to the predicted lineups. That suggests a blend of legs and craft. The front three will look to stretch Atletico's back three, with the wide forwards pinning the wing-backs deep and creating isolation for the full-backs to overlap. Mourinho's teams are famously pragmatic in big away games: they will happily cede possession, defend the box with numbers, and then break at speed through the half-spaces. The key battle is in central midfield. If Llorente and Hjulmand can disrupt Tchouameni's rhythm, Atletico can make this a scrap. If Real's midfield trio can play through the first line of pressure, the away side will create chances.