Expect Atletico in their familiar 3-4-2-1, with Jan Oblak behind a back three of Marc Pubill, Cristian Romero and David Hancko. Giuliano Simeone and Alejandro Grimaldo will look to bomb forward from wing-back, while Marcos Llorente and Morten Hjulmand anchor the midfield. Kang-In Lee and Alex Baena should operate in the pockets behind Jonathan David, who leads the line with Ademola Lookman and Julian Alvarez pushing for minutes. It is a shape built to compress space and spring counters, but it demands discipline for ninety minutes.

Real Madrid are expected to line up in Mourinho's preferred 4-3-3, a system that morphs into a compact block without the ball and a razor on the break with it. The midfield trio, likely including Aurelien Tchouameni, will look to control the tempo and feed the wide forwards. Arda Guler's return adds a creative spark between the lines, and Marc Cucurella's inclusion at left-back suggests Mourinho wants defensive solidity without sacrificing overlap. The battle in the half-spaces will be decisive: if Real's midfield can bypass Atletico's first press, the front three will isolate the home side's back three.