Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid will face off in the Champions League final later this month in a rematch of the 2014 Championship title game.

Back then, Real Madrid took home a lopsided 4-1 win that was altered by a last minute goal from defenseman Sergio Ramos, tying the game after defender Diego Godin scored the first tally of the tilt.

Both goals resulted from aerial prowess, which will continue to be a major theme heading into Milan for both clubs. Which side has the better defense heading into this tournament final?

Atletico Madrid

Diego Simeone's outfit is a compact crew, conceding just 18 goals in La Liga this season and seven in 12 Champions League games. The defenders' success comes from a number of factors. Simeone's side suffocates the opposition through the middle, forcing them to the outside of the box and allowing goalie Jan Oblak to see every shot thereafter.

Aerial prowess doesn't hurt as Godin and Filipe Luis are dominant when the ball is suspended in the air. That permeates throughout the rest of the team but these two are particularly strong here.

Godin is especially dangerous in the air, scoring most of his 19 career goals for Los Colchoneros from the air. His offense has dropped this year as he only has one goal, so that is a stat worth keeping tabs on.

On the flanks, Juanfran is the team's go-to force. He was a major factor in the previous final, picking up an injury that ultimately put the team down a man in the waning minutes of extra time. He has the ability to run in behind opposing defenders and create havoc as necessary. Marcelo is likely the man to face the Spaniard, a matchup that could benefit Atletico.

Real Madrid

Far from dominant, Los Blancos' defense has conceded 34 goals in La Liga and five in the UCL. While the numbers might look inspiring overall, there is no doubt that the team has managed some great luck and great goaltending.

Captain Sergio Ramos has regressed massively since scoring that tremendous goal in Lisbon back in 2014. He offers threats through the air, but his positional awareness has been poor throughout the year. His usual partner Pepe has been decent as well, particularly in the air, but his lack of speed is starting cost some issues. Raphael Varane has endured a poor season as well, leaving Madrid rather exposed in the middle.

The flanks are a different story. Marcelo is having another great season offensively and is probably the team's catalyst going forward in many respects. Defensively, he is another story altogether, leaving the left side easy to take advantage of.

Dani Carvajal is probably the team's most reliable defender, providing strong positional play on both sides of the ball.

Advantage

Atletico has the edge without any doubt. No only is the team strong in the air, but also a tighter group defensively. They are physical and can easily shut down Madrid's top stars with smart positioning and a dose of intimidation.

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