Zidane: Champions League final to be 50-50

Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane on Tuesday expected this season's Champions League final between his side and Atletico Madrid to be balancing.

The second Champions League final between the two clubs in three seasons is likely to pit Real Madrid's pace on the break against Atletico's defensive organization and effectiveness from set pieces.

"When the referee blows the whistle, the tie is 50-50," said Zidane, who admitted, "It is difficult to know if we are in better form...we will have to show that on Saturday."

Zidane insisted, "Real Madrid's season has been good and we are going into the final at a good moment."

The Frenchman won the Champions League as a player with Real Madrid, scoring the goal that saw them defeat Bayer Leverkusen 2-1 in the 2002 final.

Zidane said, "I know the feeling of preparing for a final and I am going to face the game in the way we have to."

He also praised Altetico coach Diego Simeone, commenting that the Atletico boss had "everything that a coach needs to have and above all he knows his players well."

"I have a lot to learn, but I have a great will to improve. That is going to make me a better coach, although I still have a long way to go before I am important," said Zidane.

Finally, he admitted that it would be hard to accept if Real Madrid lost the final.

"It is always hard to lose a final, but I am not thinking about that, only about preparing for the game. I would like the game to be closer than it is, because it is one we all want to play in," he commented. Enditem