Real Madrid will be hoping that history repeats itself this week when they come up against Atletico Madrid in the last eight of the Champions League.

The great city-rivals faced off in the final last season, with Los Blancos prevailing in dramatic circumstances to lift their 10th European crown in Lisbon.

Atletico Madrid

If Real are to advance through to the semi-finals this time, though, then they will have to arrest an alarming recent slide against Atletico. In the six meetings since that Champions League final last May, Diego Simeone's side have well and truly dominated things by going six games without defeat in all competitions.

In fact, it could be argued that the 10-time European champions would have fancied their luck against tournament favourites Bayern Munich more so than against Atleti, who seem to have a knack of frustrating their rivals.

Simeone will need his side to show more of the grit and determination that has been witnessed over the past couple of years under his tenure if they are to take any sort of advantage into the second leg, with back-to-back La Liga titles now seemingly out of the question.

A 2-2 draw away at Malaga last time out saw the champions slip even further off the pace, and while Barcelona could not quite take advantage by themselves being held to a draw, Atletico now find themselves nine points off the league summit with games fast running out.

The Rojiblancos may find themselves battling to even qualify for the Champions League next season if Sevilla and Valencia keep picking up points, in fact, so there is still plenty to play for domestically speaking as far as Simeone is concerned.

Tuesday night is all about one thing and one thing only, however, and that is gaining a positive result against Real to take into the return leg, which could produce as much drama as we witnessed at the Estadio de Luz.

Atletico made tough work of overcoming Bayer Leverkusen in the last round to reach this stage, requiring a penalty shootout to edge past their German opponents following a 1-1 aggregate draw, but they showed in the group stage of the elite competition that they are a match for any side on the continent on their day.

Recent form in Champions League: WWWDLW
Recent form (all competitions): DWWWWD

Real Madrid

Los Blancos appear to have got the barren run of form, which saw them pick up just four points from a possible 12 in March, well and truly out of their system over the past fortnight.

During that sloppy spell, Madrid even faced the humiliation of being booed by their own spectators as they came within a whisker of suffering what would have been arguably the greatest collapse in European Cup history at home to Schalke 04 in the last round.

Since the start of April, though, Carlo Ancelotti's men have won three games in succession, scoring 14 goals in that time and conceding just one. Yet while everything may seem rosy, they still trail league leaders Barcelona by two points at the top of the La Liga table.

If they are to push on in the final month of the season in order to claim a double, then they will need their attacking trio of Gareth Bale, Karim Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo to be fit and firing. All three are expected to start at the Vicente Calderon, the former being deemed fit enough to play by Ancelotti, and they have helped their side bag 21 goals on the European stage this term.

That is a tally bettered only by Bayern (23), highlighting exactly where the strengths lie in this Los Blancos outfit. Breaking down a notoriously stubborn Atletico side has proved to be their downfall so often over the past eight months or so, however, meaning that a change of ploy may be required by Ancelotti for this crucial derby showdown.

Recent form in Champions League: WWWWWL
Recent form (all competitions): LWLWWW

Team News

Having sat out Real's 3-0 victory over Eibar on Saturday afternoon, Bale has been given the green light to feature in the first-leg clash against the Rojiblancos this week.

In fact, Ancelotti revealed in his pre-match press conference that he has no injury problems of note ahead of the game, meaning that he can name his strongest squad, which will only be boosted by the return from suspension of Toni Kroos and James Rodriguez.

Atletico, meanwhile, are expected to be able to call on Mario Mandzukic, who is said to have overcome an ankle injury in time to play a part.

The Croatian forward has scored against Real twice already this season, so Simeone will be eager to name his star striker in the starting lineup, with Fernando Torres the most likely to make way.

Atletico Madrid possible starting lineup:
Oblak, Gamez, Miranda, Gimenez, Juanfran, Tiago, Koke, Turan, Gabi, Griezmann, Mandzukic

Real Madrid possible starting lineup:
Casillas, Arbeloa, Varane, Ramos, Marcelo, Kroos, James, Modric, Bale, Ronaldo, Benzema

Head To Head

This is just the second ever meeting between these two sides in this competition, the first of which came in that aforementioned 2014 final when Real scored late on to take the game into extra time before winning 4-1.

Since then things have rather changed somewhat, with Atletico beating their opponent twice in the league - including a 4-0 victory in February - while also getting the better of Ancelotti's men in their other four encounters in the Spanish Super Cup and Copa Del Rey.

Atletico, who have not tasted defeat in any competition since February, are unbeaten at home against Spanish sides in Europe, having won five and drawn one of their six past matches, keeping four clean sheets in that run.

We say: Atletico Madrid 1-0 Real Madrid

The visitors will head into the first-leg tie as narrow favourites, although past history suggests that this is Atletico's game to lose. Simeone's side have fared better against Real than any other team this season, and their impressive run of one defeat in the last eight encounters with their rivals will continue on Tuesday night with a 1-0 win.