Both sides will see this trophy as the ideal way to transform a potentially disastrous season into an undoubted success.

Leverkusen and Real Madrid both failed to come out on top in their respective leagues - the pain being all the more unbearable for the Germans, who lost out to Borussia Dortmund by one point in the Bundesliga and had to settle for being runners-up in the domestic cup final also.

But Butt believes the Champions League trophy would make up for the disappointment.

‘‘Finals are special - it’s all decided on the night and it is all or nothing. In that respect it is like the cup final, but the Champions League is a much bigger thing for us.

"The opportunity to play in a game like this happens to a player only once or twice in his career, so it will be very special," he said.

The favourites to emerge victorious tonight are Real Madrid.

They have won the trophy more times than anyone else, they are determined to celebrate their centenary year in style and also have the added bonus of boasting some of the best players in the world.