UCL Final cliffhangers

With just four days to go until the big final in Lisbon, several big names are being wrapped in cotton wool and a number of question marks remain. Will Cristiano be firing on all cylinders? Can Diego Costa be definitively ruled out? Will Arda play? What about Benzema and Pepe? Very little can be taken for granted: the only certainty is that Xabi Alonso won't be able to feature in his second Champions League final owing to suspension.

Costa is hoping for a miracle. Diego Simeone is refusing to write him off and will wait until the last minute before making a decision. However, the forward's grade 1 hamstring strain means he looks up against it; if he does miss the match, his absence will cast a long shadow.

Arda Turan, on the other hand, is odds-on to play, as is Cristiano, who is loath to sit out an occasion for which he has been waiting an eternity and has stated that he is A-OK.

Plan B in the pipeline
Though Ancelotti is expecting to be able to call on Cristiano, the same can't be said for Pepe and Benzema. "As things currently stand, there's no chance they can play", the Italian noted. However, the Real Madrid coach is prepared for all eventualities: if Pepe misses out, Varane will step in, while if Benzema is unavailable, Isco will get the nod - leaving the two speedsters CR7 and Bale to lead the line.

The clock is ticking and the final is edging ever closer, but the suspense won't be over until Saturday. It's not every day you reach a Champions League final and, naturally, no one wants to miss out.