Former Real Madrid midfielder Fernando Serena believes Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema hold the key to Los Blancos' hopes of beating Atletico in the Champions League final on Saturday.

Serena, who scored the winner as Madrid beat Partizan Belgrade 2-1 in Brussels in the 1966 final, hopes the club can win an 11th title in Milan at the weekend - and says the BBC trident are most likely to clinch it for Zinedine Zidane's side.

"Without any doubt, the three in attack will be vital," he told Goal in an exclusive interview. "They are the ones who decide the games.

"My desire is for Real Madrid to win it and that looks difficult because the way Atletico play doesn't suit Madrid very much, in theory at least. Madrid are superior technically to Atletico, though. Atleti are a team that fights, a tricky rival that always makes things difficult, but I hope with all my heart that Real Madrid can bring the cup home, of course.

"Two years ago they suffered, but in the end they brought the cup home."

On that night in Lisbon, Madrid needed a leveller from Sergio Ramos in added time to cancel out Diego Godin's goal in the first half and force an additional 30 minutes in which they went on to win 4-1.

But Los Blancos have won only one of the last 10 meetings between the two teams and have found things particularly difficult when they have conceded the opening goal to Simeone's side.

"Who concedes first could be key," Serena said. "But even so, Madrid have enough quality, class and strength to come back. In any case, let's hope Madrid score first. Because when you score first, everything is easier."

Madrid are in the final after improving since the arrival of Zidane as coach in January and Serena believes the squad are much happier than they were under previous boss Rafa Benitez.

"It's clear the players weren't happy with the last coach for whatever reason," the 75-year-old said. "We are not going to know now why that was. But with Zidane it seems they are very happy and the results have picked up.

"That is very important for the team: win, keep winning, and we are all happy."

Madrid claimed La Decima - their 10th European Cup - in Lisbon and Serena says the competition is the special one for his former club.

"First of all it's a historic moment," he said. "And there is so much excitement because it's the European Cup and it's a final.

"That doesn't come along every day."

Cristiano Ronaldo (R) celebrates with Real Madrid's Portuguese defender Pepe. File Photo: AFP