There is very little that is egalitarian about the economics of elite European soccer, little of the revenue-sharing ethos of the National Football League in the United States. And Atlético, with debt to service, is already preparing to sell some of its unlikely stars, like striker Diego Costa, who have made this phenomenal run possible.

But the beauty of this surprise all-Madrid final is that Atlético’s players and their charismatic coach, Diego Simeone, genuinely and legitimately believe that they have a chance in their current state of grace, truly believe that cohesion and guts can trump Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale and the best team money can buy.

Atlético beat Real for the first time in 14 years last season in the final of the Copa del Rey, then won again in September in a league match. Though the club was manhandled twice by Real in the Copa del Rey this season, Atlético is in a strong position to win the league while having swept past teams like AC Milan and Barcelona in the Champions League.

“Real Madrid is an eternal club; it has everything in its favor and it will be among the best in Europe in 10, 20 or 40 years,” said Santiago Segurola, the former sports editor at El Pais who has now joined Marca and has long been one of Spain’s leading soccer analysts. “Atlético cannot say the same, even if success has a way of generating more success. They can’t truly compete on a regular basis with an economic aircraft carrier like Real. It’s impossible. But they can do it once in a while, and right now is one of those once in a whiles.”

There has never been a European Cup or Champions League final between two clubs from the same city. Not from Milan. Not from Manchester. Not from London.