Two years ago, Cristiano Ronaldo punctuated Real Madrid's Champions League title with a penalty kick in the 120th minute. His celebration was memorable.

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His performance against Atletico Madrid was not.

On Saturday, Ronaldo and Real Madrid have another chance to win the Champions League in Milan, Italy. And for the second time in three seasons, it comes against their rival from the Spanish capital.

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The way things are shaping up, Ronaldo could be the X-factor, as strange as it sounds.

He was anything but in the 2014 final in Lisbon. He took nine shots, less than half of which were on target. He attempted 60 passes and completed 49, neither of which ranked in the top five on his own team. Ronaldo's goal was his 17th of that Champions League campaign, setting a new record, but for the longest time it looked like he wouldn't get it.

Atletico approached the match as it typically does against clubs with more money and therefore more firepower, sagging back its 4-4-2 formation to absorb pressure and attack in spots.

The strategy came within 90 seconds of paying off. Diego Godin's first-half goal nearly stood up before Sergio Ramos' desperation header in the third minute of stoppage time knotted the score at 1-1. From there, a fatigued and frustrated Atletico side gave up three more goals and the scoreline became misleadingly lopsided.

Atleti knows how close the game really was, and they will likely provide a puzzle of resistance again.

In that case, Ronaldo is the perfect man to solve it.

Despite lingering questions about the health of his thigh, Ronaldo insists he'll be fit for kickoff. Which would be good news for Real Madrid because, when Ronaldo is firing at full form, he's as dangerous as any attacker in the world.

His individual brilliance could prove paramount. Atletico's defense suffocated the two highest-scoring attacks in Europe en route to the Champions League final, and Los Rojiblancos did it in two different ways.

Against Barcelona in the quarterfinals, they cut off channels, took a machete to buildups and turned the world's best passing team into an uncomfortably cross-happy outfit. Luis Suarez is the only consistent aerial threat Barcelona boasts, and despite his brace in the first leg, Atletico scraped an away goal and closed the deal at home.

In ousting Bayern Munich in the semifinals, Atletico swarmed the Bavarians' army of skilled wide players and forced them to play more directly. Bayern dominated possession but couldn't compensate for another Atletico away goal and exited early.

If Real Madrid finds itself battling similarly brutal – some might call it "ugly" – defensive tactics, a moment of individual magic might be the only course of action, and none of its Galacticos are more reliable in that regard than Ronaldo.

His brilliant away goal plunged Roma into deep trouble early in the Round of 16, while his hat trick against Wolfsburg lifted Real Madrid into the semifinals.

Of course, Atletico might not bunker down. Not if you believe Antoine Griezmann.

The star striker has told the press his side plans to press high and try to steal possession in order to score first. That could inadvertently open up Atletico to counterattacks, and nobody can match Ronaldo's combination of pace, power and technical prowess on the counter.

An early goal would break play wide open as Atletico chases an equalizer. In that respect, Ronaldo and his talented teammates could have a field day.

Ronaldo doesn't need this match for his legacy, considering he's already won the Champions League twice. He doesn't need to offer further affirmation of his brilliance.

But it would certainly make things easier on Real Madrid if he does. In fact, it might be Los Blancos' best chance.

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