Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos has said that it would be "extra special" for his team to win the Champions League this season due to the fact that the final will be held at Atletico Madrid's ground.

Los Blancos have won the Champions League in each of the last three years and are targeting a fourth straight success this term.

Ramos has claimed that Barcelona are "always favourites" to win the European competition, but is quietly confident that his side will once again be challengers for the crown.

"There are many strong rivals you need to face in the Champions League, none are straightforward," Ramos told reporters. "Barcelona are always favourites to win this competition because they have been so strong in Spain in recent years, and La Liga is the best league.

"It's normal that great players make winning this competition a core objective for them and that includes us, we always start this competition looking to lift it.

"Regardless of the opponent or the stage, Real Madrid must always look to be competitive and to win the tournaments that we are involved in.

"This season is an extra motivation for us because the final is in our rival's stadium (Atletico Madrid's Wanda Metropolitano) and to lift the trophy here would be extra special."

Real will begin their 2018-19 Champions League challenge against Roma on Wednesday night.