One-time Champions League (CL) winners, AS Monaco, and Europa League (EL) title-holders, Atlético Madrid, face off this Tuesday at the Stade Louis II for their opening game in Group A of the 2018/2019 CL. This game will mark the first-ever encounter between the sides.
A dreadful CL campaign last term saw Leonardo Jardim’s Monaco side prematurely knocked out of the competition in the group stage, failing to win any of their six fixtures (D2, L4). The Monégasque are on a winless streak of eight-straight fixtures in the CL (D2, L6), the worst run in the club’s history. Encouragingly however, they’ve won their last three home CL encounters against Spanish opposition.
After winning only one of their six 2017/18 CL group stage encounters (W1, D4, L1), Atlético finished third, failing to progress to the next stage but securing a Europa League knockout phase spot. Diego Simeone subsequently led his team to the third EL title in the club’s history.
However in the CL, Atlético have won just one of their last seven away matches (W1, D4, L2), while from six away games against French sides in continental competition, the Spaniards have also won just once in their history (W1, D4, L1).
Players to watch: Monaco’s Colombian striker Falcao scored half of his team’s six goals in the CL last season.
World Cup winner Antoine Griezmann was arguably Atlético’s best player in last season’s CL, with two goals (both were the first of the match) and two assists.
Stat attack: Monaco are on a run of four-straight home losses in the CL, conceding at least two goals in each of them.
Both teams have scored in ten of Monaco’s last 12 CL matches.
Atlético have scored less than 1.5 goals in 12 of their last 13 away games in the CL.
Will not play
Pierre-Gabriel R.
(Ankle Injury)
Arias S.
(Broken rib)
Rony Lopes
(Thigh Injury)
Probably will not play
Geubbels W.
(Thigh Injury)
Kalinic N.
(Ankle Injury)
Jovetic S.
(Calf Injury)
Savic S.
(Calf Injury)
Pellegri P.
(Thigh Injury)
Vitolo
(Knee Injury)
Match Information
Referee: Collum W. (Sco)
Venue: Stade Louis II (Monaco)
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