Somewhat surprisingly for two teams of considerable European pedigree, this is a first meeting for Monaco and Atlético Madrid, and each will be keen to hit the ground running in Group A.Tuesday 18 September 2018, at 9 pm, Louis II Stadium
The sides both suffered early exits from last season's UEFA Champions League, although for Atlético there was considerable consolation as they went on to win the UEFA Europa League for the third time in nine years. Monaco, meanwhile, bowed out of Europe altogether at the conclusion of the group stage having finished bottom of a section including Beşiktaş, Porto and RB Leipzig.
Form guide :
Monaco
• Second in Ligue 1 last season, Monaco reached the 2016/17 UEFA Champions League semi-finals but finished bottom of their group last season having collected two points from their six games.
• Monaco are without a win in eight European games (D2 L6), since a 3-1 home victory against Borussia Dortmund in the quarter-final second leg in April 2017.
• The French side have won their last three matches against Spanish Liga opposition, including away (2-1) and home (1-0) victories against Villarreal in the 2016/17 play-offs.
• Monaco have lost only once at home to Spanish visitors, and are unbeaten in their last seven such encounters (W6 D1).
• Runners-up in 2004, Monaco remain the last French team to reach the UEFA Champions League final.
Atlético
• UEFA Champions League finalists in 2014 and 2016, and semi-finalists two seasons ago, Atlético won only one
game in the 2017/18 competition, drawing four to finish behind Roma and Chelsea in their section.
• However, Los Rojiblancos then moved into the UEFA Europa League, winning their first five matches and losing only one of nine overall as they defeated Marseille 3-0 in the Lyon final.
• Atlético have won their last two matches against French clubs, and have lost only one of their 13 fixtures against Ligue 1 sides. They are unbeaten in their last five such fixtures (W3 D2).
• Diego Simeone's side have already lifted European silverware this season, beating Real Madrid 4-2 in August's UEFA Super Cup in Tallinn – making them the first team to win the competition on their first three appearances.
• Atlético have therefore won their last three European games, and have lost only one of their last 14 matches in continental competition (W9 D4).
• The Rojiblancos have reached two UEFA Champions League and three UEFA Europa League finals in the last nine seasons.