Atletico Madrid will get their Champions League season underway with an away clash at Monaco in Group A, with Diego Simeone hoping that this season will be his luckiest after guiding his side to two finals in the past four years but losing to city rivals Real Madrid.
The Spanish side's European opener will be the first time in which Thomas Lemar faces his old side in what will be an interesting challenge.
Simeone's side enter the fixture as Europa League champions, though will be eager to make progress in the Champions League after being eliminated in the group stage last season.
| Game | Monaco v Atletico Madrid |
| Date | Tuesday, September 18 |
| Time | 8pm BST / 3pm EST |
TV Channel, Live Stream & How To Watch
In the United States (US), the game will be shown on Univision and livestreamed through B/R Live.
| US TV channel | Online stream |
|---|---|
| Univision | B/R Live |
In the United Kingdom (UK), the game can be watched live on BT Sport ESPN and livestreamed on BT
| UK TV channel | Online stream |
|---|---|
| BT Sport ESPN | BT Sport Live |
Squads & Team News
| Position | Monaco players |
|---|---|
| Goalkeepers | Subasic, Benaglio, Badiashile |
| Defenders | Barreca, Jemerson, Sidibe, Raggi, Glik, Toure, Henrichs, Serrano |
| Midfielders | Aholou, N'Doram, Rony Lopes, Tielemans, Ait Bennasser, Golovin, Chadli, Grandsir, Diop, Traore |
| Forwards | Falcao, Jovetic, Mboula, Pellegri, Diop, Sylla |
Croatia international and World Cup hero Danijel Subasic is still sidelined with a muscle injury and missed Monaco's first opening five fixtures.
Russia star Aleksandr Golovin is still out after ankle trouble, while Rony Lopes, Stevan Jovetic, Willem Geubbels and Pietro Pellegri are also sidelined from the attacking sector.
Ronael Pierre-Gabriel completes a long list of injury problems.
Potential Monaco XI: Benaglio; Sidibe, Jemerson, Glik, Henrichs; Aholou, Ait Bennasser; Mboula, Tielemans, Chadli; Falcao.
| Position | Atletico Madrid players |
|---|---|
| Goalkeepers | Adan, Oblak |
| Defenders | Godin, Luis, Arias, Savic, Juanfran, Hernandez, Gimenez |
| Midfielders | Partey, Koke, Niguez, Lemar, Rodri, Martins, Vitolo, Rodriguez |
| Forwards | Griezmann, Kalinic, Correa, Costa, Poveda, Garces, Mollejo |
French defender Lucas Hernandez is struggling with a gastric problem and may not feature against Monaco but he has been named in the squad.
Croatia international Nikola Kalinic is sporting an ankle injury, while Vitolo has a knee problem and Santiago Arias has a fractured rib. Stefan Savic is absent with a calf problem.
Potential Atletico Madrid XI: Oblak; Juanfran, Godin, Gimenez, Flilipe Luis; Lemar, Niguez, Rodri, Koke; Griezmann, Costa.
Betting & Match Odds
Atletico Madrid are priced at odds of winning 3/4 according to bet 365, while a draw is available at 13/5. A win for Monaco is up for 19/4.
Match Preview
AFP
Group A is one of many Groups of Death in the Champions League this season, with Atletico tasked with overcoming the likes of Monaco, Borussia Dortmund and Club Brugge.
The Ligue 1 side have a knack of selling their best players to other teams after letting go of the likes of Kylian Mbappe, Fabinho and Benjamin Mendy – and none other than Lemar, who is set to face his old club on Tuesday.
Atletico Madrid exited the European competition at the group stage in last season's campaign and face an equally tough challenge to progress to the last 16 this year, with a clash against Dortmund also on the cards.
Simone will be eager to finally lift a Champions League with Atletico, however, after coming close on to occasions but ultimately suffering heartbreak after losing both finals to Real Madrid.
The La Liga side managed to keep hold of star forward Antoine Griezmann this summer after speculation that a move to Barcelona was likely. The added experience of Diego Costa will also favour the visiting team, though Monaco have a strong attacking threat in Radamel Falcao.
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