Champions League Matchday 1: Liverpool vs Atlético de Madrid facts
Friday, September 12, 2025
Article summary
Previous meetings, club facts and key stats ahead of the UEFA Champions League Matchday 1 game.
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Liverpool and Atlético de Madrid meet again as they kick off the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League at Anfield.
Last match
This is the third time the sides have been paired together in the last six Champions League seasons. Liverpool won the last two games, in the 2021/22 group stage (3-2 a, 2-0 h), having had their title defence ended by Atleti in the 2019/20 round of 16 (0-1 a, 2-3 h aet).
The Reds have won their last four Champions League group stage/league phase games against Spanish teams, beating Real Madrid (2-0 h) and Girona (1-0 a) in 2024/25.
Atleti have won only one of their last eight Champions League matches against Premier League opponents (D2 L5) and have never won a group stage/league phase game against an English team (D4 L4).
This is Liverpool's 17th Champions League campaign; they have reached the final five times, lifting the trophy in 2005 and 2019.
The Merseysiders were first in last season's league phase (W7 L1) but went out to eventual champions Paris Saint-Germain in the round of 16 (1-0 a, 0-1 h, 1-4 pens).
Liverpool have lost their Matchday 1 fixture in only two of their last 14 Champions League campaigns (W9 D3).
Atlético are making their 16th appearance in the Champions League proper and a 13th in succession. They have featured every season since 2013/14.
Runners-up in 2014 and 2016, both against Real Madrid, Diego Simeone's side lost to their neighbours on penalties in last season's round of 16 (1-2 a, 1-0 h, 2-4 pens). They had finished fifth in the league phase (W6 L2).
Atleti have lost their Matchday 1 fixture in only two of their previous 15 Champions League campaigns (W8 D5).
Key stats
Liverpool have won their last 14 home European group stage/league phase matches, scoring two or more goals in the last 13 and keeping nine clean sheets in the last 12.
Liverpool had won 12 successive Champions League group stage/league phase games before losing 2-3 at PSV Eindhoven on Matchday 8 in 2024/25.
Florian Wirtz has scored six goals in his first nine appearances in the Champions League proper, a German record.
Mohamed Salah has 18 goals in his last 20 group stage/league phase matches.
Atleti have won their last five league phase fixtures.
The Colchoneros have scored in 15 of their last 16 group stage/league phase matches.