Champions League Matchday 3: Arsenal vs Atlético de Madrid facts

Arsenal and Atlético de Madrid meet in north London in a heavyweight UEFA Champions League contest on Matchday 3.

Last match

The teams' only previous fixtures came in the 2017/18 UEFA Europa League semi-finals, a 1-1 draw in London in which Antoine Griezmann scored a late equaliser followed by a 1-0 home win for Atleti on their way to lifting the trophy.

Arsenal have won their last six Champions League matches against Spanish teams – the first team to do so in European Cup history – triumphing 2-0 at Athletic Club on Matchday 1.

The Gunners have lost only one of their last 14 matches at home to Spanish visitors (W8 D5).

Beaten 3-2 at Liverpool on Matchday 1, Atleti have won only one of their last nine games against English teams (D2 L6).

Atleti are without a win in nine Champions League group stage/league phase matches against Premier League teams (D4 L5).

Arsenal

Having not featured in the Champions League proper between 2016/17 and 2023/24, Arsenal are making their third successive appearance.

The Gunners reached the semi-finals last season – their best run in the competition since 2008/09 – before a 1-3 aggregate defeat by eventual champions Paris Saint-Germain.

Atleti

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).

Key stats

Arsenal have won 99 games in the Champions League proper.

A 2-0 Matchday 2 victory against Olympiacos means Arsenal have won 17 of their last 24 games in the group stage/league phase (L2) including six in a row.

The Gunners have kept nine clean sheets in their last 13 group stage/league phase matches.

Arsenal have won their last 14 home group stage/league phase games in European competition, keeping clean sheets in the last 11.

Gabriel Martinelli has scored in Arsenal's two matches this season.

Bukayo Saka has six goals in his last seven Champions League appearances, and 11 in his first 19 games in the competition.

The 5-1 home win against Eintracht Frankfurt on Matchday 2 means Atleti have won six of their last seven league phase games (L1).

Simeone's side have scored in 17 of their last 18 games in the group stage/league phase.

Julián Alvarez has seven goals in his last seven Champions League appearances.