The draw for the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 left more than interesting pairings for the league phase of the competition. In that sense, Atlético de Madrid will face three of the worst possible rivals to face.
And the 'rojiblanco' team will have to measure themselves against Inter Milan, Liverpool and Arsenal as their strongest opponents. Despite this, they will be able to compensate, in case of not winning against these opponents, against other lower-ranked opponents to aim for the top 8 places in the instance.
As is already known, there are 4 matches as locals and 4 as visitors. Thus, the toughest rival at home for Atlético will be the Italian team; the rest will have to travel.
Atlético de Madrid's home matches:
- Inter Milan (Italy)
- Eintracht Frankfurt (Germany)
- Bodø/Glimt (Norway)
- Union SG (Belgium)
Away matches for the 'colchoneros':
- Liverpool (England)
- Arsenal (England)
- PSV Eindhoven (Netherlands)
- Galatasaray (Turkey)
Atlético de Madrid-Liverpool, a duel without favorites
Of the three great rivals for Atlético de Madrid in this Champions League, the English team is the one they have faced the most; but to be more precise, they have only met in this competition on 6 occasions and neither of the two has a clear dominance over the other. To not beat around the bush, the matches between both teams have left a balance of 2 wins for each and 2 draws.
The last match between the 'colchoneros' and Liverpool was in the group stage of the previous Champions League format. That match corresponded to matchday 4 and the Anfield Road team won with a score of 2-0.
It is worth remembering that the 'reds' have 6 European championships in their showcases, while the 'rojiblancos' have not managed to win the Champions League. They have even lost the final of the competition up to three times (1973/74, 2013/14 and 2015/16).
Atlético de Madrid, with the squad to go far in the Champions League 25/26
In this order of ideas, Atlético was eliminated in the past campaign against Real Madrid in a controversial penalty shootout (2-4) in the round of 16 after drawing 2-2 in the series. Now, Diego Pablo Simeone has added new players who, in principle, could help the team to have a prominent role in the current Champions League.
Thus, the 'colchoneros' invested by incorporating Alex Baena (42 million), David Hancko (30 'kilos'), Johnny Cardoso (24 M€), Giacomo Raspadori (22 million), Thiago Almada (21 'kilos'), Matteo Ruggeri (17 'melones'), Marc Pubil (16 M€) and Santiago Mouriño (4 million).
With these additions, 'Cholo' Simeone faces a new season in the Champions League, who will no longer be able to make excuses in case of being eliminated in an early round.