Following the UEFA Champions League draw at the Grimaldi Forum, where Cristiano Ronaldo was honoured with a special lifetime achievement award, it has been confirmed that AS Monaco will face some of Europe’s biggest teams, including FC Barcelona, Inter Milan and Arsenal.
On the back of an incredible Ligue 1 season, which saw the Rouges et Blancs place second behind Paris Saint-Germain, Monaco’s premier football team is keen to prove its players are up to the challenge of the UEFA Champions League for the tenth time in the club’s history.
The league phase draw for the competition was held in the Principality on 29th August at a glamourous and star-studded event at the Grimaldi Forum.
The draw was conducted differently from previous seasons, with the responsibility for fair results falling on a special software programme for the very first time.
The outcome is a mixed bag for Monaco, which was in Pot 4, with some serious challengers lined up for the coming weeks.
The Monegasque side is set to take on SL Benfica, Crvena Zvezda (Red Star Belgrade), Aston Villa and Barcelona on home turf in the Stade Louis II, while away fixtures include meets with Inter Milan, Arsenal, GNK Dinamo Zagreb and Bologna.
“We are very happy to have the opportunity to welcome some of these clubs to Monaco and to travel to others,” said AS Monaco Director General Thiago Scuro following the completion of the UEFA Champions League draw, “but also to discover new opponents like Dinamo Zagreb and to see how the players who joined us this summer will play in this competition. In this league phase system, it is very important to take points, regardless of whether it is a home or away match and what the identity of the team we face is.”
See more: AS Monaco welcomes in host of newcomers, bids farewell to Youssouf Fofana
The dates for these games are yet to be confirmed, but fans can sign up for ticket alerts to be the first to know about online sales via asmonaco.com.
CRISTIANO RONALDO GIVEN SPECIAL AWARD
If the night wasn’t already exciting enough for the teams and their fans, football legend and all-time leading Champions League goal scorer Cristiano Ronaldo made an appearance on the red carpet outside of the Monaco venue and was later presented with a lifetime achievement award in honour of his legacy and contributions to the world of football and sport as a whole.
He was presented with the accolade by UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin.
Over his 18 years on the pitch, the 39-year-old Portuguese player has racked up some 140 goals in 183 UEFA Champions League appearances, surpassing the great Lionel Messi by 11 goals. He has also won the League on five separate occasions: once with Manchester United and four times with Real Madrid. He is the only player to have ever scored in three separate Champions League finals.
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Main photo credit: AS Monaco