Barcelona face daunting trip to Stade Louis II

La Liga leaders Barcelona kick off their Champions League 2024-25 campaign on Wednesday 18th September. The top continental tournament, which has a new format, will see Hansi Flik's side take their first steps away from home, as they face a Monaco side who were already a headache for the ‘Cules’ in the Joan Gamper trophy.
At first sight, Barcelona are favourites to take all three points, but the 'Cules' would do well not to be overconfident against an opponent who, over the years, have always grown in stature against Spanish teams. The principality has been hostile territory for La Liga clubs.
Looking back over the history of matches in the different European competitions, Monaco have only suffered two home defeats to Spanish sides in 12 head-to-head encounters. Up to 10 La Liga sides have faced the Monegasques away from home, although only Barcelona and Atletico Madrid have returned home with a win.
The first side to conquer Monaco were the Catalan side, who won 1-0 (Stoichkov goal) in the 1993-94 Champions League in a group-stage match in Monaco. For their part, the 'Colchoneros' managed to beat Monaco in the 2018-19 campaign, also in the group stage, 2-1, with goals from Diego Costa and Jose Maria Gimenez.
Beyond those two meetings, Monaco have fond memories of their encounters with Spanish sides, with the other clashes resulting in seven wins for the Ligue 1 side and three draws, with Valencia (3-3 in the 1980-81 Cup Winners‘ Cup), Real Valladolid (0-0 in the 1989-90 Cup Winners’ Cup) and Betis (2-2 in the 2005-06 Champions League qualifiers) the only other LaLiga clubs to avoid defeat.
As for the victories achieved by the Monegasques, those in the 2003-04 Champions League against Deportivo de La Coruna and Real Madrid clearly stand out. The Galician side, who reached the semi-finals that year, suffered one of the heaviest defeats of the tournament, losing by a scandalous 8-3 scoreline.
Later, in the quarter-finals, the Louis II witnessed one of the most iconic victories in Monaco's history. The Monegasques beat Real Madrid 3-1 in the second leg of that tie and, thanks to the double value of away goals (they had lost 4-2 at the Bernabeu), qualified for the semi-finals of the competition (they would go on to reach the final, losing 3-0 to Porto).