Kick-off on 19.09.23 22:00.

Roma have qualified for the continent's premier club tournament only for the eighth time in their history. In the last seven years, the Romans have only participated in the 2020/21 competition. The Giallorossi finished second in their group but were predictably knocked out by Bayern Munich in the Round of 16 (1-4, 1-2). In the previous season, Atlético Madrid had their worst European season during Simeone's era – the Indians didn't reach the playoffs and didn't even make it to the Europa League. In the 2017/18 campaign, the Red and Whites at least secured a third-place finish.

Watch the clash between Lazio and Atlético online; the opponents have not crossed paths in the Champions League, but they played each other twice in the UEFA Cup. In the semi-finals of the 1997/98 season, the teams played to a 0-0 draw at the Stadio Olimpico, and in the Round of 16 of the 2011/12 season, the Biancocelesti lost 1-3 at the Stadio Olimpico, with the Spanish team ultimately winning the trophy.

The Biancocelesti made their Champions League debut relatively recently – twenty-four years ago. The Romans have only continued to fight for the trophy twice in the spring, and in one case, they didn't even qualify. The Giallorossi faced two representatives from La Liga – Valencia (1-0, 2-5) and Real Madrid (2-2, 2-3; 2-2, 1-3). In the previous group stage, the Giallorossi did not lose a single match. Watch the Lazio vs. Atlético game online.

Madrid are participating in the tournament for the nineteenth time in their history and the eleventh consecutive season under Simeone's guidance. In the previous two autumn stages, the Colchoneros only collected twelve points out of a possible thirty-six. The Mattress Makers' debut took place in the distant 1958/59 European Cup. Back then, the newcomers managed to reach the semi-finals, where they faced a city derby with Real Madrid (1-0, 1-2).

The Red and Whites have only crossed paths in the Champions League with four Italian teams: Cagliari in the distant 1970/71 season (3-0, 1-2), AC Milan (4-1, 1-0; 0-1, 2-1), Juventus (1-0, 0-0; 2-0, 0-3; 2-2, 0-1), and Roma (2-0, 0-0). Watch the Lazio vs. Atletico showdown online.