AS Monaco is one of very few French teams which have been progressive since 1990s in European competition, including UEFA Champions League. They have been regularly competing in this competition in the last decade with some noteworthy results. Their home base, Stade Louis II, despite its low capacity of only 18,523 people, the atmosphere during the UCL fixtures is as lively as the other bigger venues.
Monaco’s improving campaign in the Champions League so far has been impossible without these great players’ contribution on the pitch. Youri Djorkaeff, Jurgen Klinsmann, Viktor Ikpeba, David Trezeguet, Thierry Henry, Ali Bernabia, John Collins, Ludovic Guily, Fernando Morientes, Jaroslav Plasil, Joao Moutinho, Kylian Mbappe and Falcao are only a few names who have made the difference for Monaco’s continental campaign.
Meanwhile, the masterminds behind the club’s progressive form in the Champions League such as Arsene Wenger, Jean Tigana, Didier Deschamps and Leonardo Jardim shall be remembered for their notable roles in the tournament.
Monaco’s Top Champions League Achievements
Monaco may have not clinched the Champions League title yet, but they have managed to advance to the final once and semi finals on three occasions.
Their first and only UCL final was not so long ago, in 2004. Didier Deschamps’ men were the favorite at that time yet eventually trashed by Porto 0-3 in Gelsenkirchen. Monaco then earned their place in the last four in 2016/17, when Kylian Mbappe and Co eased past Manchester City and Borussia Dortmund to reach semi final. Previously, in the 1990s, Monaco went to the same stages twice. In 1994, Arsene Wenger led his team there before losing to AC Milan, whereas in 1998, Jean Tigana’s men were only one step away to the final, before Juventus stopped them to go further. The very same team, La Vecchia Signora, also ended Monaco’s European campaign in 2017/18 season by 4-1 victory in aggregate.
Iconic Moments
There have been several moments worth remembering for Monaco fans in their Champions League campaign throughout the years. The best ones were surely in 2003/04 season when Didier Deschmaps’ men dismantled Real Madrid and Chelsea 3-1 each at the quarter final and semi final. Los Blancos outcast, Fernando Morientes, played an important role as he scored one in each game.
Another unforgettable result was the second leg against Chelsea in the same season. Playing at Stamford Bridge, they managed to hold them in a 2-2 draw, which was enough for them to go through the summit. Thanks again to Morientes who netted the equaliser. A similar moment of glory also took place on British soil in 1997/98, Jean Tigana’s side knocked out Manchester United after holding them in a 1-1 draw in Old Trafford. They progressed on away goal rule since both shared spoils in a goalless draw in a reverse fixture. The young David Trezeguet was the scorer there. It helped them advance to their second semi final in a decade.
The bitter moment in Monaco’s UCL campaign so far was definitely the 2004 final in Gelsenkirchen. It was their nightmare as Porto crushed their hope for the first title and smashed them 3-0.
