Champions League

The UEFA Champions League came about as a new version of the European Cup and was played for the first time in the 1992-1993 season. Already established as the most prestigious club tournament in football, Champions League has become even more popular with the introduction of a mini-league group stage system. The new concept had a resemblance to the FIFA World Cup with an early phase of group play followed by a knockout phase. On several occasions has the competition expanded to include more clubs – the initial 8 have become 32 (qualification stage excluded). The Champions League trophy can be kept permanently by a club that win the tournament five times or three times in a row (since the rule changed in 2008 it is only a replica). It is today almost as adored as the FIFA World Cup Trophy.


2021–22 UEFA Champions League
A guide with dates, groups, fixtures and teams. Plus other key facts about the 2021-22 tournament.

Winners and runners-up

All the finals in the history of the Champions League.

Season Winner Runner-up
2022-2023 Manchester City Inter
2021-2022 Real Madrid Liverpool
2020-2021 Chelsea Manchester City
2019-2020 Bayern Munich PSG
2018-2019 Liverpool Tottenham
2017-2018 Real Madrid Liverpool
2016-2017 Real Madrid Juventus
2015-2016 Real Madrid Atlético Madrid
2014-2015 Barcelona Juventus
2013-2014 Real Madrid Atlético Madrid
2012-2013 Bayern Munich Borussia Dortmund
2011-2012 Chelsea Bayern Munich
2010-2011 Barcelona Manchester United
2009-2010 Internazionale Bayern Munich
2008-2009 Barcelona Manchester United
2007-2008 Manchester United Chelsea
2006-2007 Milan Liverpool
2005-2006 Barcelona Arsenal
2004-2005 Liverpool Milan
2003-2004 Porto Monaco
2002-2003 Milan Juventus
2001-2002 Real Madrid Bayer Leverkusen
2000-2001 Bayern Munich Valencia
1999-2000 Real Madrid Valencia
1998-1999 Manchester United Bayern Munich
1997-1998 Real Madrid Juventus
1996-1997 Borussia Dortmund Juventus
1995-1996 Juventus Ajax
1994-1995 Ajax Milan
1993-1994 Milan Barcelona
1992-1993 Marseille Milan

History

If the precessor, European Cup, is not counted the Champions League started in 1992. Although, when statistics are presented for Champions League it is common that Champions League and European League are accumulated.

What distinguish the Champions League from European Cup is for many the group play instead of the round-robin format. The fact is, however, that a group stage was introduced already in 1991, but the reshaping became formalised by the name shift. In the development of the competition a hybrid-form of group play and round-robin has evolved.

The tournaments have so far been dominated by the top European clubs and few surprise victories have occurred. Perhaps Porto's victory in 2004 should be counted as the biggest surprise. Potential sensations that could have happened was Nantes in 1995-96 that almost managed to go through Juventus in the semi-finals (lost 3-4 on aggregate). If Dynamo Kyiv had won in 1998-99 it would also be seen as a sensation; they were only one goal down on aggregation against Bayern Munich in the semi-finals. Two years later, Leeds reached the semi-finals, but wasn't near to beat Valencia that time. Villa Real is another club that is not familiar to be seen at the final steps in the biggest events; they were only one goal down on aggregation against Arsenal in the semi-finals in 2006.

Statistics

These clubs have won the most titles in the Champions League, the predecessor European Cup excluded.

Table 2. Most won titles by clubs.
Club Titles 1st title
Real Madrid 7 1997-98
Barcelona 4 2005-06
Milan 3 1993-94
Bayern Munich 4 2000-01
Manchester United 2 1998-99
Liverpool 2 2004-05
Chelsea 2 2011-12
Marseille 1 1992-93
Ajax 1 1994-95
Juventus 1 1995-96
Borussia Dortmund 1 1997-98
Porto 1 2003-04
Inter 1 2009-10
Manchester City 1 2022-23

Most times runners-up are Juventus (3), Milan (3), Bayern Munich (3) and Atlético Madrid (3). Manchester United, Valencia and Liverpool have also lost the final more than once.

If Champions League and European Cup titles are combined, Real Madrid is still the best performing club with 13 titles (6 and 7 in European Cup and Champions League respectively).

A comparison between countries show that Spanish clubs has been the most successful through history in the Champions League (see table 3):

Table 3. Most won titles by country.
Club Titles
Spain 11
England 7
Italy 5
Germany 4

In addition, clubs from France, the Netherlands and Portugal have won one title each.

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Records

The largest victory margin happened between HJK Helsinki and Bangor City in the second qualification round in 2011–12. If the qualification phase is excluded, the biggest goal difference is eight goals in the matches Liverpool-Besiktas (2007-2008) and Real Madrid-Malmö FF (2015-2016). If only finals are considered, the biggest win was in the 1994 final when Milan defeated Barcelona 4 to 0.

Format and participating teams

In the first edition (1992-1993), the tournament consisted of 8 teams after a qualification phase. The eight teams were playing in two groups followed by a final between the group winners. The first season included in total 36 participating clubs in the qualification, since when the numbers have increased.

In the third edition of the Champions League (1994-1995), the tournament expanded to 16 teams (excluding the qualification). The format consisted of a group phase with four groups followed by three knockout stages.

In season 1997-1998 another expansion added more teams to 24 (excluding the qualification). A group phase, including six groups, was followed by a knockout phase in three stages.

In season 1999-2000 the tournament expanded for the third time and would now include 32 teams (excluding the qualification). Now, the teams were divided into eight groups and the first group stage was followed by a second, and finally a knockout stage.

In season 2014-2015, the second group stage was abandoned. Instead, another stage (Round of 16) in the knockout phase was played.

UEFA Champions League timeline

1955 European Cup, the predecessor of Champions League, is established.
1992 The competition is established.
1994 The competition is expanded to involve 16 clubs.
1996 For the first time is a final decided on a penalty shootout (Juventus vs. Ajax).
1997 The competition is expanded to involve 24 clubs.
1999 The competition is expanded to involve 32 clubs.
2000 Two clubs from the same country are for the first competing in a final (Real Madrid vs Valencia).
2017 Real Madrid become the first club to win the tournament two years in a row (2016-2017).
2018 Real Madrid become the first club to win the tournament three years in a row (2016-2018).