The Champions League is the pinnacle of club football. Winning it is a dream for every manager, and one that grants not just bragging rights over rival clubs but also the title of best club in Europe. Real Madrid dominate the competition in terms of titles and final appearances, but a number of teams have been able to make a name for themselves in this arena. It is a tournament that can grip the entire continent, and that can leave fans in awe and with debates about who is the greatest of all time raging on for years to come.
The tournament’s first round is a group stage with 32 teams split into eight groups. Seeding is used during the draw for this stage and teams from the same country may not be drawn against each other.
Each team plays the other teams in their group home and away, and the two top-placed teams advance to the knockout phase. In the knockout phase, teams are drawn together and play two matches, each known as a leg. The winner is the team that scores more goals over the course of both legs. If the score is equal at the end of extra time, the away-goals rule is applied.
With a rich history spanning back to its origins in 1955, the Champions League has seen immense change. It has adapted to the globalising forces of commerce and television. It has grown from its early infancy into a colossus, an iconic pillar of European soccer.