The Champions League is football’s most prestigious competition and one of the biggest in world sport. It is played across two matchdays in the league phase (September to January) and two in the knockout phase (February and March). The competition is widely considered to be the biggest club football event in Europe. It is a huge honour to win the trophy and the winners receive a permanent display case for it in their stadium, plus a substantial financial reward. Some of the most famous names in football have lifted the trophy, including Johan Cruyff and Lionel Messi.
The modern Champions League was launched in 1992-93. The original format included sixteen top-ranked teams, which were spread across the continent’s major national leagues. Three preliminary knockout qualifying rounds whittled down the remaining field, and the sixteen top-ranked teams qualified directly into the tournament group stage. The tournament was dominated by the top European clubs, and few big surprises emerged.
In recent seasons, only Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund have made it to the final, and there has been a lack of English representation at this stage. This could change in 2023-24, as three English teams have qualified for the semi-finals so far this season.
In the knockout phase, the champions of each group play against each other. The winners of the knockout phase playoffs will be seeded in the round of 16 and drawn against a team placed 17th to 24th, who will play their second leg at home.