How does the UEFA Champions League work?

The UEFA Champions League is one of the topmost competitive tournaments in club football. The UEFA Champions League is a football tournament of 32 teams that compete in five rounds for the right to be titled as the best club in European soccer. The first UEFA Champions League tournament was started during the 1955-56 season. The Tournament is known as the European cup until 1992.

The 32 teams were divided into eight groups containing 4 teams each, with each team playing the other three teams in their respective group in a double round-robin method. The winner and runner-up of each group will qualify to the round of 16, quarterfinals, semifinals, and final.

How teams are selected?

The number of teams from the top five leagues in world football enters into the UEFA Champions League. The two streams are divided between teams qualified by being a domestic league champion, and those qualified by being second through fourth in their domestic league. The other 22 teams qualified automatically, because of the defending UCL champion, the defending UEL champion, or through their respective domestic leagues.

Group stage Draw:

The 32 teams compete in a double round-robin format in the group stage. The group winners and runners-up will qualify for the round of 16. Three points for the winning team, one point for a draw, zero points for a loss.

Knockout stage legs:

In Round of 16, each team plays two matches. Each match is known as a “leg.” The team that scores more goals will advance to the quarterfinal. The winner of the group stage will host the 2nd leg of the round of 16. If the goals are in a tie, the Away goal rule is applied.

Champions league schedule:

June-August: Qualification

August: Group-Stage Draw

September-December: Group-Stage Matchdays

December: Round-of-16 Draw

February-March: Round of 16

March: Quarterfinal and Semifinal Draws

April: Quarterfinals

April-Early May: Semifinals

May/Early June: Final

Teams with champions league trophy:

1. Real Madrid: 13 titles (1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1966, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018)
2. AC Milan: 7 titles (1963, 1969, 1989, 1990, 1994, 2003, 2007)
3. Bayern Munich: 5 titles (1974, 1975, 1976, 2001, 2013)
4. Liverpool: 5 titles (1977, 1978, 1981, 1984, 2005)
5. Barcelona: 5 titles (1992, 2006, 2009, 2011, 2015)
6. Ajax: 4 titles (1971, 1972, 1973, 1995)
7. Inter Milan: 3 titles (1964, 1965, 2010)
8. Manchester United: 3 titles (1968, 1999, 2008)
9. Benfica: 2 titles (1961, 1962)
10. Nottingham Forest: 2 titles (1979, 1980)
11. Juventus: 2 titles (1985, 1996)
12. FC Porto: 2 titles (1987, 2004)
13. Celtic: 1 title (1967)
14. Feyenoord: 1 title (1970)
15. Aston Villa: 1 title (1982)
16. Hamburg: 1 title (1983)
17. Steaua Bucuresti: 1 title (1986)
18. PSV Eindhoven: 1 title (1988)
19. Red Star Belgrade: 1 title (1991)
20. Marseille: 1 title (1993)
21. Borussia Dortmund: 1 title (1997)
22. Chelsea: 2 titles (2012, 2021)