Since its inception in 1955 as the European Cup, and subsequent transformation into the Champions League, the tournament has been the stage where Europe’s football giants have written legends. With unforgettable matches, epic comebacks and finals that have marked generations, winning a Champions League trophy is not just the crowning glory of the season; it’s a seal of immortality for clubs that conquer all. Real Madrid are the most successful, with 15 titles to their name, but AC Milan, Bayern Munich and Liverpool have also claimed the prestigious prize on multiple occasions.
The 2024-25 season saw a change in the competition’s format, with it moving from 32 teams split across eight groups of four to a new league system featuring a full schedule of 36 games for each club. The league phase is played through January, with each team playing two opponents from the other four seeding pots – with associations protected and no clashes between teams from the same country.
At the end of the league phase, UEFA conducts a draw to determine which teams will play home first leg matches for the quarterfinals and semifinals. The top two teams from each quarterfinal and semifinal tie will then advance to the final, a single-game match between the last two standing that has become a symbol of football excellence. Those are the basics of how it works, but ties do arise and, over time, a lot has changed about how they’re broken.